Bettina Restrepo

An excellent job of sharing what being an illegal alien in the US is like for those who come illegally to the US for good reasons. So many who cross our border only want to share the dream - we need to really address our border situation. The criminals should not be allowed in, but the innocent need to have a better way to become citizens.

FROM AMAZON: Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora stays behind. She fights to make sense of her loss while living in poverty—in wait of her father’s return and a better day.
When the letters and money stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas. After a frightening experience crossing the border, the two are all alone in a strange place. Nora must find the strength to survive while aching for small comforts: friends, a new school, and her quinceañera.… (més)

Little Kid Reaction: My boys enjoyed the book. The biology was a bit complicated for them to visualize, but they were entertained by the story.

Big Kid Reaction: I was not a huge fan of this book. I like the concept of relating a fun story to a series of nature facts, but I felt that the story was forced in order to fit the facts in. It was strange that the animals in the story had human items, such as a hairbrush, a bottle of "mousse," and a mirror. In a story with so much factual info, this felt out-of-place. I just felt the whole book was forced and, while I respect the effort and the ideas, the result was not as effective as I would have liked.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.… (més)