Books

THE SMELL OF OLD LADY PERFUME (Cinco Puntos, 2008): Chela Gonzalez is a nerd and a soccer player who can barely contain her excitement about starting the sixth grade. But nothing happens as she imagines when her father is rushed to the hospital and her best friend ditches her.

SOLP is winner of the 2009 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the 2008 Texas Institute of Letters Best Young Adult Book Award and 2009 Americas Award Commendation.  It  also appears on several reading lists, including Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best,  Southwest Books of the Year, ALAN’s Picks, and Teaching Tolerance.

From School Library Journal
“This is a sweet coming-of-age story, telling of the cruelties of children toward one another and dealing with the loss of a parent. The story should appeal to readers dealing with their own tween years.”—Diana Pierce

From Booklist
“…readers will also find the book’s loving portrayal of Chela’s family, its nicely realized setting, and its artful exploration of the problems of assimilation, to be both engaging and heartfelt.”  —Michael Cart

“Martinez’s prose, always animated and descriptive, is frequently quite beautiful. She is an author to watch.”–Cathy Jacobus, Southwest Books of the Year

“The original title gives a glimpse of the poetic lines peppered throughout this poignant debut.”–Marcela Landres, Latinidad

“The Smell of Old Lady Perfume is a necessary book for anyone who needs to know that the universe isn’t ‘so large and empty.’”–Rigoberto Gonzalez, El Paso Times