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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Juggling parts of your identity, your feelings: lots of issues juggled in this congenial pre-teen tale.
A lot is going on here. Quijana's parents each come from different backgrounds, leaving her identity at school and with Guatemalan classmates confusing and frustrating. Her lack of Spanish makes her feel left out with relatives. Her beloved grandmother is unwell. Her little brother has issues that she and her parents can't keep up with. And now she's got a crush on a new friend as well. Phew. A lot to fit into one book.
The main plot of the book tries to focus on Qui's (slightly overdone) horror at having to travel in the holidays to Guatemala for her first visit to her father's family. She won't be able to communicate with them! They won't like her. Starting a new school year, she makes new friends and develops feelings for one of her new friends there, despite struggling with Spanish classes and feeling out of place.
I couldn't quite sympathise with Quijana's worries about a trip to see family. It seemed overblown . But the crush was nicely handled and realistic and Qui's relationship with her grandmother was heart-warming and loving. There's a very enviable marriage between Qui's parents, and a friendship that seems a little mature for 12-year-olds.
Quijana (named for Don Quixote - quotes of which I enjoyed, and was glad to see included) is a realistic 12-year-old, both clearly still immature in some respects but with burgeoning adult understanding and instincts. It's a fascinating family tale really, with some upsetting moments, a few 'surprises', some unresolved storylines that readers will wonder about.
For ages 10-14.
A lot is going on here. Quijana's parents each come from different backgrounds, leaving her identity at school and with Guatemalan classmates confusing and frustrating. Her lack of Spanish makes her feel left out with relatives. Her beloved grandmother is unwell. Her little brother has issues that she and her parents can't keep up with. And now she's got a crush on a new friend as well. Phew. A lot to fit into one book.
The main plot of the book tries to focus on Qui's (slightly overdone) horror at having to travel in the holidays to Guatemala for her first visit to her father's family. She won't be able to communicate with them! They won't like her. Starting a new school year, she makes new friends and develops feelings for one of her new friends there, despite struggling with Spanish classes and feeling out of place.
I couldn't quite sympathise with Quijana's worries about a trip to see family. It seemed overblown . But the crush was nicely handled and realistic and Qui's relationship with her grandmother was heart-warming and loving. There's a very enviable marriage between Qui's parents, and a friendship that seems a little mature for 12-year-olds.
Quijana (named for Don Quixote - quotes of which I enjoyed, and was glad to see included) is a realistic 12-year-old, both clearly still immature in some respects but with burgeoning adult understanding and instincts. It's a fascinating family tale really, with some upsetting moments, a few 'surprises', some unresolved storylines that readers will wonder about.
For ages 10-14.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this one and I cannot quite pinpoint why I didn't. Quijana behaves life a self-centered tween (maybe her extreme brattiness is what put me off). I cannot believe her mother, who is studying to be a teacher, cannot identify what is going on with her younger child (maybe her cluelessness at the obvious red flags is what put me off). I also cannot believe that Quijana was not allowed to go with her mom on the pre-Thanksgiving trip. Again, the mom is studying to be a teacher; anyone could see what was about to happen, why deprive Quijana of the opportunity to go? Honestly, I thought the parents should have postponed the Christmas trip. It was selfish of them not to do so, even if if provided Quijana an opportunity to grow in the repressed cultural aspect.
estebe's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sundaynash's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
abi0408's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal middle grades novel that I think a lot of young students will be able to relate to on some level! Such a great, heart-warming story!
roots_and_reads's review
3.0
I really enjoyed that larger themes in this book— finding your place, identity, struggling to “fit in”. I think the story overall is really well told and I appreciate the diversity of characters in this book. My only tiny complaint is that there is a fairly decent sized storyline of “crushes” and the main character spends too much time (in my opinion) wondering whether her needs friend has a crush on her too. I just don’t think that aspect was necessary? I would still recommend this book though— it’s a great read!
jlwlm12's review
4.0
There were so many things to enjoy about this book! Highly recommend. I’m glad I ended up reading it during Hispanic heritage month!
lauraboles9's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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? Yes
3.75
etwomey's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mpr2000's review
5.0
I don’t usually read books for young children, but the plot of The Other Half of Happy intrigued me, let’s be honest, I couldn’t put it down!
Quijana is half Guatemalan and half American, but she feels American, she has lived all her life in America, doesn’t speak Spanish and has never been to Guatemala. So, when her parents decide to travel to Guatemala to visit her family, she doesn’t want to go, she’s scared to be ignored and underestimated by this part of the family that she never met. It doesn’t help that at the new school the Spanish community bully her, it seems that no one can accept that even if her father is from Guatemala she doesn’t speak Spanish at all! She will meet two new friends that will help her in the worst situations, because sometimes with a good friend on your side you can save the world, don’t you think?
I was really touched by this story, we are living in Ireland but we are from Catalonia, my son doesn’t speak at all Spanish and people in Spain see it with bad eyes, so I can understand Quijana emotions and feelings. She is American, so why having a dark hair and brown skin means that you are different?
I was surprised with all the varieties of themes that this book touches; love, friendship, illness, family… I think this is not only a book to read the young ones of the family but to read with the parents and their children. It is a book that makes you want to talk to them, explain a little bit how the world it is and that there are problems that are better shared than keept locked.
This is a beautiful story that will be in my heart forever, no matter what language do you speak, you’ll love “The Other Half Of Happy” I am sure!
Quijana is half Guatemalan and half American, but she feels American, she has lived all her life in America, doesn’t speak Spanish and has never been to Guatemala. So, when her parents decide to travel to Guatemala to visit her family, she doesn’t want to go, she’s scared to be ignored and underestimated by this part of the family that she never met. It doesn’t help that at the new school the Spanish community bully her, it seems that no one can accept that even if her father is from Guatemala she doesn’t speak Spanish at all! She will meet two new friends that will help her in the worst situations, because sometimes with a good friend on your side you can save the world, don’t you think?
I was really touched by this story, we are living in Ireland but we are from Catalonia, my son doesn’t speak at all Spanish and people in Spain see it with bad eyes, so I can understand Quijana emotions and feelings. She is American, so why having a dark hair and brown skin means that you are different?
I was surprised with all the varieties of themes that this book touches; love, friendship, illness, family… I think this is not only a book to read the young ones of the family but to read with the parents and their children. It is a book that makes you want to talk to them, explain a little bit how the world it is and that there are problems that are better shared than keept locked.
This is a beautiful story that will be in my heart forever, no matter what language do you speak, you’ll love “The Other Half Of Happy” I am sure!