Graffiti Girl

Reviewed by: Sandra Lopez, author of Esperanza: A Latina story and Beyond The Gardens Member of Livin' la vida Latina [...]. Review: What can I say? I loved Angel! She absolutely rocked with her non-glamour, doesn't-give-a-crap attitude. But, like any other teen, she's shy and insecure, especially about her skills as an artist. She never liked to show off her work because she felt it would never compare to the other students, who were far more talented than she could ever come close to. I'm an artist myself, so I know how that feels. Angel is a character that many Latino youths can relate to. The other characters in this story are so genuine agaisnt the back drop of a barrio neighborhood. I was intrigued by the concept of "graffiti" art as far as the application, the process, and how expressive it can be. And, like taffy, you will be pulled in opposite directions as Nathan and Miguel battle over Angel's affections. The question was: who was right for her? Towards the end, Angel must learn there are sacrifices in achieving your dreams and the choices she makes could impact her life forever. A fun YA read full of surprises.

Kelly Parra's debut young adult novel is as tightly written as a veteran author. I was really intrigued by the world of graffiti artists and have a whole new appreciation for that medium as well as the talent behind it. Graffiti Girl is an engaging and fast paced read I thoroughly enjoyed as an adult since this writer weaves a story that shows her respect for the intellectual level and maturity of today's teens. Kudos on one heck of a first book. Looking forward to number two!

This is a unique, eye-opening, down-to-earth novel that surprised the heck out of me. Written from a "young adult" point of view, Parra's debut work kept me riveted! I will never look at another piece of graffiti the same way again. Angel's struggle for acceptance as an artist and as a person touched me deeply, made me laugh, and offers an insight into the small-town multi-cultural American high school scene. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

4 Platypires for Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra I read this book all in one sitting and really enjoyed it. I'm a huge fan of Latino literature because I find them so relatable. I can see myself and my friends in these type of stories and that was the case for Graffiti Girl. I knew those characters and where they came from. I also liked the dialogue with the mix of Spanish. The book is about Angel a girl trying to learn more about herself through graffiti art. She 's also someone caught up in a sorta love triangle between the bad boy Miguel and the good guy Nathan. I'm not against love triangles but wish the male characters were more developed. They were pretty one dimensional and I kept hoping for more especially from bad boy Miguel. Sorry I got a soft spot for those who are rough around the edges. lol. Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend this book.

Fun book. Interesting. As an artist it gave a simple quick look at graffiti art without having to spend an inordinate amount of time delving into it.

This book was a waste of time and money. sure it has a plot and a moral...but after you get past that there is nothing....i will likly deposit this book in a recycling bin after i am done with it. :)

It was an amazing book and it was very well written. I would recommend it to a graffiti artist, an artist, or a person going through some struggles

Needed this book for one of my college courses. Got it in great condition at a great price as well as fast shipping!