Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I liked Esperanza Rising but I LOVED this story and so did most of my students. A lot of them could relate to Naomi and Owen in certain regards; many of my kids have been in foster care, all are diagnosed with a disorder (though very different from Owen, all mine are emotionally disturbed), they deal with doctor and therapist appointments, some unreliable birth parents, and many are scared about the future (especially summer break, which is coming up so soon - so many of them fear the instability and inconsistency of summers out of school). This is an excellent read, highly recommended.
Becoming Naomi Leon is a wonderful story of a young girl who searches for her identity and finds her voice.
Half-Mexican Naomi and her younger disabled brother, Owen, live with their loving great-grandmother in the trailer park that they call home. When Naomi is 11, her mother returns, and they barely recognize her. However, her mother (who now wants to be called by a new name - "Skyla") expects to pick up where they left off with no hard feelings. At first, Naomi is overjoyed with the attention and gifts from her mother, but soon she starts to notice the way Owen is left out. And when her mother misses a parent-teacher conference and then becomes angry at Owen's doctor visit, Naomi starts to realize her mother's true nature. When Skyla threatens to take Naomi back (but not Owen), Naomi's great-grandmother packs up the children and takes them to Mexico in search of their long-lost father in the hope that he can help settle the custody issues. What will happen to Naomi if she has to go live with her mother? What if her father decides that he wants her now after all these years?
This book gives insight into the life of a Mexican-American girl who learns more about her Mexican heritage. I think Naomi's friend Blanca put it best when she said, "Ask lots of questions and you'll get lots of answers. You deserve to know about your own life. Right?" (p. 55) Children of all backgrounds can enjoy learning about people who are different than them, too. Becoming Naomi Leon includes many rich details about Oaxaca, Mexico and the language, culture, and traditions of Mexico's people. Also, families today do not always reflect the traditional idea of a family. Many children are being raised by grandparents, great grandparents, or other relatives. They may identify with Naomi as her family goes through a bitter custody battle.
Through Naomi's search for her father and her Mexican-American identity, she finds her voice. People were always asking Naomi to speak up, and she finds her voice in a courageous way. Read Becoming Naomi Leon for an inspiring story of a girl finding her place in the world.
Half-Mexican Naomi and her younger disabled brother, Owen, live with their loving great-grandmother in the trailer park that they call home. When Naomi is 11, her mother returns, and they barely recognize her. However, her mother (who now wants to be called by a new name - "Skyla") expects to pick up where they left off with no hard feelings. At first, Naomi is overjoyed with the attention and gifts from her mother, but soon she starts to notice the way Owen is left out. And when her mother misses a parent-teacher conference and then becomes angry at Owen's doctor visit, Naomi starts to realize her mother's true nature. When Skyla threatens to take Naomi back (but not Owen), Naomi's great-grandmother packs up the children and takes them to Mexico in search of their long-lost father in the hope that he can help settle the custody issues. What will happen to Naomi if she has to go live with her mother? What if her father decides that he wants her now after all these years?
This book gives insight into the life of a Mexican-American girl who learns more about her Mexican heritage. I think Naomi's friend Blanca put it best when she said, "Ask lots of questions and you'll get lots of answers. You deserve to know about your own life. Right?" (p. 55) Children of all backgrounds can enjoy learning about people who are different than them, too. Becoming Naomi Leon includes many rich details about Oaxaca, Mexico and the language, culture, and traditions of Mexico's people. Also, families today do not always reflect the traditional idea of a family. Many children are being raised by grandparents, great grandparents, or other relatives. They may identify with Naomi as her family goes through a bitter custody battle.
Through Naomi's search for her father and her Mexican-American identity, she finds her voice. People were always asking Naomi to speak up, and she finds her voice in a courageous way. Read Becoming Naomi Leon for an inspiring story of a girl finding her place in the world.
Emma Harrington Response #2
Naomi Leon is a young girl who lives with her great-grandmother, called Gram, and her younger brother Owen in a trailer park where they live a simple and happy life. Then, her mother, who abandoned them seven years ago shows up again and tries to be a part of their lives, claiming that she has her act together now after years of alcoholism and several rehab stays. She claims at first to just be visiting her children, but then decides she and her boyfriend want Naomi to come live with them in Las Vegas to entertain her boyfriend's daughter, who has come to live with him. Since it is clear that Skyla, Naomi's mother is unstable, Gram makes the decision to take the children, along with their neighbors to Oaxaca, Mexico to escape Skyla and hopefully find Naomi and Owen's long lost father, Santiago. Naomi does not just find family in Mexico, but ends up finding her inner strength as well.
I have had this book sitting on my bookshelf for a very long time, and figured now was a good time to read it, and I'm really glad I did. It reminded me of the books I read when I was younger and I really enjoyed reading about Naomi and her journey to family and strength. Also, readers learn a lot about Mexican culture along with Naomi and her brother, which I thought was a really good addition to the novel. I think the book could've been longer, I actually wished it was, as most of the important action in the book was jumped right into, especially with Skyla's arrival in the beginning. I was also slightly disappointed with the ending, but won't say what so that I don't give away any spoilers. The book was definitely a quick read, as I read it in one sitting. I think it was a really good book and would definitely recommend it to other readers.
Naomi Leon is a young girl who lives with her great-grandmother, called Gram, and her younger brother Owen in a trailer park where they live a simple and happy life. Then, her mother, who abandoned them seven years ago shows up again and tries to be a part of their lives, claiming that she has her act together now after years of alcoholism and several rehab stays. She claims at first to just be visiting her children, but then decides she and her boyfriend want Naomi to come live with them in Las Vegas to entertain her boyfriend's daughter, who has come to live with him. Since it is clear that Skyla, Naomi's mother is unstable, Gram makes the decision to take the children, along with their neighbors to Oaxaca, Mexico to escape Skyla and hopefully find Naomi and Owen's long lost father, Santiago. Naomi does not just find family in Mexico, but ends up finding her inner strength as well.
I have had this book sitting on my bookshelf for a very long time, and figured now was a good time to read it, and I'm really glad I did. It reminded me of the books I read when I was younger and I really enjoyed reading about Naomi and her journey to family and strength. Also, readers learn a lot about Mexican culture along with Naomi and her brother, which I thought was a really good addition to the novel. I think the book could've been longer, I actually wished it was, as most of the important action in the book was jumped right into, especially with Skyla's arrival in the beginning. I was also slightly disappointed with the ending, but won't say what so that I don't give away any spoilers. The book was definitely a quick read, as I read it in one sitting. I think it was a really good book and would definitely recommend it to other readers.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Abandonment, Alcohol
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Such a good story, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it!
This is a family story and I loved stepping into their home. Baby Beluga is the name of their trailer. There are many things that are difficult about their family situation (mostly because their mother has addiction issues), but there are so many things that are positive. Naomi and her brother are being raised by a very caring great grandmother. They haven't seen their father in years, but he wants to know them. They have close supportive adult neighbors too.
I felt like I was right in the midst of the family while I was reading. There was a wonderful sense of place throughout. I wanted to spend more time with Naomi's family.
I felt like I was right in the midst of the family while I was reading. There was a wonderful sense of place throughout. I wanted to spend more time with Naomi's family.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Oh how I loved this book. I'm not sure why I missed reading it . . . but I'm so glad I picked up the audiobook last week. Such wonderfully drawn characters -- I loved Gram and Naomi and Owen and Blanca and the extended Mexican family, and so despised "Skyla." What a mother! She makes the mother in One Crazy Summer look good. The narrator was quite good and it was great to hear the words in Spanish -- they sounded lovelier than I think they would have if I had read the book. I enjoyed Naomi's lists as well, and thought her emotions were especially well drawn. Highly recommended.