A daring story of family and finding balance.
A tween girl embarks on an unforgettable journey with a traveling circus.
Paloma has spent years living with her Abuela and attending school in southwest Texas while her father and older brothers, Manolo and Sebastián, travel year-round with La Carpa Navarro, a family-run Mexican American circus. In the summer of 1939, 12-year-old Paloma rejoins them for the first time since leaving at age 6 after Mamá, a high-wire performer, died in a tragic accident during a performance. Life on the road is far from glamorous. Paloma is expected to sew costumes, wash dishes, and take on a steady stream of chores that keep the show running. Still, she longs to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a high-wire artist—and she’s determined to convince her father to let her stay with the circus permanently. With secret help from her cousins, she begins to practice, even as she faces the taunts of twin bullies Celia and Belia and the fear that Papi will discover her dreams before she’s ready. As Paloma bonds with the troupe, she gains a deeper understanding of resilience, discrimination against Mexicans and circus performers, and the strength of family bonds. The stakes are high; one misstep could have serious consequences. Rich historical details and a lively cast of characters keep the story moving at a steady pace. Readers will root for gutsy Paloma as she discovers where she belongs.
A daring story of family and finding balance. (author’s note, discussion questions, glossary) (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9798765683217
Page Count: 216
Publisher: Carolrhoda
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2026
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel.
Sandy and his family, Japanese Canadians, experience hatred and incarceration during World War II.
Sandy Saito loves baseball, and the Vancouver Asahi ballplayers are his heroes. But when they lose in the 1941 semifinals, Sandy’s dad calls it a bad omen. Sure enough, in December 1941, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor in the U.S. The Canadian government begins to ban Japanese people from certain areas, moving them to “dormitories” and setting a curfew. Sandy wants to spend time with his father, but as a doctor, his dad is busy, often sneaking out past curfew to work. One night Papa is taken to “where he [is] needed most,” and the family is forced into an internment camp. Life at the camp isn’t easy, and even with some of the Asahi players playing ball there, it just isn’t the same. Trying to understand and find joy again, Sandy struggles with his new reality and relationship with his father. Based on the true experiences of Japanese Canadians and the Vancouver Asahi team, this graphic novel is a glimpse of how their lives were affected by WWII. The end is a bit abrupt, but it’s still an inspiring and sweet look at how baseball helped them through hardship. The illustrations are all in a sepia tone, giving it an antique look and conveying the emotions and struggles. None of the illustrations of their experiences are overly graphic, making it a good introduction to this upsetting topic for middle-grade readers.
An emotional, much-needed historical graphic novel. (afterword, further resources) (Graphic historical fiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Oct. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5253-0334-0
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Kids Can
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and...
Catrina narrates the story of her mixed-race (Latino/white) family’s move from Southern California to Bahía de la Luna on the Northern California coast.
Dad has a new job, but it’s little sister Maya’s lungs that motivate the move: she has had cystic fibrosis since birth—a degenerative breathing condition. Despite her health, Maya loves adventure, even if her lungs suffer for it and even when Cat must follow to keep her safe. When Carlos, a tall, brown, and handsome teen Ghost Tour guide introduces the sisters to the Bahía ghosts—most of whom were Spanish-speaking Mexicans when alive—they fascinate Maya and she them, but the terrified Cat wants only to get herself and Maya back to safety. When the ghost adventure leads to Maya’s hospitalization, Cat blames both herself and Carlos, which makes seeing him at school difficult. As Cat awakens to the meaning of Halloween and Day of the Dead in this strange new home, she comes to understand the importance of the ghosts both to herself and to Maya. Telgemeier neatly balances enough issues that a lesser artist would split them into separate stories and delivers as much delight textually as visually. The backmatter includes snippets from Telgemeier’s sketchbook and a photo of her in Día makeup.
Telgemeier’s bold colors, superior visual storytelling, and unusual subject matter will keep readers emotionally engaged and unable to put down this compelling tale. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-545-54061-2
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2016
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