Scan barcode
bookiecharm's review against another edition
I’m looking for some specific middle grade that isn’t this. This not being latine enough story in a non-latine white ass community is not what I thought this book would be.
wordwoonders's review
DNF @70%
There's honestly nothing wrong with this book. I put it down because I had to prioritize some other reads but then never had the desire to pick it back up again. I wasn't hating it, but I wasn't loving it either and I can't bring myself to go back to it. So onto the next book!
There's honestly nothing wrong with this book. I put it down because I had to prioritize some other reads but then never had the desire to pick it back up again. I wasn't hating it, but I wasn't loving it either and I can't bring myself to go back to it. So onto the next book!
sdertinger's review
3.0
Little Eddie lives with his hard-working mother in Minnesota. He goes to summer camp where he meets the a girl with the coolest purple hair, Cameron. It was totally spontaneous how they met and how in that first time they met they planned to be partners in a local fishing tournament; the tournament that his father won 3rd place in many years ago. Little Eddie doesn't have his father anymore, he died and it's been just him and his mom. All he has are memories from long ago locked up in his garage where he can't easily get them. But he knows that he got third place in this same fishing tournament because he found his father's medal. He treasures it and keeps it in his pocket. Little Eddie is half-Colombian and his half-brother, Big Eddie, is supposed to stay with him and his mom for part of the summer because he was going to attend school. Well, in Colombia, Big Eddie has to stay with his abuela. She has cancer and is not doing well. Little Eddie, who has never left Minnesota, is invited to spend the summer with his older half-brother. Little does he know, what he is going to learn.
In this book, we learn a lot about the struggles of Little Eddie and his ability to feel comfortable in his skin. He doesn't know Spanish and he tries to learn what it is like to be a true "Colombian" - he feels like a fish out of water. While he is in Colombia magic unfolds and things that look like one thing turn into another. He also learns a lot about his Papa and what it means to
In this book, we learn a lot about the struggles of Little Eddie and his ability to feel comfortable in his skin. He doesn't know Spanish and he tries to learn what it is like to be a true "Colombian" - he feels like a fish out of water. While he is in Colombia magic unfolds and things that look like one thing turn into another. He also learns a lot about his Papa and what it means to
happilymegan's review
"...even though no one is actually hugging, I feel like I'm the filling in the sandwich again."
I'm glad I gave this a chance.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was how relatable Tito's experience connecting to his culture was. I remember having similar feelings about language and family and food when I decided I wanted to speak Spanish and actively partake in the culture and traditions.
I'm glad I gave this a chance.
The thing I enjoyed most about this book was how relatable Tito's experience connecting to his culture was. I remember having similar feelings about language and family and food when I decided I wanted to speak Spanish and actively partake in the culture and traditions.
apierlessbridge's review
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
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
3.0
iamrainbou's review against another edition
2.0
I don't think this was quite successful. The main conflict is how Eddie doesn't feel Colombian enough and what it means for him to be a biracial, Latino boy in a mostly white community. There are also discussions about grief and racism. But here is the thing, the resolution is so anti-climatic and abrupt that left a bad taste on my mouth.
I have discovered this trope where biracial children lose one of their parents and have to grow up in a white community, with a parent that doesn't understand what being biracial means at all. The parent tries their best, but more often than not, they fail to understand microaggressions or diaspora and they keep hurting their children. I have found this trope and I hate it.
I get this middle-grade and maybe the possibility of a nuanced discussion about this was not all the way possible (I mean, I actually don't believe that but whatever). But it was so frustrating! Eddie is hurting and feels completely alone and he's dealing with all these feelings by himself. Here's where I think Anika Fajardo fails, at the end, he has no discussions with anyone about this personal conflict. He doesn't tell his mom about feeling like he lost a part of his identity, he doesn't tell his brother how he feels like he's not enough. No, all by himself in the most anti-climatic way, Eddie decides he's Colombian American after all. Why does that change happen? I have no idea.
In part, my frustration is because there's no character development. Eddie's misconceptions about Colombia are never challenged, he never talks about his own grief but instead centers his mother's and brother's, and he never receives the validation from his own family that he needs.
I was very frustrated by this book and to be honest, very disappointed, too.
I have discovered this trope where biracial children lose one of their parents and have to grow up in a white community, with a parent that doesn't understand what being biracial means at all. The parent tries their best, but more often than not, they fail to understand microaggressions or diaspora and they keep hurting their children. I have found this trope and I hate it.
I get this middle-grade and maybe the possibility of a nuanced discussion about this was not all the way possible (I mean, I actually don't believe that but whatever). But it was so frustrating! Eddie is hurting and feels completely alone and he's dealing with all these feelings by himself. Here's where I think Anika Fajardo fails, at the end, he has no discussions with anyone about this personal conflict. He doesn't tell his mom about feeling like he lost a part of his identity, he doesn't tell his brother how he feels like he's not enough. No, all by himself in the most anti-climatic way, Eddie decides he's Colombian American after all. Why does that change happen? I have no idea.
In part, my frustration is because there's no character development. Eddie's misconceptions about Colombia are never challenged, he never talks about his own grief but instead centers his mother's and brother's, and he never receives the validation from his own family that he needs.
I was very frustrated by this book and to be honest, very disappointed, too.
wordwoonders's review against another edition
<b>DNF @70%</b>
There's honestly nothing wrong with this book. I put it down because I had to prioritize some other reads but then never had the desire to pick it back up again. I wasn't hating it, but I wasn't loving it either and I can't bring myself to go back to it. So onto the next book!
There's honestly nothing wrong with this book. I put it down because I had to prioritize some other reads but then never had the desire to pick it back up again. I wasn't hating it, but I wasn't loving it either and I can't bring myself to go back to it. So onto the next book!