When Samantha Wolf, my editor at Lee & Low, asked me what I hoped readers would take away from Finding the Music, I told her this:

“Most of us live with things – music, old recipes, family heirlooms – that sort of fade into the background of our everyday lives because we’re around them so often we stop noticing. But some of those things are treasures – with stories to tell about family and community. I hope this story inspires readers to consider them a little more closely.”

For Reyna, that treasure was Abuelo’s vihuela.

One of the real-life treasures in my own home is my Nana’s chest of silverware. I love the story it tells about her and our family: Read about it here.