Rosa by Any Other Name - Hardcover

by Hailey Alcaraz (Author)

In this Romeo and Juliet-inspired retelling set during the civil rights era, a Mexican American girl is driven to join a movement for justice after her white classmate and best friend from the barrio are tragically murdered.

*PURA BELPRÉ YOUNG ADULT AUTHOR HONOR BOOK
*TÓMAS RIVERA BOOK AWARD WINNER
*YALSA BEST FICTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SELECTION
*CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY SELECTION FOR BEST TEEN FICTION
*A BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
*ILA NOTABLE BOOK FOR A GLOBAL SOCIETY
*NCSS-CBC NOTABLE SOCIAL STUDIES TRADE BOOK FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
*2026 AMÉRICAS AWARD COMMENDED TITLE

Rosa Capistrano has been attending posh North Phoenix High School to boost her chances of a college education and a career in journalism, thanks to the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education verdict for desegregation. But though she's legally allowed to be there, it's still unsafe for Mexican Americans. That's why she's secretly passing as Rosie, a white girl. All she has to do to secure her future is make sure her Mexican home life and her white school experience never intersect.

However, Rosa's two worlds collide when her best friend, Ramon, and classmate Julianne meet and find themselves entangled in a star-crossed romance. Rosa is terrified about what their relationship could mean for her and them . . . and her worst fears are soon realized in an unspeakable tragedy. Rosa is thrown into the center of a town-wide scandal and her true identity is put in the spotlight. With the help of Marco, Ramon's brooding and volatile brother whose passion ignites hers, Rosa must choose what is more important to her--protecting her fragile future or risking everything to help her friends find justice.

Rosa by Any Other Name is a harrowingly beautiful coming-of-age tale that shines a light on an important and often overlooked facet of US history. An extensive author's note with research details and a further reading list are included.

Author Biography

Hailey Alcaraz enjoys writing stories about multicultural Latinx characters, girls who choose a difficult path when it comes to love, and the clumsy journey of "finding yourself" as a young adult. She is a second-generation Mexican American woman, a middle school English teacher for mostly Hispanic students in South Phoenix, and a lover of powerful female protagonists. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with her husband, daughters, and German shepherd, Lemon.

You can visit her online at HaileyAlcaraz.com and follow her on social media @AlcarazBooks.