Stella Díaz Has Something to Say

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say is Angela Dominguez’s first novel for middle grade readers. Published in 2018, the novel is the first in the Stella Diaz series, which currently consists of five novels. Dominguez based the series on her own childhood; she claims that Stella Diaz Has Something to Say is “82.9 percent” true to her personal experiences growing up. Like Stella, Dominguez was born in Mexico City and moved to the US as an infant. The author was not raised in Chicago as Stella, but in North Texas. Like Stella, however, Dominguez struggled with speech as a child, eventually opting to take Spanish classes to better communicate with her family. When she was young, Dominguez also read voraciously, loved drawing, and dreamed of becoming an author. Dominguez created the black-and-white illustrations in Stella Diaz Has Something to Say, as she illustrates all her own books.

This guide refers to the 2018 e-book edition published by Roaring Brook Press.

Language Note: The source text uses the term “alien” to refer to immigrants who are residents but not a citizens of the US. This study guide reproduces this language only in quotations.

Plot Summary

The novel opens with Stella Diaz and her older brother Nick arriving home from school on a Friday afternoon. Their family is from Mexico City, but Stella and Nick now live in Chicago with their mom; after their parents divorced, their dad moved to Colorado. They speak a mix of Spanish and English at home, but Stella was a baby when the family moved to Chicago, so she doesn’t remember Mexico and sometimes struggles to speak Spanish. She struggles with speaking in general, often mixing up Spanish and English words, so she takes specialized speech lessons at school.

Over dinner, Stella tells her mom and brother that a new student will soon be joining her class. Since she doesn’t have any close friends in her class, Stella is excited to meet the new student. Stella’s best friend Jenny is in a different class this year, so Stella has been lonely. Some of her classmates make fun of her because she is quiet, and when she does speak, she sometimes mispronounces words. Jenny, who is also raised by an immigrant single mother, never makes fun of Stella.

The following Monday, Jenny tells Stella that she got a new backpack to match a girl in her class she has become friends with. Feeling hurt that her best friend has made a new friend, Stella resolves to make a new friend as well. The new student arrives that day, and Stella is surprised that he’s a boy. Even so, Stella wants to befriend him. The student’s name is Stanley, and he speaks Spanish. When Stella tries to introduce herself to Stanley, she misspeaks and then falls over in her chair, which embarrasses her so much that she doesn’t speak to him for weeks afterward. Stanley is a good student and makes friends easily, which makes Stella jealous. She tries very hard to avoid him because he makes her so nervous.

Stella learns in school that she is considered an “alien” since she is a resident but not a citizen of the US. Not fully understanding the term “alien,” Stella finds this news very disturbing. When she brings it up to Nick, he reassures her that being “aliens” makes them interesting and unique. Feeling isolated and vulnerable, Stella is anxious about a presentation she has to give to her class, so Nick promises to help her with it.

A girl in Stella’s class named Jessica bullies Stella for being quiet. One day in gym class, Stella gets so nervous to face Stanley during kickball that she freezes up and strikes out, and Jessica starts chanting “Stella Stares,” a nickname that catches on since Stella often looks at people without saying much. When Stella tells Jenny about this situation, Jenny suggests Stella try to ask people more questions. Later, Stella’s mom takes her and Jenny to a restaurant, where they run into Jessica, who mocks Stella again.

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and Stella’s mom is preparing for their Mexican relatives to visit. Stella is very nervous to see her aunt and grandfather because she does not speak Spanish as well as they do, and they don’t speak English. That evening, though, everyone has fun dancing and singing together. Stella realizes that language is not the only way to connect.

Over winter break, Stella’s mom explains the different Christmas traditions they celebrate in Mexico. Stella wishes they could celebrate the holiday the traditional Mexican way, but her mom raised Stella and Nick with US Christmas traditions so they would fit in at school. Stella doesn’t feel like she fits in at school or with her Mexican relatives.

Jenny’s friend Anna starts to sit with Jenny and Stella at lunch, and she befriends Stella too. It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Stella plans on giving Stanley a nice card. Stella’s mom comes to school to help at the Valentine’s Day party, where she overhears Jessica say something mean. Stella’s mom reminds Stella that she shouldn’t let anyone’s words bother her. She says that Stella is short for Estrella, which means star, because Stella is strong and bright like a star.

The school is planning a spelling bee. When her name is called and she goes on stage, Stella is anxious but spells her first word perfectly. Her anxiety disappears for the rest of the event, and she makes it to the semifinal round. That evening, she sees an author speak at the public library. The author speaks Spanish and English and says that she used to struggle with speech when she was young, just like Stella. Stella is so inspired that she decides she wants to be an author when she’s older.

Stella’s dad visits Chicago for a work event and takes Stella and Nick bowling. He tells Stella that when he was a kid, his parents barely spent any time with him. This makes Stella sad, and she begins to understand why he acts the way he does. He is not a good parent, but he tries his best—he simply doesn’t know how to be a good dad.

For Stella’s ninth birthday, her mom gets her tickets to the aquarium. When they arrive, Stella sees Stanley, but she avoids him the entire time they are there. Eventually, they see each other in the gift shop, so she uses the social skills Jenny taught her by asking if he likes marine life too. Stella realizes it’s easy to talk to Stanley, and they become friends.

At the end of the school year, Stella finally delivers the presentation she spent months worrying about, and it goes flawlessly. She gets an excellent grade, and she also graduates from speech lessons. Jessica’s mean comments no longer bother Stella. Stella also learns to ride a bicycle even though it scares her at first. Over the summer, Stella rides her bike and hangs out with Jenny and Stanley.