This is a review for The Other Half of Happy: (Middle Grade Novel for Ages 9-12, Bilingual Tween Book) published by Rebecca Balcarcel which I was sent a copy of in exchange for a review.
I sat down with Charlie to discuss The Other Half of Happy before Charlie began reading the book as there is a Gay individual in the story which doesn’t bother my or Charlie but I didn’t want Charlie to be surprised or have come across things that made him feel uncomfortable.
Charlie and I looked up what being Autistic means and the characterizes so he would know what to look for in the book. I went over what being Biracial is and we discussed our friends who are Biracial and how people will treat them differently at times.
Charlie and I looked up Guatemalan and the Country and what is different between our Countries. In our Homeschool Class we looked up Guatemalan recipes and made some for our snacks.
Then Charlie and I sat down to read The Other Half of Happy is a chapter book and we broke it down into chapters we would read each evening and Charlie would read one chapter and I would read the next one.
Throughout the book Charlie and I found a lot to discuss that we didn’t know and were able to research. We found Spelling Words and for the most part Charlie was able to read the book on his own.
In the back of the book is Discussion Questions which Charlie and I used in our Homeschool Reading Class.
There is quotes we can use in our Classroom on Sundays when we discuss Motivational Quotes we print out and color for our Art Class. There is a game to play which can be used in our Art Class.
She has including information we can use in our Homeschool Science Class allowing us to create Lessons on Animals like the Bald Eagle and Plants saving me time on Lesson Planing.
As for the storyline Charlie and I love the story and all of the characters and both of us wish there was a second book so we would know what happened to the character later in there lives.
About:
This immersive and beautifully written novel follows the story of Quijana, a girl in pieces.
Quijana must figure out which parts of herself are most important, and which pieces come together to make her whole.
This is a heartfelt poetic portrayal of a girl growing up, fitting in, and learning what it means to belong.
• Lyrical middle grade debut from author Rebecca Balcárcel
• A diverse and family-centered story that resonates with anyone who remembers, or is going through, growing pains
• Inclusively embraces real life experiences with biracial, autistic, and Gay characters
One-half Guatemalan, one-half American: When Quijana’s Guatemalan cousins move to town, her dad seems ashamed that she doesn’t know more about her family’s heritage.
One-half crush, one-half buddy: When Quijana meets Zuri and Jayden, she knows she’s found true friends. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for Jayden.
One-half kid, one-half grown-up: Quijana spends her nights Skyping with her ailing grandma and trying to figure out what’s going on with her increasingly hard-to-reach brother.
• A wonderful gift for bilingual and bicultural readers, introspective tweens and teens, and parents and educators
• Perfect for those who love the heart of Matt de la Peña, the honesty of Meg Medina, and the poetry of Kate DiCamillo
• Add it to the shelf with books like We Were Here by Matt de la Peña, Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
2020 Pura Belpré Honor Book
A Junior Library Guild Selection
ALSC Notable Children’s Book
2020 Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book
2020 Spirit of Texas Reading Program Recommended Title
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
