Juana & Lucas

Juana & Lucas

book

2019, Children's Books, Growing Up & Facts of Life

WISE
86%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A Colombian girl, her beloved dog, and the battle against learning 'the English'—hilarious, heartfelt, and refreshingly original.

Amazon4.8
Common Sense Media

Where to Read

Amazon
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Libby
Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

This is exactly what early chapter books should be: funny, relatable, and genuinely original. Juana's voice is a breath of fresh air—she's not a perfect student or a cookie-cutter protagonist, she's a real kid who thinks math is boring and English is nonsensical.

The Colombian setting and bilingual text add real cultural value without feeling like a diversity checkbox. Medina's prose is vivid and engaging, and the illustrations make it accessible for kids who need that visual scaffold.

It's not going to change anyone's life, but it's a solid, entertaining read that represents a perspective we don't see enough in kids' lit. The 4.8 Amazon rating and Common Sense Media feature aren't flukes—this is a well-executed book that kids actually enjoy reading.

Age Fit

Perfect for ages 6-9, especially kids transitioning to chapter books. The large type, abundant illustrations, and short format build confidence for emerging readers, while the bilingual elements and cultural specificity offer something fresh for more advanced readers in that range.

WISE Breakdown
Wholesome
88

Juana is a relatable, energetic protagonist navigating everyday kid challenges—school uniforms, math homework, learning English—with humor and heart. The story centers on her love for her dog Lucas and her family life in Bogotá, modeling authentic emotional responses without being preachy. The tone is playful and age-appropriate, celebrating cultural identity and family bonds.

Imaginative
82

The book brings Bogotá to life with vivid, tactile prose and abundant illustrations that invite visual engagement. Juana's perspective is fresh and original—a Colombian girl's voice in early chapter books is still relatively rare. The bilingual elements (Spanish woven throughout) spark linguistic curiosity, though the format itself is fairly traditional narrative rather than interactive or world-building.

Safe
95

This is a straightforward early chapter book with no content concerns. No violence, scary elements, mature themes, or inappropriate material. The main 'conflict' is a kid not wanting to learn English and dealing with school frustrations—completely age-appropriate. Books are generally safe, and this one is textbook safe.

Enriching
85

Offers genuine cultural enrichment through its Colombian setting and bilingual text, exposing readers to Spanish vocabulary organically. Tackles the very real experience of learning a new language and the frustration that comes with it—something many immigrant and bilingual kids will recognize. Builds empathy for different perspectives on language learning. The 4.8 Amazon rating and Common Sense Media feature suggest strong reader/parent satisfaction with its educational and emotional value.

Parent Info
✓

Why It Might Be Great

  • Juana's voice is genuinely funny and relatable—she hates math, loves her dog, and thinks English makes no sense (fair)
  • Authentic cultural representation with a Colombian setting that's vivid and tactile, not tokenized
  • Bilingual text weaves Spanish naturally throughout, building vocabulary without feeling like a lesson
  • Abundantly illustrated, making it perfect for kids transitioning from picture books to chapter books
  • Tackles the real frustration of language learning with humor and empathy
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What to Watch For

  • Some Spanish vocabulary may be challenging for non-Spanish speakers, though context usually helps
  • The larger type and illustrations mean it's shorter than typical chapter books—great for confidence-building but quick reads
  • Juana's school frustrations are very real, which some perfectionistic kids might find stressful (though most will find them validating)

Conversation Starters

  • "Have you ever had to learn something that felt really hard or didn't make sense at first? How did that feel?"
  • "What do you think about the way Juana feels about learning English? Do you think English is confusing?"
  • "If you could live in another country like Juana lives in Colombia, where would you want to go?"
  • "What's your favorite thing about your best friend or pet, like how Juana loves Lucas?"

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