Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Don’t mind me, I’m just over here crying. What an incredibly beautiful, intense read. I’m in awe of how much LaRocca manages to fit into so few words, from Reha’s different friendships to her family connections to all the wonderful retellings of Indian stories. Every single metaphor is perfect, from the moon to the different blood cells. I can see this book being a great tool for writing teachers as well as an inspiration for young readers to look to stories and poetry for comfort in dif… Read more
Cecilia Cackley, East City Bookshop, Washington, DC
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
This ambitious, layered story pulls together sports, Shakespeare, and mathematics while conveying a sweet, accessible message of the value of friendship and forgiveness.
School Library Journal
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Readers will be invested in Reha’s relationships with her parents and friends and will enjoy the evocative verse and emotional stakes. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga and Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton.
School Library Journal
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
An absolute delight—LaRocca’s delectable debut is whimsical, frothy, and so much fun. An inventive take on a classic comedy, Midsummer’s Mayhem is a sweetly-told tale of family, friendship, and following your passion. This is a book for the dreamers and doers alike; effervescent, full of heart, and ultimately joyful.
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovichauthor of Two Naomis and Eighth-Grade Superzero
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
Enchantment reigns, yet the author’s exploration of family, friendship, and self-esteem are firmly grounded in reality.
Publishers Weekly Review
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Truly, one of the most heart-expanding stories ever, filled with kindness, music, mythology, all of those things. But above all, here is a story of love, and the ways in which it transcends nationalities, age, science, and fear. In LaRocca’s gifted hands, her Reha shows us how to live in the world, even when it feels divided, even then.
Kathi AppeltNational Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor-winning author of The Underneath and Keeper
Praise for Where Three Oceans Meet
The metaphor of the intertwining of cross-cultural and cross-generational similarities and differences is sustained from start to finish, offering points of connection for readers from all backgrounds.
Booklist
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
I savored every minute of this romp. I loved Mimi and her drive to be less invisible in her big family full of go-getters. The South Indian foods, well-defined in the glossary, added another layer of flavor to the story. The baking contest, reminiscent of The Great British Baking Show, was full of surprises, and the hints of magic and allusions to AMidsummer Night’s Dream were perfect. The included recipes are the icing on the cake.
Jen KraarCity of Asylum Bookstore, Pittsburgh, PA
Praise for Midsummer’s Mayhem
Taking its inspiration from one of Shakespeare’s most popular comedies, Midsummer’s Mayhem is a sweet and fun story about mistaken identity, bumpy romance, and the everyday magic of baking.
Barbara Deeauthor of Star-Crossed and Maybe He Just Likes You
Praise for Where Three Oceans Meet
This warm intergenerational tale emphasizes how love transcends distance and endures across continents.
Publishers Weekly
Praise for Seven Golden Rings
This heartwarming rags-to-riches story is accompanied by vivid illustrations that pulse with detail, movement, and color. … A cleverly imagined story with a delightful premise.
Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
Beautiful, tender novel in verse about a girl born in America to Indian parents. She feels the tug of the children of immigrants, needing to belong, and also strives for knowledge and the ability to help others. Her mother’s illness is movingly portrayed, as is the love and care her community gives to her (both from family friends, her auntie, and her school). This novel bursts with love and devotion.
Robin Stern, Books Inc., San Francisco, CA
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
Midsummer’s Mayhem has all the ingredients for a delightful read: developed characters, delectable dessert descriptions, and a dash of magic. Toss with Shakespeare and sprinkle in realistic family conflicts, and LaRocca has created a poignant story of friendship that will warm the hearts of readers.
Erin Dionneauthor of The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet and Secrets of a Fangirl
Praise for Much Ado About Baseball
The book — like its companion — is an utter delight. It’s the perfect read for anyone who loves stories about family, friendship, and most importantly, baseball.
Paul Swydan, Silver Unicorn Bookstore
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
What a wonderful, intriguing, and magical book. And wow, did it ever get my tastebuds going! Each time I picked it up, I felt the urge to head to my kitchen. . . . What I loved most was the smartness of it. It never once doubted its young readers.
Kathy AppeltNewbery Honor and National Book Award nominated author
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
This delightful and delicious spin on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream flows beautifully into a sensitive and thoughtful novel that addresses family dynamics and self-confidence alongside mouth-watering descriptions of food. Readers will relate to Mimi’s attempts to stand out and find her place and will be thrilled by the magical baking.
School Library Journal Review
Praise for Much Ado About BaseballBaseball provides energetic context to this story in alternating voices of friends in a lovingly drawn and diverse community. Add magic, numbers, Shakespeare, and lashings of mystery, all seasoned with artful sprinkles of culinary flavor and equal parts humor and heart. Cleverly adjacent to the world of Midsummer’s Mayhem, yet standing wonderfully well alone.
Uma Krishnaswami, Author and Astrid Lindgren Award nominee
Praise for Midsummer's Mayhem
Honeysuckle sweet with a pinch of mayhem and a fairy twist! You’ll only want to put this book down in order to eat an entire plate of cookies. Shakespeare and baking — it’s the book combo dreams are made of.
Liz RiceThe Book Cellar, Chicago, IL
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
I felt this novel in verse in my bones. An important book, it will change how young readers see their world. And that’s the best kind of book to read at any age.
Jane YolenAuthor of The Devil's Arithmetic, Briar Rose, and Mapping the Bones
Praise for Red, White, and Whole
This was such a beautifully written and heartbreaking story. For kids experiencing or who have experienced a parent who has suffered from cancer, or ever felt torn between two places. A novel of family, friendship, and grief. Set in the 1980’s which is a perfect time to set a story like this one.
Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, Maryland