The beginning of a trilogy, this tale is valuable for both its recounting of a historical tragedy and its immersive Choctaw...
A 10-year-old Choctaw boy recounts the beginnings of the forced resettlement of his people from their Mississippi-area homelands in 1830.
He begins his story with a compelling hook: “Maybe you have never read a book written by a ghost before. I am a ghost. I am not a ghost when this book begins, so you have to pay very close attention.” Readers meet Isaac, his family and their dog, Jumper, on the day that Treaty Talk changes everything. Even as the Choctaw prepare to leave their homes, Isaac begins to have unsettling visions: Some elders are engulfed in flames, and others are covered in oozing pustules. As Isaac and his family set out on the Choctaw Trail of Tears, these visions begin to come true, as some are burned to death by the Nahullos and others perish due to smallpox-infested blankets distributed on the trail. But the Choctaw barrier between life and death is a fluid one, and ghosts follow Isaac, providing reassurance and advice that allow him to help his family and others as well as to prepare for his own impending death. Storyteller Tingle’s tale unfolds in Isaac’s conversational voice; readers “hear” his story with comforting clarity and are plunged into the Choctaw belief system, so they can begin to understand it from the inside out.
The beginning of a trilogy, this tale is valuable for both its recounting of a historical tragedy and its immersive Choctaw perspective . (Historical fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: June 18, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-937054-53-3
Page Count: 160
Publisher: The RoadRunner Press
Review Posted Online: June 7, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2013
An incredibly heartfelt depiction of immigrants and refugees in a land full of uncertainty.
Picking up a week after the grueling journey chronicled in The Only Road (2016), Diaz’s profound sequel finds 12-year-old Jaime Rivera and his cousin Ángela adjusting to life in El Norte.
Jaime doesn’t know English too well, and his first days at school result in an unfortunate bathroom accident, mocking giggles from his classmates, and snide comments from the class bully, Diego. To Jaime’s horror, Ángela seems to have changed overnight, making new friends with ease, switching to English almost exclusively, and acting aloof about their recent odyssey. Meanwhile, the specter of deportation looms endlessly, and terrible news from Guatemala involving Abuela and the Alphas erases any hope of returning to their village any time soon. Like its predecessor, this timely follow-up addresses the threats that immigrants and refugees face daily in El Norte, where “talk of a massive wall and deporting all of us” continues unabated. Diaz keeps the intimate third-person narration intact as she skillfully explores Jaime’s new life in New Mexico, although the novel’s noble objectives often deny any meaningful character development. Fortunately, well-sketched friends and family offer Jaime support in unexpected ways, including Sean, a deaf, white schoolmate who incites a pleasant subplot, and the gentle Don Vicente, an old Mexican cowboy whose relationship with Jaime forms the heart of the novel.
An incredibly heartfelt depiction of immigrants and refugees in a land full of uncertainty. (author’s note, references, further reading, glossary) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1455-6
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 10, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2018
A dreamy, imaginative, and vibrant story full of heart and wordplay.
A story about the power of teamwork, dedication, and how dreams come to be.
Ten-year-old Luna Grande lives with her fathers, Dad and Papa, and Murph, the dog she adores. Each night she has vivid dreams that are brought to life by the Dreamatics, a theater troupe at the Lunarian Grand. There are incredible actors, the Unseen Playwright, the Forty Winks Orchestra, costume designer Tuck, and more—all working together to perform Luna’s dreams. They are a happy ensemble who delight in what they do and who love Luna and her family. But one day, when tragedy strikes in Luna’s waking world, her dreams are replaced by nightmares, and the Dreamatics are supplanted by Coco and the Bad Dreams. However, humble stagehand Dormir is determined to save the theater and give Luna her dreams back. This witty, magical, and touching tale will inspire giggles of delight, appreciation of the inner workings of a theater troupe, and wonder at the behind-the-scenes process of dream-making. At its core, this is a story of dedication, loyalty, love, and friendship that takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions and leaves them feeling warm and fuzzy: “Life is not a dress rehearsal….The curtains are up and you are on, so get out there and give it your best shot.” Papa is cued Latine; Dad and Luna are racially ambiguous.
A dreamy, imaginative, and vibrant story full of heart and wordplay. (cast list) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 12, 2023
ISBN: 9780593532225
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books/Penguin
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
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