
Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a sense of displacement or searching for their place within a complex family history. It is a perfect choice for the pre-teen years when identity starts to feel like a puzzle with missing pieces, specifically for children who are balancing two cultures or navigating the distance of a move. Marisol is a relatable thirteen-year-old who finds herself uprooted from her best friend in Brooklyn and sent to live with her grandmother in Panama. While the vibrant Panamanian setting provides a rich backdrop, the heart of the story lies in Marisol's secret quest to find her biological father. It explores the nuances of friendship, the weight of family secrets, and the rhythm of Afro-Latina identity with warmth and authenticity. It is a gentle yet profound exploration of how we define home and heritage.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book addresses the absence of a father and the tension of family secrets directly. The approach is realistic and culturally grounded, showing the protagonist's frustration with her mother's silence. The resolution is hopeful but grounded in emotional growth rather than a fairy-tale ending.
A middle-schooler (ages 10-12) who feels like an outsider or who is curious about their own family history. It is particularly resonant for children in the diaspora who feel 'not enough' of one culture or another.
Read cold; the book is very accessible. A parent might notice their child becoming more inquisitive or even resentful about family history they don't yet know, or perhaps a child struggling with a long-distance friendship.
Younger readers (8-9) will focus on the adventure of travel and the 'detective' aspect of finding the father. Older readers (11-12) will connect more deeply with the themes of cultural duality and the changing nature of childhood friendships.
Unlike many stories about Latin American identity that focus solely on Mexico or the Caribbean, this offers a specific and beautiful look at Afro-Panamanian culture and the unique rhythm of life in Panama City and Colon. """
Marisol and her best friend Magdalena are inseparable until Marisol is sent to Panama for a year. Living with her Abuela, Marisol must navigate a new school and a different pace of life while secretly investigating her father's identity, a topic her mother has always avoided. Along the way, she discovers the depth of her Afro-Panamanian roots through music, food, and family stories.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.