Tia Lugo Speaks No Evil (Paperback)

Tia Lugo has a deadly secret.

Tia Lugo considers herself an ordinary thirteen-year-old girl. She just wants to enjoy the end of summer, which means hanging out with her best friend and neighbor, Julius, and ignoring her Puerto Rican grandmother’s embarrassing reliance on creepy candles, weird-smelling herb bundles, and eerie statues—all available for sale at the nearby botanica. But when Tia witnesses a murder late one night from her bedroom window, everything changes in an instant. Now, Tia is terrified to tell anyone what she’s seen. What if the killer comes after her too? He knows where she lives. Even worse, Tia believes he’s sending her secret messages, reminding her to stay quiet. Desperate to keep herself and her family safe, Tia turns to the last place she ever thought she’d go: her grandmother’s favorite shopping spot, the botanica. Click to Preview. 

2022 IPPY Awards Bronze Medalist, Multicultural Fiction – Juv-Young Adult

2022 International Latino Book Awards Honorable Mention – Best Youth Chapter Fiction Book

2022 Moonbeam Awards Gold Medalist (Pre-Teen Fiction – Historical / Cultural)

Booklist

“The ever-escalating suspense will keep the pages turning throughout this thrilling upper-middle-grade mystery.” 

Publishers Weekly

“[A] warm emphasis on community, integrity, and preserving individual histories rounds out the suspenseful narrative.” 

Kirkus Reviews

“Peppered with enriching, thoughtful touches.”