MARGARITA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Full of humor and heart, MARGARITA IN THE SPOTLIGHT is a fun and empowering story about identity, family, music, and the power of finding your voice.

Margarita McCoy plays banjo and sings back-up in her stepsister Stephanie McCoy's wildly popular country music band. Margarita isn't particularly passionate about music, but she loves Stephanie and would do anything to help her - and that includes being thrust into the media spotlight after an article in the New York Times calls out country music for its lack of diversity. Since Margarita's father is Mexican American, the McCoys' record label wants to use her to show that they aren't as white-washed as the article says. For Margarita, the media frenzy is overwhelming, and quickly has her considering how exactly she should define herself and her identity. How Mexican American is she? How should she use her 15 minutes of fame? And how come no one ever taught her about Selena Quintanilla? Maria Frazer is a middle grade writer originally from San Antonio, TX. She is now a social worker in Austin. She enjoys board games, books, and breakfast tacos.