Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity follows three sisters, Lulu, Milagro and Clara, who are all on different journeys. Clara is off to college and hasn’t really talked to either of her sisters. Meanwhile, Lulu is an overachieving, introverted girl who prefers being on her own and planning to save the environment. Lulu has her sights set on Stanford. Milagro is the exact opposite, not planning to go to college at all and more focused on losing her virginity than planning for the future. As Lulu and Milagro unexpectedly end up on the same road trip to visit colleges, things take a turn as they uncover why their oldest sister has been absent, why their mother wants them to stay close to home and most importantly, whether their differences can be overcome to unravel the complicated dynamics of sisterhood.
This was such an enjoyable story. Velez’s novel reminded me a lot of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in terms of tone—you get sucked into the narrative right away because of Lulu and Milagro’s intriguing viewpoints and their opposite dynamics. Though there are heavy moments, it’s somehow also a really light read that makes the pages fly by.
Velez really found a niche in the YA genre that I wish more novels would address: the anxieties, pressure and even guilt that come with leaving your family after you graduate high school. To see how the sisters’ mother dealt with one of her children going off to college and the fear she had for her other two daughters moving away was just so relatable. It really spoke to me how Lulu and Milagro (and even their sister who went off to college) responded to their mother’s “guilt trip” of making them promise to stay close to home for studying because I feel like we often get to see all the happiness, anticipation or fear of moving out from the teens but rarely from the parents, who essentially become empty nesters once their children go off to college. There’s so much at play when you’re moving away to study somewhere else and I loved how big a part this played in the story.
This novel also beautifully discusses the “one size does not fit all” prompt when it comes to college. Milagro initially doesn’t want to go to college because of the misconceptions she has amassed over the years. But as she gets to see more of what college can actually be like on her trip, she also realises that most of her stance was coloured by other peoples’ perceptions and opinions instead of her own desires for her future, which I thought was really cool. Similarly, Lulu basically has her career path mapped out for her but also becomes disillusioned with a lot of things she took for granted or let others ‘decide’ was right for her and having these narratives juxtaposed with finally learning why their oldest sister Clara has been so absent from their lives was really interesting.
Speaking of the sisters, I really liked their dynamic and the way their individual storylines showed how much pressure children of immigrants feel to be successful and prove to their parents that the choices they have made—that is, leaving their home country and moving to a new place for better opportunities for their children—are worth it. It’s such a powerful narrative seeing these sisters try their hardest to please their mother yet also live their lives the way they desire to and I think readers will feel the same way. I also adored the tidbits we got about Peruvian culture and the way their heritage has shaped Lulu, Milagro and Clara’s perception of the world. All in all, this is a super voice-driven novel that shows the ups and downs of sisterhood and how starting out as begrudging partners on a road trip can turn into steadfast bonds when you open your heart to the people around you.
Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that beautifully explores sisterhood, the pressure to live up to your family’s expectations and growing into your own.
Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 8th 2022.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this Latinx road trip adventure—a big-hearted, voice-driven YA about two sisters who couldn’t be more different, but become begrudging partners on their school’s cross-country college trip—from debut author Angela Velez. Perfect for fans of Lilliam Rivera, Jenny Han, and Sandhya Menon.
Overachiever Luz “Lulu” Zavala has straight As, perfect attendance, and a solid ten-year plan. First up: nail her interview for a dream internship at Stanford, the last stop on her school’s cross-country college road trip. The only flaw in her plan is Clara, her oldest sister, who went off to college and sparked a massive fight with their overprotective Peruvian mom, who is now convinced that out-of-state-college will destroy their family. If Lulu can’t fix whatever went wrong between them, the whole trip—and her future—will be a waste.
Middle sister Milagro wants nothing to do with college or a nerdy class field trip. Then a spot opens up on the trip just as her own spring break plans (Operation Don’t Die a Virgin) are thwarted, and she hops on the bus with her glittery lipsticks, more concerned about getting back at her ex than she is about schools or any family drama. But the trip opens her eyes about possibilities she’d never imagined for herself. Maybe she is more than the boy-crazy girl everyone seems to think she is.
On a journey from Baltimore all the way to San Francisco, Lulu and Milagro will become begrudging partners as they unpack weighty family expectations, uncover Clara’s secrets, and maybe even discover the true meaning of sisterhood.
