A middle school reader about a young girl Izzy, who is shipped off to spend the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico so her mother can continue her research in Costa Rica. Izzy is drawn into her Latin roots, makes some young friends, has to deal with some trauma as well as discovering why her mother has been so reluctant to discuss her deceased husband. The town storyteller, Socorro, also adds a bit of mystery to the whole story. Enjoyable read. Worthwhile addition to school libraries too.7 s Josiah3,241 148

I love when a new storytelling talent creates such a beautiful first novel that we're left wondering how they could have possibly been the one behind it. As soon as I spotted Tortilla Sun on bookstore shelves in 2010, I instinctively identified it as a contender for the Newbery awards. The book's aura was magical, and the description on the book jacket promised a powerful story if the author executed it well. Jennifer Cervantes's ability to come through in that regard was unknown, but if she could put forth an exceptional inaugural performance, I sensed this book would be special. Tortilla Sun didn't end up winning recognition from the Newbery Committee, and it took me six years to pick up the book and find out if my preliminary appraisal was accurate, but I'm happy to say it lived up to my expectations and more. Jennifer Cervantes's writing is milk and honey dripping from the story's branches, a soothing treat for parched throats. The tree itself is robust, and deeply rooted to draw nourishment from the rich soil of Mexican culture it's planted in, but Tortilla Sun is a joy to read for the melody of its prose as much as any strength of plot or character creation, the song of a million crickets on a muggy summer night. It's rare to find a novel that approaches Tortilla Sun's ability to enchant us with the sound and rhythm of words, and those of us who took a chance on Jennifer Cervantes's first book were blessed by what her talent brought to our lives.

"This is a cuento, a story about magic, love, hope, and treasure. If you read this under the glow of the moon or by the light of the summer sun, listen for whispers in any breeze that passes by. Then close your eyes and let the cuento take you to where magic still exists and spells of fear and hope are told through the heart of the storyteller."

—from the Prologue to Tortilla Sun

It's twelve-year-old Izzy Roybal and her mother against the world, without their father and husband, who died before Izzy was born. We don't get long to see mother and daughter together before Izzy's mother is called away on a research expedition to Costa Rica, but we get a hint that Izzy wishes she knew more about her father when she finds a scuffed-up baseball of his in an old box of her mother's belongings, a ball with the words "Because magic" scrawled on it. Izzy's mother always shuts down talk of Izzy's father, putting it off for another day, and it looks it'll have to wait at least until the end of summer now that Izzy's mother is leaving for Costa Rica. Izzy travels to New Mexico to stay with her mother's mother, Nana, in a cozy hamlet steeped in Latino culture, and it doesn't take long for Izzy to observe that the town is vastly different from urban California, where she and her mother have apartment hopped for years. Nana hosts a fiesta to welcome Izzy the first full day she's there, inviting dozens of neighbors to her garden estate, merry conversation twinkling in evening repose as Izzy meets the village residents. Nana's house is roomier than most in the area, large enough to service boarders, and the Castillos, who share the house, are the first people Izzy gets to know. Thirteen-year-old Mateo Castillo lives on the other side of the small door off Izzy's bedroom; she learns this her first night at Nana's, when she hears soft talking and the muted thrum of guitar music beyond the door. Izzy meets Mateo at the fiesta and they get along comfortably from go, but he's not the only friend she makes at the party. Nana's village is populated by more interesting people than Izzy could get to know in a single novel, and she takes a special liking to a few of them. Six-year-old Maggie stands out from the Latino neighbors with her blonde hair and blue eyes, shadowed by her "dog" Frida, a feline who unconvincingly masquerades as a canine. Maggie's parents are deceased and she lives with an elderly lady named Gip, who has stories to tell about Izzy's father from before he married her mother. Izzy's parents were beloved in the village, but her mother hasn't returned since Izzy was a baby, and Izzy isn't sure why. She doesn't know any details of her father's passing, either, but answers await in the village. Is she ready to learn the whole truth?

The most intriguing village resident is Socorro, a lithe woman of indeterminable age who mostly keeps to herself. The silver streak in her hair marks Socorro as a soothsayer, Mateo quietly informs Izzy; she can glimpse the future and advise those willing to listen, but she must be approached with solemnity and respect. A seer is not to be lightly regarded. Could Socorro tell Izzy what she longs to know about her father?

As Izzy relaxes into village life for the summer, she finds that everyone in these parts knows something about her father. She learns of his awesome athletic talent, the indomitable love he demonstrated for his new wife and soon-to-be first child, and the details of his heartbreaking death. Izzy's father was a baseball star in the making, a terror with the bat who was on the brink of qualifying for a Major League roster. His young life held unlimited promise before tragedy stole him from his wife and daughter, and Izzy wants to know everything about that tragedy, even if it hurts. Her ties to Nana's community strengthen as friends regale her with stories of her family's past, and she finds herself watching over six-year-old Maggie a big sister when Gip's wavering health prevents her from taking care of the girl. On the verge of learning from Socorro what could have been had her father survived, Izzy unintentionally waltzes into another tragedy, one she doesn't see coming until too late. Her relationships with dear friends in the village are sorely tried when Izzy's mistake imperils the life of one as precious to her as her departed father. Is history set to repeat in the saddest of ways, or will love's magic spare Izzy and her family another traumatic loss that will change the course of their future?

From the moment she arrives in Nana's village, Izzy senses the wind is whispering to her, a spiritual companion kept at a distance most of her life but eager to embrace Izzy now. It's as though the spirit of lost loved ones is guiding her steps, urging her to connect with Nana, Mateo, Maggie, Gip, and Socorro, to throw herself into the fiesta of village life and take comfort from a community that adores her so. When you know you're unconditionally loved, you can relax and breathe easy, letting the stress of uncertainty melt off your body in waves. Tortilla Sun is a story of profound wisdom derived from Mexican tradition, and that wisdom gives Izzy's heart wings to soar above the heaviness of past sadness. We see in Nana's philosophy of color and excitement that life is to be perpetually celebrated; can there be too much laughter, dancing, and color? Nana reacts to Izzy's surprise at the wild array of colors in her house: "But of course it's colorful. Life is color, isn't it?" Color and fun and lovely words, and Nana has a place for all three in her home. That's why Izzy's bedroom is named Estrella, the room with the best view of the stars at night hovering majestically in the firmament. Different as Estrella is from her bedroom back home in the city, Izzy comes to love it a member of the family.

Though she wishes Izzy and her mother had visited years ago, Nana understands her daughter's hesitancy to return to the village. After the sudden death of her new husband before their first child's birth, the village is as much a place of mourning as joy for her now, and though she'd surely to mingle again with loved ones, plans often don't solidify if a portion of our heart is reluctant. "Sometimes plans stretch so long and thin that they break and you're left with no plans at all", Nana tells Izzy. Perhaps by letting Izzy go, she's sending a signal that she, too, may be ready to rejoin the community in the near future. Twelve years is a long time to be separated from friends and family.

Tortilla Sun is chock-full of luxurious writing, phrases that sound so nice I re-read them several times just for the pleasure of it. My favorite: "I felt as though melted chocolate had oozed its way from my heart to my toes, coating me with comfort on its way down." Oh, my, yes! I'll certainly think on that description from time to time, imagining my sweetest moments as a fountain of chocolate gurgling its cacao pathway over my insides, salving my heart in delicious flow. Of course, that might make me hungry. The process of storytelling is addressed compellingly in Tortilla Sun, focusing on an aspect many impatient consumers forget. Readers, and viewers of television and movies, can be so impatient to "get to the good part" that writers are forced to set events into motion prematurely to keep their audience content. That often mutes the story's power, because the triumph of good over evil only has maximum impact if it arrives fortuitously. We need time to feel the inevitability of evil's success for it to be a welcome relief if and when the good guys suddenly, improbably find an avenue to victory. It should feel such an unexpected gift that it leaves us laughing and physically trembling in relief because we genuinely believed it wouldn't turn out the way it should. How euphoric it is to get a game-changing victory after you were certain of doom. That's the crux of exceptional story-weaving, and Nana understands it well. She could give Izzy all the details of her father's life and death at once, but it won't mean as much as it should apart from context, and that context can only be achieved by Izzy interacting with the villagers who loved her father, hearing from them the part of his story they knew and can relate as no one else could. It's not dry facts Izzy craves, but a true portrait of her father, and portraits take time to paint: finesse brushstrokes, blotting, and detail work to reveal what the subject of the portrait meant to its artist. Nana uses tomatoes for the analogy as she slices a couple of them for Izzy's lunch. "All stories are told in due time. Just these needed time to grow on the vine until they were ripe... An unripe story is an unripe tomato—no good at all." What impatient consumers of art need to realize is that they can push for storylines to wrap up more quickly, but all they're getting is an unripe tomato. A story has to plump on the vine to grow succulent enough for us to sink our teeth into and enjoy. Nana reinforces this concept later, when Izzy presses her to reveal too much at one time. "Remember, some stories need to be unfolded slowly so we can appreciate what's inside of them." Socorro take the same approach to the magic of story, and as a soothsayer, she knows something about magic. "You must be very patient to tell stories. And you must sit with the idea, allowing it to simmer soup on the stove. You wouldn't go to all the trouble of cutting up the ingredients, throwing them in the pot and expecting it to cook without fire, right?" Creative artists can learn from these similes about the writing process, but so can fans who give in to their own short attention spans and demand the delivery of their entertainment be expedited. Writers will concoct better stories, and consumers have higher-quality entertainment to enjoy, if everyone slows down and shows patience. The payoff is exhillirating.

Much of Tortilla Sun is Izzy's struggle to wrap her mind around her father's death, a calamity that couldn't have affected her mother more personally, but feels distant to Izzy because it occurred before she took her first breath. She wants to know her father well enough to love him, but is afraid of how sad she'll feel if she understands what she lost. It's a conundrum, but there are many in Nana's village who would love to help her through it. Izzy doesn't see why anyone should die young, especially a good man as everyone says her father was, but Nana explains that some lives weren't fated to last long. "Each of us comes into this life with only a thread of time to live our essence. Some threads are shorter than others." It's not the length of the thread but the strength of its fiber that determines a life's value; a sturdy strand may taper prematurely, but it's never going to snap. When the end comes for a dear friend of the family while Izzy is living in the village, Nana has hopeful words about the future of death; we won't endure its sting forever. "Death sweeps the earth, but has no power in el cielo. Heaven is where we will really know those we love. She is gone only for a short moment. Remember that." The moment of loss feels interminable when we're left stranded without the reason for our heart's contentment, the one who brings meaning to our daily existence, but the parting isn't permanent. Death is not absolute, Nana assures Izzy. Yet Izzy is full of questions about her father's passing. Is it legitimate for her to miss him even though they never met? Does one ever recover from death to taste happiness again in spite of missing their loved one so much? Nana gives us words of comfort to deal with bereavement, a gentle shepherd's staff to guide us forward so we don't get stuck in the muck and mire of grief. "You will always feel his absence but you can still find joy. now, we are sad but that doesn't mean we can't smile or that life won't ever be normal again... You shouldn't feel bad for moments of joy... We must find our way back to joy. Bit by bit. And some of us will find it sooner than others." But the final lesson for Izzy is that life cannot break as easily as she fears. We may believe it's shattered beyond repair by a tragedy that makes us feel prisoners of our own grief, but no catastrophe, no matter how agonizing, can really destroy our life. Socorro conveys this point to Izzy with her truth catcher, a talisman Socorro says will reveal to Izzy the truth about her own life and the tragedies that shaped it. When the truth catcher is accidentally smashed, Izzy despairs of discovering the truth she's waited twelve years for, but Socorro isn't concerned. The truth has a habit of appearing one way or another, and the talisman's broken condition isn't as fatal to its usefulness as Izzy assumes. "You know, mija, sometimes we need to see things from a different point of view. You are still looking at the truth catcher as a whole. But you see, it has only changed shapes... Try not to see the truth catcher as you think it should be. Instead study two pieces at a time to see if, or how, they connect. That's how you will remake it." We crack glass under the relentless pressure of tragedy and can never be glued back together perfectly; the fractures will always be visible. But our truths, hopes, and dreams have merely assumed new shape, and we can benefit as much from them as we did before, if we're able to reconcile ourselves to a little brokenness. We can divine the truth even after our catcher shatters. There's still a wonderful life to be pieced back together and lived with thankfulness and joy.

2011 was a year of spectacular candidates for the Newbery awards, but I feel justified saying Tortilla Sun is superior to all four Honor books selected by the Committee. I think it's at least as good as Clare Vanderpool's Moon Over Manifest, which won the 2011 Newbery Medal. What a blissful experience Tortilla Sun is, the confection of the words melting on one's tongue ice cream, awakening the senses with its flavor, aroma, and texture. Few books are as sensuously enjoyable as this one, which is somewhat surprising for a novel that deals so frankly with death. If all authors could write Jennifer Cervantes, the world would be packed with enthusiastic readers. I give Tortilla Sun three and a half stars and considered rounding up to four, and I believe I've found a new underrated book to recommend to those who have yet to be wooed by its velvety voice. Thank you, Jennifer Cervantes, for a treasure Tortilla Sun. I love it.7 s Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)2,546 741

If you read this book, have a box of tissues ready. I plan on posting a longer review but want to think about this a little more. I will say that I loved having a story featured around Latino characters and celebrating the Latino heritage and culture. I would to use this as a read aloud with my fifth graders this year. Very powerful message.

See my full review on: http://kidlitfrenzy.com/2010/08/06/bo...book-a-day debut-2010 mg ...more4 s BetsyAuthor 10 books3,049

One Sentence Review: I might not be the biggest fan of some of the more touchy feely emotional moments in the book, but the writing of Ms. Cervantes rang true for me in this interesting new novel.4 s Elizabeth VaradanAuthor 15 books25


Review:

What would you do if you were confronted with a mystery about your father, and your mother won’t talk about it? Izzy’s mother has always been restless. After many moves in California, they have just moved again. While unpacking, Izzy comes across her father’s old baseball with the mysterious words, "Because… Love," written on one side. The words between have been rubbed out. Her mother has never told Izzy anything about her father, except that he died before Izzy was born.

Izzy s to write stories, although she seldom gets beyond the beginning. Now a new story is buzzing in her mind about the strange words on the baseball. Then Izzy learns she is to spend the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico, while her mother finishes research in Costa Rica.

In New Mexico, Izzy soon steps into another world. Her grandmother, Nana, is an herbalist, full pithy wisdoms. The Castillos live in part of Nana’s house. Their son, Mateo is Izzy’s age. When the two become friends, Mateo tells Izzy about Socorro, the village storyteller who sees the future, and a map that tells of hidden treasure. And often, as life unfolds in the village her mother came from, Izzy hears a mysterious whisper carried by the wind that seems to be the voice of her father.

Tortilla Sun is a beautiful story of a young girl’s search for wisdom and truth and her discovery of her culture. The book moves at a leisurely pace that gathers in momentum and mystery with a touch of magic. The characters are richly drawn and the village blossoms with life. Izzy is a sympathetic protagonist, entirely believable. To tell why the book is called Tortilla Sun would give away too much of the story, and I don’t want to be a spoiler. This is a book young people will enjoy and read more than once.3 s Cindy HudsonAuthor 13 books25

Izzy and her mother have moved more times than she wants to remember. She’s just getting settled again when her mom announces she’s received a research grant to study in Costa Rica and Izzy will be spending the summer with her nana in New Mexico.

Izzy doesn’t know her grandmother very well, and she’s not at all happy about being dumped for a couple of months while her mom is gone. But once she arrives at the small adobe village near Albuquerque, magic starts to happen. As Izzy begins to discover more about her family and herself she begins to feel she may have finally found a place to call home.

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes weaves a little magic into the story and a lot of magic into readers as the tale unwinds. Izzy’s nana has a way with tortillas and a way with people as well. The story of Izzy’s parents and her own past slowly comes out in small bites to help her digest it a little bit at a time, and in the process she comes to know and love the people of the village.

Tortilla Sun had me longing to see the Sandia Mountains, feel the warmth of the sun and hear the call of the wind. Bright New Mexico comes as vividly alive as the colors worn by many of its people. This book is recommended for ages 9 to 12, but I think girls up to 14 or 15 may enjoy it too. And the moms are ly to be delighted by Izzy’s journey of self-discovery. Issues to discuss include family heritage, ethnic traditions, dealing with grief and finding acceptance.

There’s a recipe in the back for tortillas that I can’t wait to try, and making them could be a fun mother-daughter book club activity. I highly recommend Tortilla Sun.
3 s Sandra StilesAuthor 1 book75

Izzy has just gotten settled into yet another new home. While unpacking she comes across a baseball that had belonged to her father. It has the words because...magic on it. When she asks her mom about it her mom takes it away and puts it up. Izzy gets the ball back out and then learns the next morning that her mother has received a grant to finish up her studies in Costa Rica. She is sending Izzy to New Mexico to stay with her nana. She is not thrilled about this. However when she arrives she feels she has stepped out of a time capsule into her nana's village. During her stay there she learns to make tortillas while she learns about the father she never met and her mother won't talk about. Her time there teachers her what family is all about and how love endures even when someone is gone. This was a wonderful book and one I am proud to recommend to my school and have on my shelves.middle-grades realistic-fiction3 s Claire1,355 42

Izzy is preparing to settle into a new apartment for the summer. She is going through a box one morning and sees a baseball that must have belonged to her father. Her mom just cannot face her husband's death (even after 12 years) and hides the ball.
Now, really curious, Izzy finds and stashes the ball so her mom won't see it.
Unexpectedly a grant comes through for Mom to study in Costa Rica and Izzy must go visit her Nana in New Mexico. Izzy really does not want to do this but is given no choice in the matter.
This is a sweet story of Izzy's magical summer in a tiny village near Albuquerque. Izzy is finally allowed to know about her father. She finds and creates extended family during a warm and wonderful summer that is not easy but is comforting.
10-to-12-year-old-readers first-person-narrator-all-ages grief3 s Cathe Fein OlsonAuthor 4 books20

This was a sweet book about a twelve-year-old girl Izzy who spends the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother finishes her studies. While she is there, she becomes immersed in the Mexican culture that her mother had surpressed out of grief after the death of her husband. Izzy searches for answers about her father's death and she may find them if she can find the voice in the wind.

I'm always looking for books with Latino culture and was very happy to have found this one. There is lots of language, food, tradition, folklore, and even superstition that really make the reader feel that the have traveled to New Mexico. This will be a great addition to my elementary school library.
3 s Tanja1,098

A beautifully written story I simply loved! While reading, I kept highlighting favorite quotes. As 12year old Izzy discovered the secret about her past amd the magic of her grandmother's village in New Mexico while spending the summer there, the magic of the story captured me, taking me on an emotional ride that brought tears of sorrow and joy to my eyes. A heartwarming story around family and friendship and about finding the courage to deal with the past, to heal and allow the joy back into one's life - because, as Izzy's Nana says, "Life is magic".chn-realistic-fiction3 s Judi Paradis491 17

Izzy's mom is distant and they move a lot. Her dad died before she was born. So, when her mother gets a chance to study in Costa Rica for the summer and sends Izzy to live with her grandmother in New Mexico, she finally gets a chance to find out about her mother's past, and it sheds a great deal of light on who she is and how she lives. Her grandmother is warm and open, and Izzy quickly falls into life in their small Latino community. Mysteries, paranormal events, and an attractive slightly-older boy add to the story. Most kids in grades 4 and up with find something to in this book.3 s Julianne96

Great debut novel - enchanting and magical. But beware, it will make you hungry!3 s Edward SullivanAuthor 5 books218

An impressive debut--a beautifully written, gentle family story though the plot does seem a bit derivative of other stories of this kind.children-s-fiction3 s Tamsyn1,313 6

This was a wonderful story of a girl without a sense of place or even of family. Her father died before her birth, and her mother, after moving to CA from NM, has never settled in one place long enough for Izzy to put down roots. When a grant for her mother to complete her research comes through at the last moment, Izzy is sent to NM to spend the summer with her grandmother, who she hasn't seen in 6 or 7 years. What she discovers about her family and herself makes for a magical story.children-s-fantasy fms realisticfiction ...more2 s MelissaAuthor 56 books181

This should be the next Newbery winner!

My journey through the story touched something bigger in my soul. I love Young Adult books and read at least one a week. But, I haven't read one Tortilla Sun that touched me so deeply since Return to Sender by Alvarez or Star Girl by Spinelli.

http://wp.me/pPp61-6p my full review will be up on Monday June 28, 2010.2 s Olivia26

I have only 4 words. I LOOOOVVVEEEE THIS BOOK!!!!!! I didn't quite it ( I guess ) in the beguinning ,but then I just loved it for the next week that I read it. This is a book anyone could enjoy!!! It is amazingly great!!2 s Linnea Hendrickson44 2

This is a beautifully written, charming story with an authentic New Mexican setting.2 s Freya Lustie-Kniser68 3

For every one of us that longs to believe in magic.2 s marie59

What a beautiful book.middle-grade-books2 s Kimberly Hill2

I loved this book. Awaiting for Jennifer's next book.2 s Shenwei462 225

this was a quick read. magical elements and touching themes/relationships
tw: MC named a character in her story an anti-Romani slurby-and-about-poc latinx-author2 s Nya124 66

I absolutely loved the magic of Tortilla Sun for many reasons. I loved reading the complicated matter of Izzy’s relationship with her family and her mother, and how she is still learning to grow into herself as a young person. It’s a quick and easy to read book that can be reread over and over again, that has multiple plots that weave together. I also enjoyed Cervantes’ writing, especially how she incorporates the Latina heritage into the story and the characters. The writing is to the point, easy to understand, but magical in the ways Cervantes uses figurative language. Coming from someone who grew up Latina in New Mexico, I felt reflected in Izzy, and was reminded of myself coming of age in a small town with bright, interesting family members and friends. I think it was an important part of the story, that made it easy to connect with young audiences who could also reflect on their own community. I think the plot of finding more out more about your own family is also something that kids can connect with, as they get older they learn to see their family as people with their own histories.

Overall, I loved this book and am glad I had the chance to read it. 1 Lisa Finke197 1 follower

Beautiful and sentimental. I love that it takes place in New Mexico!1 Jennybeast3,703 14

12 year old Izzy travels to New Mexico and reconnects with her mother's family. She finally discovers the stories of her dead father, and makes new connections there. Summer between 5th and 6th grade, family is Spanish speaking and Catholic, so a certain amount of god talk in here. Also a whole lot of death and grieving, both past and present, although the book is about learning how to move forward. Much baseball. Much writerly ambition. Cat (Frida) who thinks she is a dog. Village full of borderline magical realism, with loads of stories, and people selling things out of their houses and traditional cooking and hot balloons and ghosts. Also, there is a boy-girl kiss (yuck! was actually what I thought when I read that -- I must be channeling my inner 12 yo).

Debut novel, very dream. On the whole, yay for own voices finding their voice. It's pretty great for a debut novel. However, there is a whole lot of irresponsible behavior and weird/missing communication that happens throughout the book. The transitions between one moment and the next could be so jarring that it would knock me into 'say, what now?' headspace. I get that a lot of this book is about healing, is about finding a different way to communicate because grief is too immediate, and about being real about pain and anger and sorrow -- so I honor it for that, even though I found it confusing at best and upsetting at worst. Anyway, I'm going to go sing my not-the-intended-audience song and give it 4 stars for beginnings with great potential. kids1 Tiffany Vuong4

The book tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes, tells a story about a girl named Isabella or that she thinks Isadora. the girl has a baseball that has the two words because Magic. She is determined to find out what those words mean because the baseball that has the words on it has a lot of meaning to her. The baseball originally belonged to her dad who has passed away when she was much younger. her mother never wanted to talk about isadora's father. you said Dora gets sent to New Mexico where her abuela is and she is determined to learn about her past. while she is staying in New Mexico she learned about the cultures of Mexico and much more than what she expected. She encounters her past at the some point in time after much searching and longing to see what has happened to her father she realizes that her father and her mother have shared such a wonderfully deep connection oh, and that is why her mother has never wanted to tell her about her father. They bring up the past, and Isabella learns that her past was carved by the cultures of New Mexico and that she is always connected to her culture's along with her father. The story is a quite interesting tale, and I would very much to recommend this to a friend this book has intrigued me and has always made me want to wonder what happens next.1 Jo Oehrlein6,341 9

Izzy spends the summer with her grandmother in a New Mexico village, her first time ever to visit her mother's hometown. While there, she learns about her father (who died before she was born), her culture (including making tortillas), and that sometimes even unfixable things can be fixed (but might not be the same as they were before).

Lots of single Spanish words thrown in throughout, as appropriate.

I empathize a lot with Izzy when people wanted to tell her about her father in dribs and drabs. It would have been easier to get it all at once, but "pieces" is key to the overall book.

The writing was lovely, with phrases I wanted to photograph so that I would remember them.1 Meredith2,901 10

2.5, actually. I was totally on board until the visit to Socorro and the gobbledygook about seeing the truth. Then there was just too much schmoopiness and annoying fatalism.

I did the idea of Izzy's story cards ... could have students write their own beginnings and then have others continue them? Could also develop a lesson on famous first lines, the power of a hook ... relate to music as well. Although I am now so decrepit, the kids probably won't recognize any of the songs that would first come to mind.ri-childrens-book-award1 Erin Sterling1,152 18

A sweet, coming-of-age story about a girl who has to go live with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother does graduate work in Costa Rica and learns the magic of a small, tight-knit community and uncovers some details about her past and how her father died. The story flowed well and the characters were warm and loving. My only complaint is that the village life seemed a little *too* idyllic, even the tragic bits. psc read-in-2011 youth-fiction ...more1 Angela100 1 follower

I this book because it's interesting and taught me two things. One is family is very important even if the person isn't really related to you. Also, you shouldn't always think about yourself because you might hurt yourself or someone else. I enjoyed it so much because I really understood how Izzy felt about not meeting her dad. I didn't experience it yet, but I think her life is great now because she gets to stay with Nana and Maggie, even her mother.realistic-fiction1 Ingrid826 5

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