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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
fast-paced
fast-paced
Oh my god my heart. This book. I have NEVER enjoyed a book in verse before, but this book is just completely beautiful and brilliant. It's a great one for a reluctant reader, or as a read aloud. Kek's experiences as he learns to navigate his new world are funny and touching and sometimes heartbreaking. I cannot recommend this enough. I literally laughed out aloud as many times as I cried. What a gem.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
(read for class)
a solid middle grade story, truly loveable characters and heartwarming moments, and compelling descriptions of language and loss in that free-verse style. like other reviewers, though, I am struggling with wanting to hear a story like this from a non-white author. at the very least, we could have gotten some acknowledgement of any stories she heard in her research or what research she did to write from this perspective.
a solid middle grade story, truly loveable characters and heartwarming moments, and compelling descriptions of language and loss in that free-verse style. like other reviewers, though, I am struggling with wanting to hear a story like this from a non-white author. at the very least, we could have gotten some acknowledgement of any stories she heard in her research or what research she did to write from this perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, War
A multiple award winner for good reason. A heartwarming story of an immigrant's first months in a country and among people who are literally "polar" opposites of him. Great economy of words that conveyed the basic feelings I'm sure many immigrants feel no matter what new country they settle in.
Sure, the characters are simplistic, maybe stereotypes, but this is for middle-graders, not adults, and kids need simpler, more concrete words, meanings, metaphors for expressing their feelings and understanding the feelings of others.
I visited my Little Brother (Big Brothers Big Sisters) in class and they were reading and discussing the book. Every one of the 25 students, including my Ethan, were completely engaged in the story. Our town happens to have a sizeable Somali refugee population, so this is a real issue for both the native kids and the immigrant Somalis. I certainly hope the all the "native" kids--white, Hispanic, and African-American) get at least a small taste of what it feels like to have your childhood destroyed by war and then end up in a foreign land and be forced to adapt to new language, new weather, new people, customs, food, clothing, lifestyle, etc.
Highly recommended for anyone living in a community with refugees from any foreign country, especially families with children in school.
Sure, the characters are simplistic, maybe stereotypes, but this is for middle-graders, not adults, and kids need simpler, more concrete words, meanings, metaphors for expressing their feelings and understanding the feelings of others.
I visited my Little Brother (Big Brothers Big Sisters) in class and they were reading and discussing the book. Every one of the 25 students, including my Ethan, were completely engaged in the story. Our town happens to have a sizeable Somali refugee population, so this is a real issue for both the native kids and the immigrant Somalis. I certainly hope the all the "native" kids--white, Hispanic, and African-American) get at least a small taste of what it feels like to have your childhood destroyed by war and then end up in a foreign land and be forced to adapt to new language, new weather, new people, customs, food, clothing, lifestyle, etc.
Highly recommended for anyone living in a community with refugees from any foreign country, especially families with children in school.