ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sara Alvarez Aiello was born in Matanzas, Cuba shortly after the revolution. Her family fled to the United States when she was five years old, settling in the Los Angeles area. She majored in creative writing at UCLA, where she received her bachelor's degree and teaching credential. Sara taught English and Spanish for the Long Beach and Los Angeles School Districts until 2005, when she completed a masters program in education at California State University Dominguez Hills and went into school administration. In 2022, she retired as the principal of Nathaniel Narbonne High School in Harbor City. Sara lives in Torrance, California with her husband, close to their large, loud, and loving Cuban and Italian families.
A black and white photo of a woman and man sitting close together, both looking at the camera.
A black and white photograph of a woman and a man holding a young child, standing in front of floral curtains. The woman is dressed in a light-colored dress, and the man is in a suit with a tie. The child looks surprised, and they are all smiling.
A woman and a girl standing next to a vintage green car on a suburban street, with houses, trees, and utility poles in the background.
Black and white photo of a woman standing outdoors with a young girl seated in a wooden chair. The woman is smiling and has short, curly hair, wearing a sleeveless top and a long skirt. The girl has short hair, is wearing a dress, and is lifting her
A young man standing behind the counter of a store, surrounded by shelves stocked with bottles and boxes, in a black and white photograph.
A young child holding a newborn baby, smiling and looking at the baby in their arms, in a room with warm lighting, a vase with flowers on a table in the background.
A woman and two children sit on a picnic blanket outdoors. The woman is helping a young girl and baby sitting on her lap in a backyard with greenery, a white picket fence, and palm trees.
A young girl in a yellow dress and another girl in a blue dress standing outdoors in front of a bush, smiling for the camera.
Four people, two women and one man, smiling and standing close together in a room with yellow and orange striped wallpaper; there is a green and red tablecloth with a white cake on a table in front of them.
A woman in a graduation cap and gown holding a bouquet of flowers poses with another woman, both smiling.
A woman smiling while holding a large snake on her shoulders, with a curtain background.
Three people posing outdoors, wearing festive leis and colorful clothing, smiling at the camera.
Group of people, including adults and children, posing together in front of a stone wall.