Full of Beans: by Jennifer L. Holm

Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

(author of Newbury Award Winner Turtle in Paradise)

What's it About?

Beans Curry is forced to become the man of the house when his father leaves Key West to look for work in New Jersey. As Beans and his gang of friends navigate the struggles of the Great Depression they learn to do what has to be done to survive and keep their homes, even when those things make them question everything. When survival becomes keeping Key West their home can they come together and make it work?

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Full of Beans

Reaction:

Jennifer  L. Holm dives into the lives of children living in Key West during The Great Depression and brings characters alive in her story of survival, and change, without diminishing the historical content included. This story of a young boy navigating the world around him as his father leaves to find work captures the reader's attention with vivid descriptions and details that most young readers can relate to. 

Full of Beans provides a great introduction to the struggle of people during The Great Depression and the sense of community that banded people together as they did what they could to get by day by day. Great for fans of historical fiction or to pique their interest in the genre, it provides an easy-to-read story and authentic historical accounts but avoids the feel of reading about history that could be dry for some young readers.

As a classroom read or just a casual book read for enjoyment Jennifer Holm captures the audience and provides an interesting story. Her account of Beans Curry, his family, and his community gives a great interpretation of life in Key West during The Great Depression. The Author's Note included in the book connects the reader to the New Deal and the factual connections of the time to events in the book allowing even young readers to begin to understand. 

310 words

For more books by Jennifer L. Holm click here.

You may also want to check out Turtle in Paradise about Beans Curry's cousin Turtle and her story in Key West.

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

 

You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins

What's it About?

A family immigrates to America from India and navigates the culture and lifestyle while clinging to preserving their own culture as they all handle acceptance, change, and growing up in a new place in their own way. Ranee, Sonia, Tara, Shanti, and Anna narrate the generational changes and similarities within the family and Indian culture as they become American and accept the changes that come with clinging to one country and culture and gaining another new and different one at the same time. 

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You Bring the Distant Near

Reaction:

You Bring the Distant Near is a touching story that follows a family as they transition to a new life in a new land. Capturing the dynamic personalities and generational differences of each character transitioning to America, Perkins immerses the reader in traveling alongside this family on their journey. It's hard not to connect emotionally to how this family navigates their transition.

Mitali Perkins seamlessly includes cultural details in her writing that help understand the viewpoint and movement of each character throughout the book. Following the story Ranee, and her daughters Sonia and Tara as they grow and accept new norms it is clear that the bonds of family tie them together and are passed on through generations. 

This was a lovely read that kept me wanting to see what they were all going to do next. Mitali Perkins, truly connects the reader to the struggle, achievement, and transitions this family experiences as they navigate life and the world over the years.  They struggle, love, learn, and accept each other and the reader absolutely follows this journey with attachment and longing to see how it all works out.

Following their journey was an enjoyable experience. By the end of this story, I felt connected and a part of their story. It left me wanting to go back for more and to revisit them to see where they were and what they were doing today.

327 words

For more information on Mitali Perkins click here

The audible version of this title is highly recommended.