Running

Gr 8 Up–For most of her life, 15-year-old Mariana Ruiz’s father has been a politician. The Cuban American teen’s life has revolved around campaigns and elections as her father has sought higher offices. This year, he is vying for his party’s nomination to run for president. This campaign is unlike any other they have lived through as a family. Losing her privacy is the first major concern that pushes Mari to question whether she wants her father to run for or even be president. As she starts to ask more questions about his policies and platform, Mari realizes that what she believes in and what her father believes in may not be the same anymore. Frankie Corzo’s narration highlights the humor of some of the situations Mari finds herself in, while also expertly expressing the anguish Mari feels about the conflict she now has with her father.