Arc Review // Grow Up, Luchy Zapata

A funny, relatable middle school drama about two Colombian American girls who have always been BFFs—until sixth grade turns everything upside down.

Luchy Zapata is starting middle school, and she’s muy excited. She and her two best friends, Cami and Mateo, will finally be at the same school. Luchy and Mateo will be in art class together, and she and Cami can try out for the same soccer team! As long as they’re all together, Luchy can handle anything.

But Cami has been acting weird ever since she got back from visiting family in Colombia. She’s making new, “cool” friends who just seem mean. And suddenly, everything about Luchy and Mateo is too immature for her.

Luchy is determined to help Cami remember how special their friendship is. They’ve been BFFs their whole lives, and that can’t just disappear in a poof of glitter! But…what if Cami doesn’t even want to be friends anymore?

This was a bittersweet read of a friendship in turmoil. Grow Up, Luchy Zapata did an amazing job showing the difficulties of navigating friendships during the emotionally charged atmosphere that is middle school. I think readers can learn a lot from and sympathize with both Luchy and Cami. 

At times Luchy lacked what is key in an important relationship - communication. However, by the end, readers will be able to see what makes a truly good friend by the choices Luchy makes. I liked how even if Luchy was feuding with Cami she was there for Mateo during a difficult time. Luchy wasn't perfect but was always trying to be a good friend to one of her best friends. 

One of the elements I enjoyed the most throughout this story was Luchy's grandmother's cooking. So many wonderful descriptions of Latin food that made me so hungry! There was even talk about Cuban food which I particularly enjoyed. I've recently discovered a love of passionfruit pie and ice cream so reading how Luchy would drink her abuela's passionfruit juice after school made me smile. I also appreciated how easily accessible this story was with Spanish being translated into English so smoothly. 

Art and soccer were a big part of the story. Art helped Luchy want to explore more of her Colombian identity which she felt detached from because she isn't fluent in Spanish. While the soccer field provided a lot of frustration at first but ultimately led to peaceful resolutions. 

There has been a new trend with middle-grade soccer books coming out recently with the titles Select by Christie Matheson, The Beautiful Game by Yamile Saied Méndez, Crushing It by Erin Becker, and The Soccer Diaries by Tom Palmer. Whatever the case for the trend I'm glad it brought me to this book. Grow Up, Luchy Zapata is a wonderful coming-of-age story where friendship, Colombian culture, and soccer take center stage.  

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me a copy of Grow Up, Luchy Zapata in exchange for an honest review. (Release Date: July 23rd, 2024)