Mexican American Moon Fuentez, 17, is dark-skinned and round; her twin, Star, is light-skinned as well as "willowy and still curvy." Model and purity crusader Star is their single mother's favorite; Moon, who has had sex, is "the unwanted, ugly sister." Though talented photographer Moon takes the photos that Star's 900,000 Fotogram followers love, her other talents—she's also an earth artist and tarot card reader and designer—don't attract much notice. But now Moon is spending the summer before college as the "merch girl" on "The Summer Fotogram Influencers for Charity Tour," which invited Star. Adding insult to injury, Moon is sharing a bunk with merch boy Santiago Philips, the hot but grumpy half-Colombian, half-white brother of Fotogram's founder. Santiago, who lost a hand in an accident, also has issues with his place in the world, but as he teaches Moon to cook, they develop a bond. In Vasquez Gilliland's (Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything) poetic hands, Moon's strong voice shines amid magic and indigenous knowledge, even as she struggles with her mother, colorism, and fatphobia. Readers will cheer for Moon as she learns to embrace her own beauty and power. Ages 14–up. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Aug.)

Gr 9 Up—At the age of 17, twin sisters Moon and Star Fuentez's lives are still controlled by their mother. Star is a "purity culture" social media influencer whose flawless natural beauty is the focus of her ambitious mother, while Moon, a "size 16," is required to be their porter and photographer. Only Moon's secret acceptance to Tulane University's art program in the fall gives her hope. The novel opens as the family learns that Star has been offered a spot on a high-profile, cross-country charity tour organized by social media app founder Andro Philips. Moon is again required to serve as her sister's photographer, but this time she will also profit by working the merchandise table. Things deteriorate when she meets the others on the trip, especially her merch-selling partner, Santiago, Andro's sexy younger brother. Their rough start, though, melts into a simmering romance during long hours on the bus and the shared love of gourmet food and more. Recounted in a highly descriptive manner with a healthy dose of magical realism, Gilliland-Vasquez's second book weaves together themes of healing from fat- and disability-shaming, homophobia, and domestic and religious abuse. VERDICT This slow-paced novel reads like a popular telenovela and is good choice for teen collections.—Ruth Quiroa, National Louis Univ., Lisle, IL