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mpr2000's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t usually read books for young children, but the plot of The Other Half of Happy intrigued me, let’s be honest, I couldn’t put it down!
Quijana is half Guatemalan and half American, but she feels American, she has lived all her life in America, doesn’t speak Spanish and has never been to Guatemala. So, when her parents decide to travel to Guatemala to visit her family, she doesn’t want to go, she’s scared to be ignored and underestimated by this part of the family that she never met. It doesn’t help that at the new school the Spanish community bully her, it seems that no one can accept that even if her father is from Guatemala she doesn’t speak Spanish at all! She will meet two new friends that will help her in the worst situations, because sometimes with a good friend on your side you can save the world, don’t you think?
I was really touched by this story, we are living in Ireland but we are from Catalonia, my son doesn’t speak at all Spanish and people in Spain see it with bad eyes, so I can understand Quijana emotions and feelings. She is American, so why having a dark hair and brown skin means that you are different?
I was surprised with all the varieties of themes that this book touches; love, friendship, illness, family… I think this is not only a book to read the young ones of the family but to read with the parents and their children. It is a book that makes you want to talk to them, explain a little bit how the world it is and that there are problems that are better shared than keept locked.
This is a beautiful story that will be in my heart forever, no matter what language do you speak, you’ll love “The Other Half Of Happy” I am sure!
Quijana is half Guatemalan and half American, but she feels American, she has lived all her life in America, doesn’t speak Spanish and has never been to Guatemala. So, when her parents decide to travel to Guatemala to visit her family, she doesn’t want to go, she’s scared to be ignored and underestimated by this part of the family that she never met. It doesn’t help that at the new school the Spanish community bully her, it seems that no one can accept that even if her father is from Guatemala she doesn’t speak Spanish at all! She will meet two new friends that will help her in the worst situations, because sometimes with a good friend on your side you can save the world, don’t you think?
I was really touched by this story, we are living in Ireland but we are from Catalonia, my son doesn’t speak at all Spanish and people in Spain see it with bad eyes, so I can understand Quijana emotions and feelings. She is American, so why having a dark hair and brown skin means that you are different?
I was surprised with all the varieties of themes that this book touches; love, friendship, illness, family… I think this is not only a book to read the young ones of the family but to read with the parents and their children. It is a book that makes you want to talk to them, explain a little bit how the world it is and that there are problems that are better shared than keept locked.
This is a beautiful story that will be in my heart forever, no matter what language do you speak, you’ll love “The Other Half Of Happy” I am sure!
nedge's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
scienceworks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
abbiecondie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I’m clearly not the intended audience for this book as a 28-year-old woman, and at times I got a bit tired of the dramatic narration. I think 10-year-old Abbie would have given this book 5 stars, though! Loved the family characters, especially the dad. And her friends were really sweet and supportive. Quijana’s inner monologue felt very accurate for her age.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
When you are half white and half of any other recognizable people, you will have a hard time fitting in in America. You are walking that line of two world. You want to be "normal", you want to be accepted by the other "normal" children.
Quijana is half American and half Guatemalan. Her parents did not speak Spanish to her, because they wanted her to fit in. And that was ok, for a while, until it wasn't, and she realized she could not speak to any of her Guatemalan relatives, and she felt left out, so much, that she decided she did not want to go to Guatemala at all.
This would be just a typical middle-school book about friendship, except it isn't. It is a story of being between two worlds. Of friends that also don't quite fit in, but fit in with themselves.
Lovely book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Quijana is half American and half Guatemalan. Her parents did not speak Spanish to her, because they wanted her to fit in. And that was ok, for a while, until it wasn't, and she realized she could not speak to any of her Guatemalan relatives, and she felt left out, so much, that she decided she did not want to go to Guatemala at all.
This would be just a typical middle-school book about friendship, except it isn't. It is a story of being between two worlds. Of friends that also don't quite fit in, but fit in with themselves.
Lovely book. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
shelovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
This books is a poignant coming of age story.
As she comes off of childhood and start transition toward teenage-hood her mind and thoughts begin to expand, as one does and she suddenly finds herself struggling to figure out where she belong, whats her identity. One half Guatemalan, one half american, she struggles to find her fit between the two cultures.
This book is a beautiful homage to a human's struggle to find their identity, the vulnerability and the struggles of a person, specially a kid with immigrant parent to find their space between the two culture. Where do they belong in the spectrum? the struggles with feeling american, the country you were born in or the country of you parents back home your culture and ancestry.
Quijana, was a very steadfast, emotional and loud protagonist. As a 12 old its incredibly hard to define who you are and how to be yourself, and if you add juggling between two cultures it become extremely hard to find you identity and at 12 you are influenced by your surrounding. Everything might not be acceptable or found cool by the kids are you.
As the book goes on and our young protagonist finds its harder and harder to define what she wanted. And when you are confused and frustrated, you get ferocious and hell bent on not wanting change to happen to accept things. It has such a thought provoking storyline of a girl who is constantly in between trying to act out, might lash out at last resort, which i found so realistic.
It had a beautiful portrayal of friendship, reaching out and finding you tribe as you grow up, and it does it so beautifully, unraveling those little pieces of love, family, friendship and kinship.
This books is a beautiful, uprooting portrayal of a young kids vulnerability, struggle and journey to find out where she fits as growing up and learning where she actually belongs.
Quijana is a girl in pieces.
As she comes off of childhood and start transition toward teenage-hood her mind and thoughts begin to expand, as one does and she suddenly finds herself struggling to figure out where she belong, whats her identity. One half Guatemalan, one half american, she struggles to find her fit between the two cultures.
This book is a beautiful homage to a human's struggle to find their identity, the vulnerability and the struggles of a person, specially a kid with immigrant parent to find their space between the two culture. Where do they belong in the spectrum? the struggles with feeling american, the country you were born in or the country of you parents back home your culture and ancestry.
Quijana, was a very steadfast, emotional and loud protagonist. As a 12 old its incredibly hard to define who you are and how to be yourself, and if you add juggling between two cultures it become extremely hard to find you identity and at 12 you are influenced by your surrounding. Everything might not be acceptable or found cool by the kids are you.
As the book goes on and our young protagonist finds its harder and harder to define what she wanted. And when you are confused and frustrated, you get ferocious and hell bent on not wanting change to happen to accept things. It has such a thought provoking storyline of a girl who is constantly in between trying to act out, might lash out at last resort, which i found so realistic.
It had a beautiful portrayal of friendship, reaching out and finding you tribe as you grow up, and it does it so beautifully, unraveling those little pieces of love, family, friendship and kinship.
This books is a beautiful, uprooting portrayal of a young kids vulnerability, struggle and journey to find out where she fits as growing up and learning where she actually belongs.
stenaros's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
Quijana struggles with not knowing more Spanish, especially when her cousins move to her Texas town. She also has a big crush on Jayden and doesn't want to visit Guatemala with her family.
This book hit all the middle-grade notes, and I appreciated the full-on exploration of feelings around her crush. It was also one of those books that took me forever to get through. That's usually a sign that something hasn't quite clicked for me.
Quijana struggles with not knowing more Spanish, especially when her cousins move to her Texas town. She also has a big crush on Jayden and doesn't want to visit Guatemala with her family.
This book hit all the middle-grade notes, and I appreciated the full-on exploration of feelings around her crush. It was also one of those books that took me forever to get through. That's usually a sign that something hasn't quite clicked for me.
wilde28's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
jess_bergeman's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lovely book that I enjoyed as much as my youngest. There were moments that made me tear up and others that made me smile widely. What a treasure to have stumbled upon in the kids section!