Rica Baptista: Llamas, Iguanas, and My Very Best Friend

“A heartfelt story full of great characters that will encourage readers to keep trying.” —School Library Journal

Rica Baptista wants—no, needs—a pet. A llama, a kinkajou, or maybe an iguana? She even has a name picked out: Frederica, her own name, after her Cape Verdean great-great-grandfather. But Rica’s parents say no right away. The worst part is that Rica can’t tell anyone the real reason she wants a pet—she secretly overheard that her best friend, Laini, is moving away, and Rica worries about being left behind. Rica and Laini make lists of the benefits of having a pet, and they try all sorts of schemes to raise money to afford one, from party planning to holding a yard sale to entering… Keep Reading