Description

Carla no habla is a full-color graphic novel about a very shy 14-year-old girl who moves to a new city and starts at a new school. After a triggering event, she finds herself unable to speak at school.

As the year goes on, Carla faces the challenge of fitting in along with other difficult changes in her life. Feeling isolated, Carla’s world begins to change when a kind classmate reaches out. She finds the bravery to reply by writing, and little by little, thanks to this new friendship, Carla starts to take small steps toward feeling comfortable again.

Set in Quito, Ecuador, the story blends in cultural traditions like the quinceañera and introduces readers to the amazing Galápagos Islands. At the same time, this story highlights themes of inclusion, understanding, and the impact of peer support, making it a meaningful read.

Will Carla ever speak at school? Will her classmates help her feel like she belongs? Can one friendship make a big difference?

Designed for beginner Spanish learners, Carla’s story includes abundant repetition of basic vocabulary and easy-to-follow sentences in the present tense, featuring 261 illustrations.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Thanks to my daughter Olivia Chandler for the amazing illustrations. This was her second graphic novel and she was just 13.

Targeted Level:

  • Spanish Level 1
  • Unique Word Count: 170
  • Total Word Count: 3,200