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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Thanks to my ten year old cousin who happens love to read like me hahaha I was able to read this at the beach I finished it so fast because I couldn't put it down it was a nice break from the books I normally read and I enjoyed because this girl happens to be Mexican like me!!! Whoo woo! And she lives in San Diego again like me! So I felt like I was there and witnessed the whole thing and I love it how she loves her family and she would do anything to keep that way and it makes me appreciate my family even though they could bug me sometimes. And skylar? Ohh she bugged me!!! I really wanted to slap that lady back to her sense!!!I really enjoy this book and recommend for anyone this book is not just for kids i absolutely recommend that everyone should read this book!!!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
An emotionally-driven story, but optimistic, rather than dark. Good themes, engaging writing. Overall a solid middle-grade book.
I especially enjoyed learning about La Noche de los Rábanos, which I'd never heard of before.
I especially enjoyed learning about La Noche de los Rábanos, which I'd never heard of before.
I think Pam Muñoz Ryan has a particular talent for lyrical, yet simple writing that makes a child's narration sincere, believable and profound. I'm very impressed by her style, which is obviously best for children, but also proves engaging for adults. I think these kinds of books are excellent, but underutilized for young readers since it displays a non-fiction world with believable characters that must overcome relevant problems.
emotional
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction
Minor: Child abuse
While I quite liked this book, especially the characters, I decided not to assign it to my middle grade book club after all.
Spoiler
I feel like the bad experiences with the alcoholic, self-centered mom cast too great a shadow over the good experiences with the other adults in their lives. I was never sympathetic toward her. And the suspense of the custody battle was too frightening given that in the real world not-great parents like her can twist the court to their way, while good parents like Abuela, who truly get the job done well with love, can sometimes lose.
Such a beautiful look into the complicated nature of broken families, the impact of poverty and mental health on family dynamics, and a cross-cultural family heritage that impacts the sense of personal identity in children. I loved this book and highly recommend!
a charming, heartwrenching story of a girl and her brother who (unlike the book above) do get to live together with their great grandmother. their mother comes back and wants to take naomi away, but… the family fights to stay together. great use of language and i enjoyed the trip to mexico in their trailer, “baby beluga.”
emotional
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:
Complicated
4.4/5 This book, like Ryan's others made me cry and was just a really amazing read! The characters were really well written and fleshed out, I just wish that there was more confirmation as to what happened to some characters at the end, such as Skyla and the characters in Mexico (who reminded me a lot of my family).