A moving story about the struggles of an Iranian migrant.
A young boy with a heroic name faces an uncertain future in this myth-inspired novel.
As Lillehei’s book begins, an 11-year-old named Sam is traveling across barren terrain in Iran with a driver and two other boys, 15-year-old twins Amir and Amin, with an aim to cross the border into Turkey. Although Sam is very young, he senses that this trip is different from any other he’s taken; he’s leaving behind his mother and sisters, and his father clearly expects never to see him again. Against this humble, even desperate backdrop, Lillehei establishes a steadily stalwart folktalelike tone: “Warriors appear in many sizes, shapes and guises. Sometimes they’re only eleven years old, slight of frame, but with the heart of a lion and the strength of a tiger.” Sam’s father is a devout Muslim and a proud Persian, and he’d steeped Sam in heroic stories from Persian legend, to which the story often alludes; Sam is even named after a legendary king. The plot follows Sam and his fellow travelers on their sometimes-arduous journey through hostile country, and over perilous border crossings, in their attempt to reach the West. Throughout, Lillehei tells the tale in a straightforward manner, and this simplicity meshes well with its focus on Sam’s youthful perceptions during his voyage, including extracts from the youngster’s notebooks. Occasionally, however, the author spoils the tone with ungainly moments of exposition: “Turkey relied on agricultural products from Iran. Therefore, the trade continued but was hidden from the western countries whose desire to isolate Iran was unrelenting.” That said, this remains an ultimately uplifting tale of indomitable heroism.
A moving story about the struggles of an Iranian migrant.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 307
Publisher: Manuscript
Review Posted Online: Feb. 16, 2022
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Enchanting.
Neglected and uprooted, an 11-year-old finds a surprising new family.
Gwen MacKinnon has been sent to live with Great-Uncle Matthew in Massachusetts while her father sorts out a new apartment in St. Louis after splitting with his third wife and her mother moves to Costa Rica with her boyfriend. Uncertain about her future, Gwen finds solace in knowing that a library in her new town shares her name: the MacKinnon Library. What she doesn’t know is that the children’s section of this library is populated by the Lahdukan, small, winged people with turquoise hair who can only be seen and heard by children under 7—and, surprisingly, Gwen. Great-Uncle Matthew thinks the Lahdukan are a game of pretend that the children play, but they’re real, and they’re in trouble. Their library home is undergoing construction, and they must find a new place to live. The Lahdukan thrive on archaic prophesies, one of which has told of the coming of a new Qalba—a human girl from the MacKinnon family who will help their clan. Much to Gwen’s shock, the Lahdukan tell her she’s the new Qalba. Birdsall gives the coming-of-age theme a fresh spin in her inventive story, one that’s filled with endearing, quirky characters and delicious intrigue involving Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Phelan’s lively black-and-white illustrations add visual interest. Gwen and Great-Uncle Matthew appear to be white.
Enchanting. (author’s note, pronunciation guide) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 5, 2025
ISBN: 9780525579045
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
A thoughtful, humorous, community-centered exploration of identity and Buddhism.
Stories of Buddha’s past lives help a young boy “find [himself] in the moment.”
Binh and his siblings, who are of Vietnamese descent, can’t believe they’re spending the weekend at a silent meditation retreat. Binh would rather play his Game Boy so he doesn’t have to meditate and inevitably think about the bullies at school. It is only when Sister Peace tells stories about the Buddha and his past life that Binh is able to imagine himself entering a video game–inspired world and thus process his feelings of shame, isolation, and anger. With each Jataka tale, Binh’s awareness expands, and so, too, does his ability to be present for and helpful to those around him. A welcome addition to the handful of middle-grade stories featuring Buddhist protagonists, this exploration of identity and Buddhist principles will find an audience with young readers who love Raina Telgemeier but aren’t quite ready to level up to the complexity and nuance of Gene Luen Yang’s epic American Born Chinese (2006). The video game elements are compelling, although they understandably diminish as the story progresses and the protagonist’s inner life grows. Warm fall colors and luscious black lines anchor the story as it transitions among flashbacks, stories, and the present day. Filled with talking animals, the parables can be a little heavy-handed, but the witty banter between Binh and the narrator during fantasy sequences provides levity. (This review was updated for accuracy.)
A thoughtful, humorous, community-centered exploration of identity and Buddhism. (bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Sept. 19, 2023
ISBN: 9780759555488
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2023
PERSPECTIVES
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