Engle's spare, rhythmic text gets at the heart of the struggle to achieve a dream in this picture-book biography about a Chinese African Cuban girl who aspired to play drums even when society's double standards stood as a barrier. Growing up in tempestuous 1930s Havana, during a time when universities were often shut down because of their opposition to the dictatorial President Machado, Millo Castro Zaldarriaga dared to dream of playing percussion...

Ten-year-old Jeremy, a drummer boy, and Dulcie, a runaway slave who hopes to become "contraband" of the 107th New York Volunteer Regiment, become friends and form an unlikely alliance with Charlie, young Confederate soldier, and each helps the others learn truths about the Civil War, slavery, and freedom.

Halftime is party time for the gifted street drummer who snares the top spot in his university's marching band. However, he initially flounders in his new world, before realizing that it takes more than talent to reach the top.

En kinder, Lupe Lopez inició una banda y le demostró a todos que era una estrella de rock. Este año, como estudiante de primer grado, Lupe tiene una nueva meta: ganarse una estrella en el Muro de la Fama de Lectura del salón de clase de la maestra Moreno. Lupe puede roquear con las palabras en su lista de lectura, pero cuando aparecen juntas en una frase, ella no puede darles la vuelta. Y lo peor es que Victor, el brabucón de la clase, se burla...

Publisher Annotation: Melly only joined the school band because her best friend, Olivia, begged her to. But to her surprise, quiet Melly loves playing the drums. It's the only time she doesn't feel like a mouse. Now she and Olivia are about to spend the next two weeks at Camp Rockaway, jamming under the stars in the Michigan woods. But this summer brings a lot of big changes for Melly: her parents split up, her best friend ditches her, and Melly finds...