Big Problemas, written and illustrated by Juana Medina. Candlewick Press, Penguin Random House. 2019. $21.00 ages 9 and up

"Another thing I learned about
Luis is that he likes jazz and has
a big music collection. We listen
to his music when we drive to La
Finca, his country house.

He goes there on weekends
and sometimes invites Mami
and me to come along. As it
turns out,
I like jazz!"

Juana is back to bring us up to date with her life. She thinks that life is almost perfect, and has valid explanations for feeling that way. She loves her city, her neighbors, her Mami, her grandparents, her school. Oh, and Lucas.

"The number one most perfect thing
of all things in my life is LUCAS, 
He is the most perfect perro in the whole entire world.
Despite being neurotic, eating my homework,
and snoring, he is the best of amigos.

But, life is changing, and in ways that are not all that pleasing to Juana. Her mother? That is another story. Her hair is different. Other things are changing, too. We learn about her aunt Piti and her cooking skills, her cousins and their dog, and how much she likes spending time with all of them. But, she is missing her Mami.

Turns out that Mami has a new friend, Luis. Obviously, he is the reason for the new hairstyle, and other changes as well. Luis likes jazz; Juana likes jazz. Luis has a cool house in the country; Juana likes everything about that place - the air, the animals, the cheese, the lunch they stop for on their way to the country. There are many things to consider when thinking about Mami and what is happening in Juana's 'just about perfect' life.

Juana's first person description of her life is humorous and dramatic; it allows readers to feel the emotions she is feeling as she navigates her new normal. Readers who met her in her first book, Juana and Lucas (Candlewick, 2016), will be delighted to welcome her once more. The design of the book is most enjoyable, as was the first. As the relationship moves toward marriage and the preparations for the wedding are in full swing, she wonders what life might be like if her father were still alive, even though she did not know him. The new house, the wedding, the extended family offer a new perspective - one that Juana learns to accept, blending the new and old.

"New and old might not add up to perfect, but life is interesting and that, right now, seems much better than perfeccion."