Tag: realistic

Invisible

Ebook cover of Invisible on a computer screen over a background of flowers. A gold and red crown sits in the foreground.

Invisible–another great book by Cecily Anne Paterson.

The book stars Jazmine Crawford–a young lady who actively avoids attracting attention. Since her father’s death, she has perfected the art of becoming invisible.

But then, Jazmine gets in trouble. To stay in school, she agrees to help with the school play. Soon, everybody sees her. Though it feels uncomfortable at first, Jazmine begins making friends. Her past haunts her, though. She must face it before she can truly move forward.

I love the characters in this story, especially Jazmine. Her insecurity reminds me so much of my own feelings at that age. I also like how this story handles the effects of frequent moves, disability, and mental health issues.

If you like your young adult books on the realistic side, this could be a good one for you. (For my other reviews of Cecily Anne Paterson’s books, check out Love and Muddy Puddles and Charlie Franks is A-OK.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Merci Suárez Changes Gears--cover on a cell phone propped against a pen holder. On the cover, a girl rides a bicycle.

In Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Merci lives in las casitas–three pink houses in a row in Florida that she shares with not just her immediate family, but also her extended family.

Lolo and Abuela live in the middle house, and much of this book is about Merci’s relationship with Lolo. Just as Merci struggles with a new stage of her life (middle school), Lolo is struggling with a new stage of his life (old age).

This is a beautiful story that reminds me a bit of my earliest five years when we lived around the block from my grandma and grandpa. I wonder what it would have been like to get older there, to be part of their lives as I got into middle school and then high school.

For Merci, it’s not all easy. (But then, is entering middle school ever easy?) But it’s good, and I love taking this journey with her. I love getting to know this creative, confident, athletic character, and all the people who make up her world.

If you’re at all into realistic middle-grade fiction, this is a good one. I’d say it’s better than Because of Mr. Terupt or Micah McKinney and the Boys of Summer (which are both also good books).