Reviews

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten

shksprsis's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

chamsae's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad medium-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

karbzzz's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

thepetitepunk's review against another edition

4.0

This middle grade novel could definitely be enjoyable for audiences of all ages. The portrayal of mental health difficulties in a younger girl was well done.

jess_mango's review against another edition

4.0

In a mango-sweet new middle grade novel, Kereen Getten, tells the story of 12-year old Clara. Clara lives in a small seaside town in Jamaica. Clara loves living on the island. She loves eating fresh ripe mangos and running around in the rain. She has a secret hangout where she spends time with her best friend. There is just one thing. Clara has a gap in her memory about what happened last summer after a hurricane.

This was a moving novel about friendship and family. Clara learns about connections and misunderstandings. She develops a new friendship and sees an old one evolve. There is a lot of drama and tension in the small town but even so, the townsfolk care for their own. There is a good message of being open & understanding and trying to mend rifts.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

katievh's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

zoeebone's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

iceangel32's review against another edition

3.0

I agree with some of the reviews the book was slow to start. I feel that unless you read the blub or other reviews it is just a story of a girl with nothing really special going on for almost the first half of the book. The beginning of the book all makes sense by about 80% into the book. I like how it was a twist that you don’t expect and it does make everything make sense once you get there. Not a bad read, not at all.

marieintheraw's review against another edition

4.0

Although this middle grade is short, it packs quite a punch. With quite a twist and everything. Overall, it can be a bit predictable, but the atmospheric writing is absolutely wonderful.

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

librarydosebykristy's review against another edition

4.0

This was a very different book than I expected. At first, it reads like a day in the life of a girl living in small town Jamaica, fighting with her best friend, trying to keep busy during a long, hot summer, etc. Then you learn that she has a curious memory problem that has caused her to forget everything that happened the previous summer… and well, hints that something big happened keep building and building…
I’m curious whether kids in the older middle grade range (4-6th grade) will get what happened and why the story was told the way it was. It’s very understated, and you can’t say too much without giving it away.
I look forward to discussing this unique story with my#mcba bookclub tomorrow! Will they give it a