July 18, 2023 by Dial Books
E ARC provided by Edleweiss Plus
Flora and her best friend Clara attend a Spanish language program in their small coastal town in Rhode Island, since they haven't spoken it much in their homes. Flora's parents ( a thoracic surgeon and carpenter) are from Panama, and Clara's are from Argentina. The two like to hang out a lot, so when Clara's mother gets a cartography job in California, the two are devastated. They spend a lot of quality time together before the move, including a New Year's Eve party where they try to make the most of their limited time, doing the things that they love. When Clara leaves, Flora has to spend more time with her older sister Maylin, who is planning her quinceañera and is micromanaging things. School is especially hard, although her teacher Mrs. Romano is very understanding, and some students, like twins Aidan and Aditya try to include her in their lunch table and plans. When Avery misses a Sunday video call because she is hanging out with her new friend Avery, Flora is devastated. Things look up a bit when new student Zaidee Khal arrives. She's tall for a fifth grader, and always well turned out in skinny jeans, a blazer, and professional looking flats, but she and Flora get along well when they are working on a school project and start to hang out together. Zaidee's family is Lebanese, but they have lived all over the world because of the strife in their homeland, coming most recently from Paris. The two gets up to some hijinks, including trying to spook Maylin with a recording when she is trying on quinceañera dresses, but the two see the error of their ways, and the trick somehow brings Maylin and Flora closer, especially when Flora creates a portrait of her sister as an apology. Clara is able to visit for Maylin's big day, and the two realize that while they may be apart, they can still remain friends.
Strengths: I would not be surprised if this were the first book in a series, because I can see Flora getting up to a lot more adventures, much like Watson's Ryan Hart. The family is close knit and supportive, and Clara and Flora have relatively little drama for fifth grade girls. The Rhode Island setting is well described, and the relationship that Flora has with Maylin is also realistic. There are enough funny things to keep the story moving along. Zaidee and Flora are also quite a pair!
Weaknesses: There have been a number of books lately where friends have moved away but then come back for visits. I'm assuming that this is common now, but when I was growing up and moving to new schools, I never had any luck keeping in touch with people, so it was hard for me to get my head around. If anyone knows Wendy Pfeffer, who lived in Burtonsville, MD in 1972, please let me know!
What I really think: This was a little too young for my students, but I would definitely buy this for an elementary school library. I had her paperback Amigas books before they fell apart or were lost, and the students enjoyed those.
Strengths: I would not be surprised if this were the first book in a series, because I can see Flora getting up to a lot more adventures, much like Watson's Ryan Hart. The family is close knit and supportive, and Clara and Flora have relatively little drama for fifth grade girls. The Rhode Island setting is well described, and the relationship that Flora has with Maylin is also realistic. There are enough funny things to keep the story moving along. Zaidee and Flora are also quite a pair!
Weaknesses: There have been a number of books lately where friends have moved away but then come back for visits. I'm assuming that this is common now, but when I was growing up and moving to new schools, I never had any luck keeping in touch with people, so it was hard for me to get my head around. If anyone knows Wendy Pfeffer, who lived in Burtonsville, MD in 1972, please let me know!
What I really think: This was a little too young for my students, but I would definitely buy this for an elementary school library. I had her paperback Amigas books before they fell apart or were lost, and the students enjoyed those.
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