January 14, 2025 by Candlewick Press
E ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central
Paloma's family has left their home country after a dictator came to power, and have moved suddenly to a new country. They have gotten a warm welcome, and there are many new and interesting things to do and see, but Paloma misses her old home. She often wonders why her parents are different from other parents, and has some trouble fully understanding the two parts of her identity. When the situation in her home country eases, she and her parents return, but it is almost as difficult to move back as it was to move away. Still, her parents have many connections, and are glad to be back home. It takes Paloma a while to settle in, but she is glad that she and her family won't have to leave again.
The color palette is really interesting; teal, orange, and purple. This unexpected combination gives the book an interesting feeling of "otherness" which worked well, especially since no country names are mentioned. The watercolor pictures are accented with a lot of dark ink lines, and have lots of small details that young readers will enjoy exploring.
The vague descriptions of Paloma's home country, and the country to which her family travels for their new life, make this a book that can mirror the experiences of many different cultures. While not all families leave because of dictators, many do. Also, while going back to a country one had to leave might not be overly common, it is probably a hope that some children hold.
Readers can either see themselves and their families' experiences in a book about immigration, or gain empathy about what some of their classmates might have gone through. Add this to Choi's The Name Jar, Betancourt-Perez and Williams A Thousand White Butterflies, and especially Park and Choi's Good-Bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong for a look at how children navigate immigration issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment