Red Glassby Laura Resau
Syndetic Solutions - [Book Review for 9780385904643] Book Review : School Library Journal
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Starred Review. Gr 8 Up—Timid and fearful, 16-year-old Sophie finds courage and first love when she and her Bosnian great-aunt Dika join a Guatemalan immigrant and his son to take six-year-old Pablo, sole survivor of his family's illegal trek into the U.S., back to his Mexican relatives. Arizona-born Sophie's allergies and fears are tellingly contrasted with the real experiences of Dika, Ángel, and Mr. Lorenzo, survivors of wartime violence in their own countries. The author's love for the culture and physical setting of rural Oaxaca and northern Guatemala is shown in beautiful, descriptive detail. Rich, poetic language, elements of the hero quest story pattern, and quotations from St. Exupéry's The Little Prince are braided through this coming-of-age romance as Sophie grows from amorphous onlooker into a strong, risk-taking young woman. Secondary characters, especially the 60-year-old Dika and her "boyfriend," Mr. Lorenzo, are well developed. Readers will sympathize with Pablo and agonize as he chooses whether to stay in Mexico or return to Sophie's family in Arizona. The satisfying love stories and moving glimpse of the immigrant experience make this a captivating read.—Kathleen Isaacs, Towson University, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Syndetic Solutions - [Book Review for 0385904649] Book Review : BookList
: From BookList, September 15, 2007, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. : *Starred Review* Sixteen-year-old Sophie finds plenty of room in her heart for Pablo, a five-year-old Mexican orphan whose parents died during their illegal border crossing. Silent since his parents' death, he finally speaks and tells Sophie's family the name of his Mexican village. Though fearful of everything from kitchen-sponge bacteria to leprosy, not to mention relationships with boys, Sophie makes the momentous decision to take Pablo back to see his relatives. Then, she hopes that he will return with her to Tucson. Pablo, Sophie, and her great-aunt Dika will drive to southern Mexico with Dika's Guatemalan gentleman friend, Mr. Lorenzo, and his handsome, enigmatic son, Ángel. With these companions, Sophie undertakes an epic journey of chance, change, and discovery. The author of What the Moon Saw (2006), Resau works her magic again in this compelling first-person narrative. Full of longing and trepidation, Sophie is limited at the beginning of the story. But as she travels and comes to understand people better; life-altering perspectives awaken a newfound courage. Late in the novel, magical elements and coincidence demand suspension of disbelief; but many readers will be willing to follow Sophie's story wherever it leads. The vivid characters, the fine imagery, and the satisfying story arc make this a rewarding novel. Phelan, Carolyn. : | distributed by Syndetic Solutions, LLC.: |
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