Naomi Soledad León Outlaw, a young girl living with her great-grandmother Gram and her younger brother Owen in a trailer park in California, is shy about her mixed identity. When their mother Skyla returns after years of absence and tries to take Naomi back, Gram takes the children to Oaxaca, Mexico, to find their father and to enter Naomi in a radish-carving competition. Pam Muñoz Ryan writes about the idea of family, identity and the courage to speak up, in a clear and gentle style.
It's an excellent choice for middle-grade readers and for classroom discussion, especially about names, belonging and heritage. Younger readers will find Naomi easy to root for.
Practical and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2004
- Language
- EN
