I was cheering for Ana and for love to prevail I n teaching her more about English, America, the that some things (like love) are universal Make sense of the words flying out of her classmates.Īna meets Harrison in math class and Neo in ESL class. This is just one example of the thoughts Ana has as she learns new words and tries to “How can a crane be a bird and a piece of machinery at the same time.” Not only is it poetic, it is also humorous as Ana navigates the nuances of the English The prose throughout this story is exceptional. Not only is she the new student on campus, but she is also learning a new language,Īnd trying to “become” American. Sixteen year old Ana has recently moved to New Jersey from her homeland of Argentina. citizenship thanks to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Maria’s interest in the immigration rights movement stems from her own childhood andĪdolescence experiences with being undocumented in the United States. Maria is Latinx and Argentinian-American andĬurrently lives in New Jersey with her two children. The Secret Side of Empty is a Junior Library Guild Selection, a National Indie Excellenceīook Award winner, an International Latino Book Awards Finalist and has been called The Washington Post, NJ.com, and the Newark Star Ledger. Andreu is a writer and author of the forthcoming Love in English (Balzer + Bray, 2021)Īs well as an as-yet untitled book (B+B, 2022). Love in English is witty and effervescent, while telling a beautifully observed story about With playful and poetic breakouts exploring the idiosyncrasies of the English language, After all, the rules of English may be confounding, but there are no

She begins spending time with Neo, the Greek Cypriot boy from ESL, Ana wonders howįiguring out what her heart wants can be even more confusing than the grammar they’reīoth trying to master. Then she meets Harrison, the very cute, very Americanīoy in her math class, and discovers the universal language of racing hearts. New Jersey from Argentina, she can barely find the words to express how she feels.Īt first Ana just wants to return home.

Sixteen-year-old Ana is a poet and a lover of language.

Love in english by maria e andreu