Having recently immigrated to San Francisco where her family struggles to make ends meet, living in sharp contrast to life in Manila where her family was wealthy, 14-year-old Vicenza Arambullo must find her way around a new life, mean girls, and romance. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 7-10 Vicenza Arambullo, 14, is a recent immigrant to San Francisco. In Manila, her family was wealthy, but now they struggle to make ends meet. On scholarship, the teen attends a private girls' school where she is an outcast. She has a crush on a BMOC at a boys' school, and she's beginning to like a nice guy with whom she feels comfortable. She also has to fend off her parents' efforts to fix her up with a brainy Filipino. As the story progresses, readers will be curious about what will happen to Vicenza as she navigates her way around mean girls and romance. Much of the plot is predictable, but the story shines because of its character development and the depiction of the cultural divide. Vicenza is savvy in many ways, but naive in others. Her friend Isobel, a Parisian student, is her touchstone, and the girls are depicted in counterpoint to one another. This well-written, heartfelt novel is a worthy addition to most YA collections, but especially where there are strong immigrant populations. Amy Patrick, New York Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 9-12. Newly arrived from the Phillippines, 14-year-old Vicenza is a scholarship student at a snooty private girls' school in San Francisco. She dreams of love with Tobey Maguire, not having to shop at thrift stores, and being accepted by the wealthy, popular girls at school. Instead, she and her family work multiple jobs and squeeze every penny to manage private schools for Vicenza and her little sister. A new French girl at school becomes a good friend, and Vicenza copes with her mom's search for a bargain dress for the school dance and attempts to pair her with a nice Filipino boy. Like the popular The Au Pairs [BKL Jl 2004], there's a wholesome quality to this despite some rebellious (but not graphically described) behavior. Most immigrant teens will recognize the tensions that arise when young adults try to become assimilated as their parents both support them and cling desperately to traditional culture. The clothing details are delightful fun, as are Vicenza's innovative methods of trying to avoid the label of the title. DebbieCarton. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.