Canned and Crushed

Gr 4–6—At first glance, 11-year-old Sandro Zapote's precocious, cheery attitude belies his difficult family situation. His engineer father—unable to find gainful employment due to his undocumented status—struggles with a back injury and works several menial jobs, one of which includes picking up roadkill. Sandro dutifully balances homework and soccer with helping his dad. Familial pressures intensify when the tween's younger sister, Girasol, is diagnosed with a serious heart condition requiring costly surgery. While his mom and sister travel to Mexico for the procedure, the boy and his dad are left to fend for themselves. Though Sandro tries to put on a brave face, it's clear that he feels unmoored by the separation; he lashes out by playing a vile prank on his teacher and bullying a fellow classmate. Hoping to ease his family's financial woes, Sandro hatches a far-fetched plan to install a can recycling center at his school. Belford's debut contains complex characterization: Sandro is affable and witty, yet his quick temper and poor decision-making will ring true to young readers.