Marisol is the book about Marisol Luna. It was included with the doll when she was available for purchase and separately after her retirement, but is now retired.
Characters[]
- See also: Minor Characters in Marisol's Story
Chapter By Chapter Summary[]
Chapter One: Saturday Morning[]
On a Saturday morning, Marisol sits on her trunk and looks out a window. She loves to see what happens in the street and Harrison Park. Marisol looks down to see her friend Victor eating a raspada, or water ice, and her neighbor Mr. Mendoza, as he brings his dominoes back from the Senior Citizen Center. She waves to Mr. Mendoza and introduces herself to the reader. She explains that she's an only child and she loves dancing. Marisol also describes her room: her ceiling is full of glow-in-the-dark stars and her room also doubles as a dance studio for practice. Marisol explains some of the dances she does: ballet folklórico, ballet, and some jazz, although she hasn't really done it since her class last summer.
Marisol's cat Rascal prances into Marisol's room and rubs himself against Marisol's leg. Marisol pets her cat as she tries to scold him about disappearing last night. Rascal meows as Marisol puts him on her bed, and she continues to practice her ballet folklórico until her father calls for her. Marisol runs to the kitchen and sees her dad squinting his left eye shut. He explains in Spanish that he was making salsa when he decided to rub his eye, not aware the chili sauce was still on his hand. Marisol cleans her dad's eye and her father continues cutting the vegetables as he asks Marisol what she's been doing. Marisol responds she was practicing for the upcoming dance performance at the Senior Citizens Center on Thursday. When Marisol asks if her dad will be able to come to the performance, he jokes around with her and pretends he might be too busy to come. Marisol's dad starts to make breakfast as Marisol's mother returns from the grocery store and the family have eggs, tortillas, and salsa for breakfast. While eating, Marisol's dad mentions that the tomatoes in the salsa don't have much flavor and it would be best to grow their own tomatoes. Marisol's mother points out that they need a yard if they want to plant anything, but their apartment doesn't have one. Marisol's dad says they might need their own house and looks at Marisol, who comments on how good breakfast was. Her dad adds that it would be even better if they could grow their own chilies and tomatoes. Her parents look at Marisol as she gets the feeling her parents are up to something.
Later on, Marisol's mom drives Marisol and her friend Sara to ballet folklórico practice. They have a hard time finding a parking spot at the school where the dance lesson is held and thus are five minutes late. But Marisol's dance teacher, Maestra Davila, is late as well, walking right behind them with an armful of dance clothes. Sara offers to help her teacher carry some of the bundle, dumping her own clothes into Marisol's arms. Marisol feels a tap on her shoulder and sees Jesse, a fellow dance classmate. He offers to carry some of Marisol's things and Marisol thinks that while he's a nice guy, he just can't dance. As they reach the school, Maestra Davila reminds her students not to be late for the performance on Thursday.
Chapter Two: Something's Up[]
Chapter Three: Who Is She?[]
Chapter Four: A New Friend[]
Chapter Five: Two Square Champ[]
Chapter Six: Surprise![]
Chapter Seven: Saying Goodbye[]
Chapter Eight: D for Dance, R for Rascal[]
Glossary of Spanish Words[]
Glossary of Spanish words used throughout the book.
True Stories[]
Three true stories about other girls who dance. This was taken out in the 2015 Scholastic printing.
Annie has taken modern dance lessons since she was five years old. She has classes four days a week and spends about fifteen hours a week dancing. Annie performs normally four times a year and had stage fright on the very first performance but has not had it since. At the time of the article's publication, Annie was planning on taking ballet for the first time. Her teacher had told her if she wanted to be a professional dancer, she had to know a variety of styles. Annie was quoted as saying, "I'm nervous, but excited."
Laura and Anna are sisters. The girls started ballet six years prior, and at the time of publication were dancing together. Laura is one year older than Anna, and they both like the fact that "they can practice together at home as well as in the studio." Anna and Laura have both been in The Nutcracker and original ballets of their academy. They've performed as mice, angels, rats, puppets, toys, and soldiers. After they turned ten they began to dance en pointe. Laura and Anna love ballet.
Alinee does folk dance. She is from Mexico City. Alinne and her mother were in Wisconsin and saw a folk dance performance at a Mexican festival. They practice every weekend. Twelve-year-old Alinne is the youngest and newest member, and she likes to sing rap and play basketball. Each region has a different style of skirts, and Alinne gets to try many different skirts.
References[]
- ↑ In Chapter One: Saturday Morning, Marisol states that today is October 22 (page 7). The book ends a week later, after her dance performance on the following Thursday.