Review by Booklist Review
Ju-Girl loves to help her grandfather in his work repairing cars, and this skilled, upbeat seven-year-old knows her way around tools. As they share a fizzy drink while perched on the tailgate of a broken-down truck, Granddad reminisces about the days when he used this beloved blue pickup to make deliveries all over their island of Jamaica. One day, she arrives to find the blue pickup repaired, almost ready to go; having heeded her hopeful encouragement, Granddad now gives Ju-Girl the last job of checking the oil. The engine purring once again, they take a joyful spin--sharing more island stories of cherished people and places and ending with a poignant gift and a promise. The island setting glows with Mikai's palette of vibrant pastels; in it lush greenery blooms on gently sloping hills, and softly textured backgrounds evoke the warmth of sun and air. In Tripplett's charming debut picture book, drawn from her own cultural background, this warm intergenerational friendship shows that a purposeful partnership can revitalize treasured memories as well as machines.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a Jamaica-cued coastal setting, a child happily describes assisting her grandfather in his garage: "I help him fix radiators, switch out batteries, and even change a car's oil. But my favorite thing to do is organize the socket wrench set." As the two take a break to drink cold Ting in the bed of Granddad's old broken-down pickup, he regales the narrating protagonist, whom he affectionately calls Ju-Girl, of his adventures making deliveries in the truck--memories that appear illustrated alongside the duo. After the child suggests that Granddad fix up the truck, and he does, the two take a picturesque drive to a high street and back home. And when the truck gives a shudder en route, Ju-Girl comes to the rescue with a socket wrench that Granddad had engraved just for her ("I fit the socket onto the bolt and tighten it. I tighten the other one just in case"). Boldly colorful art by Mikai (Thank a Farmer) captures Caribbean life in backgrounds that overflow with abundant greenery. Tripplett's debut is an affectionate intergenerational story about "the importance of taking care of old and forgotten things" as well as learning "just the right tools" to move forward. An author's note follows. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary. Illustrator's agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency. (Feb.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little girl teaches her mechanic grandfather "the importance of taking care of old and forgotten things." In the garage, Ju-Girl works hard to help Granddad fix cars for their Jamaican community. The two take a break to sip Ting on the bed of Granddad's pickup truck. As Granddad tells stories of his younger self, Ju-Girl learns how Blue Pickup connects her to the history of her community--Granddad drove Blue Pickup to deliver everything from newspapers to Jamaican calico cloth. But Ting time and daydreams must come to an end, because there's work to be done and cars to be fixed. Still, Ju-Girl believes Blue Pickup can be restored to its former glory, perhaps with just an oil swap, new brakes, and a new battery--all of which she's learned to recognize from dutifully assisting her granddad. Convinced, Granddad does all the fixes short of checking the oil, saving that for the excited little girl, who has the savvy of a veteran mechanic. As the two cruise around town, taking in the history and present of their vibrant neighborhood and picking up a socket set specifically for Ju-Girl, readers are left with the sense that all can be fixed with the right tools…and taking time out for Ting. Lively, richly saturated illustrations bring to life Ju-Girl's beloved community, while the simple yet vivid text, filled with sensory descriptions, captures a child's perspective perfectly. A love letter to hard work and shared legacy. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
