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christinamp 's review for:
Becoming Naomi León
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pam Muñoz Ryan did it again with this book. I first heard of her when I read Esperanza Rising for my Children's Lit course in college and was amazed by the depth of that book -yet today appropriate for middle grades to read.
I have to say the same about this book. It's delightful use of language, its relatability for kids, and its deft treatment of themes such as alcoholism in parents, being raised by someone else, being in a biracial family and learning about the other side of the family.... it was a beautiful, hopeful, receptive story.
For the classroom:
- BIPOC/biracial main characters
- difficult family life - court system, divorce, estranged, but loving, father, a mom who struggles with alcoholism, a loving guardian
- Oaxacan festival at Christmas time
- lots of examples for teaching figurative language, especially similes
I have to say the same about this book. It's delightful use of language, its relatability for kids, and its deft treatment of themes such as alcoholism in parents, being raised by someone else, being in a biracial family and learning about the other side of the family.... it was a beautiful, hopeful, receptive story.
For the classroom:
- BIPOC/biracial main characters
- difficult family life - court system, divorce, estranged, but loving, father, a mom who struggles with alcoholism, a loving guardian
- Oaxacan festival at Christmas time
- lots of examples for teaching figurative language, especially similes