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harri2ed 's review for:
Becoming Naomi León
by Pam Muñoz Ryan
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.