Shut Up, This Is Serious

By: Carolina Ixta

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo

An unforgettable YA debut about two Latina teens growing up in East Oakland as they discover that the world is brimming with messy complexities, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo and Erika L. Sánchez.

Belén Dolores Itzel del Toro wants the normal stuff: to experience love or maybe have a boyfriend or at least just lose her virginity. But nothing is normal in East Oakland. Her father left her family. She’s at risk of not graduating. And Leti, her super-Catholic, nerdy-ass best friend, is pregnant—by the boyfriend she hasn’t told her parents about, because he’s Black, and her parents are racist.

Things are hella complicated.

Weighed by a depression she can’t seem to shake, Belén helps Leti, hangs out with an older guy, and cuts a lot of class. She soon realizes, though, that distractions are only temporary. Leti is becoming a mother. Classmates are getting ready for college. But what about Belén? What future is there for girls like her?

From debut author Carolina Ixta comes a fierce, intimate examination of friendship, chosen family, and the generational cycles we must break to become our truest selves.

©2024 Carolina Ixta (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Don’t let the title fool you

I really really liked the story! It’s high school girls BUT their stories are real. I identified with these girls and their families, their troubles. The author really captured a Mexican household, their cultures. The narrator was also pleased to listen to.

A painfully real story

I loved this book. It is a story that is happy at times, sad at times, but always real.

A novel for the Bay

Being in my late 20’s, what I loved about this book was how much it brought me back to a period in my life I don’t think about too often. The author did an amazing job of bringing the characters to life, and I often had the thought of “Oh yeah, I totally remember feeling that way in high school.” I also really enjoyed the setting of Oakland. Being from the Bay Area, it was fun to visually be taken back down the streets that are so familiar, or to have a moment of recognition for locations like the donut shop where you can also get Chinese food in Fruitvale. I think anyone familiar with the area will enjoy this read for the setting alone and the story of challenging family dynamics only adds to the relatability. Looking forward to reading more from Ixta.

The author is a master storyteller

It made me think about myself when I was 17, I was frustrated for the character but also frustrated for my younger self, I wish she could read this. Brought me back to a time I think alot of people can relate to.
My favorite quote “blood is only thicker than water until you’re drowning in it.”
Congrats on a beautiful debut

Absolutely loved this book!

As someone who grew up in the Bay, this book made me homesick in the best ways. Not only with the descriptions of Oakland/Fruitvale, but also with the familiarity of each character. I feel like I grew up with Belén and Leti too! I’m so moved by the heart of this story and loved witnessing it all unfold.

LOVED!

Throughly enjoyed the story of Belen and Leti’s friendship. Belen’s family isn’t something common like having a mother who’s a college educated graduate and how that is seen as problematic in a marriage. Great insight to that world