An Indies Introduce Q&A with Loretta Lopez

Loretta Lopez is the author of City Girls, a Winter/Spring 2024 Indies Introduce middle grade selection and March/April 2024 Kids’ Indie Next List pick. 

Lopez is a Mexican-American author living in Brooklyn, New York. She is also a therapist and board member at The Brave House. City Girls was inspired by the lives of the girls she has worked with at The Brave House, a non-profit offering holistic services to immigrant girls. Part of the book's proceeds will go to supporting their mission. 

Maryan Liban of Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers in Columbus, Ohio, served on the Indies Introduce panel that selected City Girls.

“Warning: don’t read this in public. You’ll find yourself crying profusely, cursing, and ready to go to war for the girls in this story," Liban said. “City Girls is a very honest and powerful reminder that adults aren’t the only ones who experience tribulation, and that each child has their own story to tell. I am excited to see it in schools, libraries, and indie bookstores!”

Maryan Liban: This book tackles many difficult topics including immigration, abuse, cancer, and divorce. I can see it receiving push back. What do you say to parents or grown-ups who think this book is too heavy for young readers?

Loretta Lopez: Life can be heavy at any age, and by not naming the challenges we know young people are facing, we might isolate young people. My hope is that City Girls can help readers going through a hard time know they aren’t alone if they see themselves reflected in the characters. If they don’t see themselves, I hope that they can better understand a friend or a classmate who is going through a difficult situation.

ML: As a mental health professional, your work holds a lot of weight and validity. What is your advice for adults on supporting kids who might have shared experiences with our main characters Elisa, Lucia, and Alice? 

LL: Let children know that there’s nothing wrong with anything they’re feeling and tell them you are there to support them. Listen, and if you are asked questions, don’t feel like you need to know all the answers. If you’re confused and feeling overwhelmed by a child’s problem, that’s normal and OK. Ask other adults and professionals to help you cope with your reactions and emotions. 

ML: At its core, City Girls is a beautiful story about friendship and all the nuances that come with it. Centering middle schoolers felt very intentional. Why was it important for you to show the complexity of middle school friendships? 

LL: Middle school is a liminal space between being a little kid and turning into an adolescent. It’s a time when you’re separating from your nuclear family, perhaps your parents no longer seem superhuman, but rather human. In this stage of life, friendships can feel especially poignant and important. I was excited to explore these nuanced changes during this stage of a girl’s life.

ML: My favorite part of City Girls was getting to know our three main characters. I loved their individuality and character development. Each character felt real and relatable. What inspired you to create Elisa, Lucia, and Alice? And what was the process like? 

LL: Elisa, Lucia, and Alice are based on many different children I’ve met in both my personal and professional life. I worked on each character separately, getting to know them, and then I looked for ways in which they could have moments together to support and challenge each other during the magical and scary process of making friends. I worked closely with author and editor Marina Budhos who read several drafts and helped me understand the middle grade genre. My husband and my mother were also my editors and essential to the process.

ML: Personally, I am excited to get this book into the hands of many students, librarians, and educators. Who would you love this book to reach? 

LL: Thank you for being excited about this book! I am hoping it will also get into the hands of adults who don’t interact much with children. I hope that these girls’ stories will allow them to expand their world view and deepen their compassion.

City Girls by Loretta Lopez (Triangle Square Books for Young Readers, 9781644213421, Hardcover Middle Grade, $17.95) On Sale: 4/9/2024

Find out more about the author at lorettalopezauthor.com.

ABA member stores are invited to use this interview or any others in our series of Q&As with Indies Introduce debut authors in newsletters and social media and in online and in-store promotions. Please let us know if you do.