Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Like her friends, 12-year-old Carolina eschews most of the Mexican side of her Mexican American culture, shortening her name to Carol and flat-ironing her wild hair. But now she is being forced to spend the summer before her first year of junior high in middle-of-nowhere New Mexico, as her family prepares to move her ailing grandfather, a man she has never met before, off his land and into a home for people with dementia. At first, the summer is as dry as she thought it would be her father, who hasn't been home in 12 years, is strained; her mother is stressed; and her older half sister is sullen. Then Grandfather Serge begins to tell her stories that sound half-crazed, about her grandmother's wanderlust and his own rootedness, and about a lake in the desert and a tree that made it so no one would ever die. In spite of herself, Carol is drawn into these stories, learning more about her family history, and becoming increasingly uncertain about the truth. Tightly plotted and elegantly characterized, this is a striking debut. Both Carol's journey and Serge's stories seem inherently true, and the juxtaposition of the two results in a moving, atmospheric novel of family, heritage, and fairy tales that are more real than not.--Reagan, Maggie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Eager seamlessly blends a 12-year-old girl's summer of change with a hefty dose of magical realism in this accomplished debut. A past family rift means that Carol first meets her grandfather Serge when her family arrives from Albuquerque to sell his sheep ranch before settling him in a nursing home. Serge's question to Carol, who uses an Anglicized version of her name, Carolina- "Why do you spit on your roots, chiquita?"-makes her ponder her heritage. Unexpectedly drawn to her grandfather, Carol finds that her woes (an obnoxious older sister, absent friends, endless chores, stressed-out parents) pale next to the questions and fears raised in Serge's entrancing stories, which all begin, "Once upon a time, there was a tree." Fairytale motifs ("No rain for a hundred years") emphasize the stark physicality of the New Mexican mesa, with its oppressive heat, spindly sheep, and numerous dangers. Through this atmospheric setting, Eager sustains a sense of wonder and longing for small things (bees, seeds, stories) to respond to big human needs. Ages 10-14. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Twelve-year-old Carol is forced to spend her summer on her Latino grandfather's remote ranch in the sweltering New Mexican desert. The family is there to ready the ranch for sale and move grandpa into an assisted-living home. Carol's father, Raul, has a broken relationship with his father, and his children have never met their prickly grandfather. But Serge's dementia has forced Raul to return home and face some hard facts. Almarie Guerra does a nice job narrating throughout, and her portrayal of Carol is authentically that of a preteen. The story itself is laden with metaphor (bees, eternal life, alternative measurements of time), which may be difficult for some listeners in the intended age range to grasp. The narrative moves between real time and a past full of magical realism. This shift is marked by italics in the print version to let readers know that the subplot is about to begin. Sadly, this was not mimicked in any way in the audiobook. Listeners are left to figure things out as the narration continues on as before. This may adversely affect overall comprehension and frustrate even the most ardent listeners. VERDICT Despite the narrator's strong performance, the audiobook is flawed. There is nothing to separate the past stories from the present, leaving listeners adrift each time a shift occurs. ["A sentimental but undistinguished coming-of-age story with touches of magical realism": SLJ 3/16 review of the Candlewick book.]-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
While spending the summer on her family's dilapidated sheep ranch, twelve-year-old Carol connects unexpectedly with her grandfather. Grandpa--who suffers from dementia--tells an engrossing, fable-like story of their family heritage: it's fantastical, but strange events make Carol wonder if it could be true. This quiet family story has a vivid New Mexico desert setting and a beguiling dash of magical realism. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A 12-year-old Mexican-American girl moves in with her estranged grandfather, who tells her fantastic tales she thinks might be true. The summer before seventh grade, Carolina (she now calls herself Carol) can't believe her bad luck. Instead of hanging with her friends in Albuquerque, Carol moves with her family to the New Mexico desert to help her paternal grandfather, Serge, whom she's never met. Serge suffers from dementia and thinks "Caro-leeen-a" needs to learn about her roots. He tells her the area's drought is because of the lack of bees, but Carol hears buzzing and spots bees. While her parents prepare to sell Serge's sheep ranch and her older sister, Alta, complains, Carol bonds with Serge over his fairy tales about Sergio and Rosa's centuries-old love story sustained by a magical life-giving tree. With shades of Tuck Everlasting flavored with Latin American magical realism, the atmospheric story within a story shines. But the debut author is less skilled with characterization. Supporting characters don't evolve, and several details don't add up, such as Carol's calling Serge "Grandpa" instead of "Abuelo" or her mom's secret mastery of Mexican cuisine despite her use of Hamburger Helper at home. Despite minor flaws, Serge and Carolina's story is a touching reminder to "squeeze the juice out of every day" and remember where (and who) you call home. A poignant intergenerational story about finding and honoring your roots. (Fiction. 10-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
