Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, and her status at school as “nobody special.” But according to Gram’s self-prophecies, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Luckily, Naomi also has her carving to strengthen her spirit. And life with Gram and her little brother, Owen, is happy and peaceful. That is, until their mother reappears after seven years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover who she really is.
Awards
Americas Award For Children’s And Young Adult Literature (Commended)
One Comment
I read this book last week for a Tradebooks class and I enjoyed it. It shows the reader to understand the differences in children that are brought up differently and of different nationalities. I will probably use this book in my classroom when I get one if I have older students. Good book.