Marisol McDonald, an individualistic Peruvian-Scottish-American girl, throws a "soccer-player-pirate-princess-unicorn" birthday party, but her abuelita cannot get a visa to attend. In a sweet, satisfying twist, technology comes to the rescue. Highlighting Marisol's mixed background, the English text includes some Spanish words and the Spanish includes some English. The cut-paper, ink, and marker illustrations brim with vitality and detail. Glos.

The confident, exuberant, bicultural-and-proud Marisol McDonald is back in this follow-up to Brown's introduction to the character, Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina (2011). Marisol struggles to pick a theme for her upcoming eighth birthday party. How can she choose among princesses and unicorns and soccer when she loves them all? As her mom gently reminds her, maybe she doesn't have to! What Marisol really hopes for her birthday is to see her abuela, who lives in Peru and with whom she rarely visits. The story's contemporary solution to this problem will resonate with many families who are living across great distances. The "unique, different and one-of-a-kind" Marisol McDonald continues to stand out as a character. She is self-assured and caring, without straying into didacticism. Her bicultural identity is a point of pride that imbues her personality. Pura Belpré Honor recipient Palacios' mixed-media illustrations once again visually express Marisol's originality. Bits of cut paper add unexpected texture, and the warm tones convey the closeness in Marisol's family. Domínguez's Spanish translation is also noteworthy; its emphasis on capturing the spirit of the language over literal words makes this book equally joyful in both English and Spanish. A broadly appealing bilingual and bicultural celebration of being oneself and the love of family. (author's note, bilingual glossary) (Picture book. 6-8)