Reina Luz Alegre lives in the Miami area with her family. She’s dreamed of becoming an author since the second grade, and grew up to work on various other professional dreams—including as a freelance journalist and lawyer—before debuting her first novel, The Dream Weaver. When she’s not writing, Reina loves to read, sing, and salivate over baking shows. Follow her on Twitter at @ReinaLuzAlegre.
“Dreams need time and freedom to grow and change. This is
what stuck with me the most as I watched Zoey struggle to find her
voice. Zoey is processing her own losses while trying to navigate
her father’s dreams, her brother’s plans, and her grandfather’s
grief. My twelve-year- old self would have loved a friend
like her. When one girl’s voice gets louder, we all get
stronger. Go Zoey!”
*Doreen Cronin, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of CYCLONE*
"Charming, vivid, and emotionally real, Zoey’s story will capture
your heart! Deploying her can-do attitude and resourcefulness, Zoey
discovers that her own dreams are worth striving for and that
reconnecting with her past might be the best way to brighten her
future. On the Jersey Shore, Zoey reawakens to her heritage and the
memory of her mother, while also trying to make new friends. Past
and future collide as her brother packs for college, her father
takes a new job, and her grandfather’s bowling alley drifts into
decay. As Zoey tries to find her footing, she takes a risk on a
project that could affect Poppy’s bowling alley forever. Flavorful
details, a quick-moving plot, and psychological depth bring this
Cuban-American family to life. A treasure for any library."
*Rebecca Balcarcel, author of Belpre Honor Book THE OTHER HALF OF
HAPPY*
“Brimming with heart and humor, Reina Luz Alegre’s THE DREAM WEAVER
is a tender story about belonging, friendship, and finding the
courage to fight for your dreams. Lovely and empowering.”
*Ashley Herring Blake, author of the Stonewall Honor book, IVY
ABERDEEN’S LETTER TO THE WORLD*
“A wonderful debut by Reina Luz Alegre! Told in clean and engaging
prose, this story will thread readers through one girl’s coming of
age as she struggles to keep together her fragmented family, each
holding their dreams close, while contending with a longing to
connect to lost traditions without her mother, and finding what
will make her feel truly at home. A heartwarming book about growing
up, growing friendships, growing the bonds of family and culture,
and growing dreams of your own.”
*Aida Salazar, International Latino Book Award-Winning Author of
THE MOON WITHIN*
"A debut full of complicated families, complicated friendships, and
the complicated and awkward experiences of growing up (including an
embarrassing yet relatable first period experience that would have
brought comfort to me during my own embarrassing early period
days). THE DREAM WEAVER is a story I would happily hand to all the
middle grade readers I know. From one Jersey boardwalk kid to
another, Zoey is the type of character I could have spent hours
with at the shore."
*Nicole Melleby, author of HURRICANE SEASON*
“Zoey is a root-worthy character! She is the only girl in her
family, the peacemaker between Poppy, José and dad. I loved reading
along as she navigated weird new friend moments and embarrassing
period happenings all in stride. This book has an endearing cast of
characters from Zoey’s older brother, José, who is not only full of
perpetual optimism, but handles Zoey’s first period with a
chillness that is so refreshing and AWESOME! This story really
encapsulates family and friendships—the good, the bad and the
messy. It also reminds us that there are always good people willing
to help us when we need it.”
*Kristi Wientge, author of HONEYBEES AND FRENEMIES*
"It made me laugh. It made me cheer. It made me want to bowl. A
fun, uplifting tale of a girl coming into her own and standing up
for what matters. Friends don't let friends bowl alone."
*James Breakwell, Parenting Author named "Twitter's Funniest Dad"
by Fatherly.com in 2020*
"A charming debut about grief, the bonds of family and friendship,
and bowling."
*BOOKLIST*
"Alegre has written a warm, funny, empowering book that’s sure to
appeal to fans of Meg Medina’s Merci Suarez Changes Gears or Pablo
Cartaya’s The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora. Recommended for all
collections."
*School Library Journal*
"A heartfelt debut novel rooted in the importance of family ties,
the bonds of friendship, and bowling."
*Kirkus Reviews*
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