Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer

Adios to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer takes readers into the world of Oye Mi Canto, a televised singing competition, as seen through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Ali. This otherwise reserved high school student wows the judges with her voice and her guitar playing. After she is chosen to be one of the finalists on the program, her life changes in a million ways. All the while, she tries to remain true to herself, her family, and her music.

Think Latin American Idol, but instead of relying upon pop culture and backstage gossip, the story focuses on Ali's life, her relationship with her father, and her love of music. Ali tries to balance her culture and her future, respecting her father's traditional values while enjoying her life as a modern-day teen in Florida.

Caridad Ferrer's teen fiction debut makes for a compelling story and is composed of many elements. It will strike a chord with teens who can relate to any of those elements: Ali's passion for music, the loss of her mother, her bilingual family, and her attempts to make her dreams come true.

Check out my interview with Caridad Ferrer.