Reviews

Everlasting Nora by Marie Miranda Cruz

gabriellabuba's review

5.0

I'm admittedly not a big MG reader but I'm so glad I made an exception for this book it has so much heart and watching Nora learn to trust again and find her community and most importantly run wild empowered mainly with a bottle of cleaning solution and a balisong knife was utterly delightful. As someone who was caretaking for family members quite young it really struck a cord with me. I want my future kids to read this

angelnorin's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

kimdavishb's review

5.0

This heartwarming debut by Marie Miranda Cruz captivated me from the very first page until the very last word was read. I was immersed into a culture that I know very little about and enjoyed the opportunity to learn about it. Her use of Filipino words scattered throughout the story added authenticity. Be sure to check out the glossary of Tagalog words at the back of the book! The descriptive, vivid language Ms. Cruz uses helps the reader feel like they are there, experiencing everything the protagonist, Nora, is going through. It is obvious the author did ample research and put it to good use. I was horrified by the poverty that befell Nora and her mother… it seems unfathomable that children actually live in the conditions she was forced into. It definitely opened my eyes and I think it’s especially beneficial for school-aged children in the U.S. to see the lack of basic necessities so many other kids in the world must contend with. Despite the heartbreak that Nora experiences, she also has a resilient spirit. As the story progresses, Nora finds inner strength and determination which brings a warmth to the reader. It left me cheering for Nora, knowing she has what it takes to make a difference in her surroundings.

sandiasando's review against another edition

This book was interesting enough.  But I guess it just lost my interest.  I was trying to do a quick read to find a book for a kids book club.  I hope to pick it up again.

norakatlynhensley's review

adventurous emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

shadylane_00's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

rovie_reads's review against another edition

4.0

Nora lives in the Philippine North Cemetery together with her Mom. After losing her father in a fire that burned down their house, a series of unfortunate events followed that left them with no choice but to permanently live in the cemetery. This type of living is nothing new to most people especially for Filipino readers. I myself have seen several families living in such situation whenever I visit my loved ones in the cemetery. It's not an easy life obviously, but some of these families have been living there for several years, they even built a community among themselves.

Nora wants nothing but to go back to school, but their current situation forced her to work instead. They get by by doing laundry jobs with her mom and through selling everlasting daisies to visitors of the cemetery. Her mom went missing so Nora was left to tend to herself and find her mom's whereabouts. She realized her mom was deep in debt and also has fallen ill. It was a tough time for someone her age, but with the help of her friend and the community around her, she was able to pull through.

It was an inspiring story and it feels really close to my heart. The setting is very familiar as well as having the same hardships as a kid. Nora is a brave girl and she never lost hope. Jojo is a funny, reliable friend as well!

Content warnings: gambling, beating, grieving, death of loved one, poverty.

smo13's review

5.0

An amazing look into life living in a cemetery in the Philippines. Nora is extremely relatable and it’s really a story about family, friends, and found family support. Yes, there’s dark moments but it all comes together. Plus more Filipino rep in children’s books! Yay!!

katieproctorbooks's review

4.0

This book was very good—following Nora, a girl living in Manila with her mother in the cemetery where her father is buried. It was very eye opening about the poverty in the Philippines but also it was such a heartwarming story about family and friendship. There were tough parts to this book for sure—not for a highly sensitive kid. But I enjoyed it!

aerolich's review

adventurous challenging emotional informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25