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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book about a friendship between an Albania refugee and a tough girl dealing with her own loss. My students have loved this book and have been asking questions nonstop about Kosova.
Ok, pluses here (there are a lot): alternating viewpoint between Drita's Albanian refugee family and Maxie's New York African American family, who is about 3 years out from the loss of her mother in a car accident. Does a fabulous job on both viewpoints -- the shock and strangeness of a small New York apartment after the sudden exit from Kosova, the fear and despair that Drita's mom succumbs to, the difficulties of many people in a small space just trying to cope. And then Maxie -- who is having a lot of difficulty in her grief, acting out, getting in fights and mischief and seriously having a hard time with her dad's new girlfriend. Her new friendship (assigned to her by a caring teacher) with Drita ends up steadying her. I love that both families have a caring grandmother who lives with them and takes on a lot of the heavy emotional work that lets the families function. I love that the refugee family is white and Muslim and the welcoming American family is black -- and comes through when Drita's mom hits a crisis in a big way -- they are absolutely the heroes in this story, but it's not presented as a story about race, it's a school story about 4th graders. Also, I really like that Drita is talented at basketball.
Minuses -- I did find it a little slow to get into. It's 135 pages, but I feel like most of the action happens in the last 3rd of the book, so there's a little patience required to engage.
Minuses -- I did find it a little slow to get into. It's 135 pages, but I feel like most of the action happens in the last 3rd of the book, so there's a little patience required to engage.
A simple story of an immigrant from Kosovo who eventually befriends an American girl. Both girls are struggling with a lot, and the back and forth narrative works pretty well.
Two young protagonists face hardships but together weave a heartfelt tale about family, friendships, and not judging "books" by their cover. I might be a bit biased as I am partial to Albanian/Kosovar culture, but it does add a magnificent multicultural element for youngsters.
I think think this is a really great book for children in middle school and elementary to read. It's a really great find and not difficult at all.It's been years since I've read it, but it popped into my mind and I remember enjoying it.