A Charmed Life/Una vida con suerte

K-Gr 2—A bilingual, slice-of-life tale about a Latina girl that subtly explores class and immigration. Felicia accompanies her mother to her housekeeping job at a gorgeous mansion. She's given a list of dos and don'ts, but the restless child would rather wander around the house instead of coloring in her book. While playing outside, she is met by the homeowner, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who greets her with a plate of cookies and lemonade. "I wished my house looked like this./Cómo me gustaría que mi casa se viera así," the little girl tells her mother's employer. Touched by Felicia's remarks, the woman looks down at her pregnant belly and brings the protagonist a charm bracelet. She relates to Felicia her own family's immigration from Ireland and advises her never to stop believing that she will have a better life. The link between the two families' stories presents U.S. history's fluctuating and diverse population in an age-appropriate, if oversimplified, way. Race and language barriers aren't addressed, but the sentiment behind the message is a positive one. The sun-tinged illustrations give the text an added level of charm, and the characters' expressions often offer another layer to the storytelling, especially when Felicia's mother initially disapproves of the lavish gift. The charms on Felicia's bracelet appear throughout, which gives the title a fun twist. The narrative is a bit text-heavy, and the quietness of the work will deter some readers.