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Apr 18, 2009

Wendy rated it:

Lovely, charming, accessible magical realism-ish YA.

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Jun 06, 2011

Ruhama rated it:

Clara has received an invitation to go visit her father's parents in Mexico, and she's a little intrigued, but mostly scared. Her father left many years ago and rarely looked back, and now she's expected to go to a place with no electricity, all they speak is Spanish (hers is rusty) and she won't know anyone? But something Clara hasn't told her parents is that she's been feeling restless, so this two month visit might just be what she needs to 'find herself'. So, Clara accepts the invitation and More...

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Jul 07, 2009

Paradox rated it:

Rating -

Plot - 29/30
Writing – 19/20
Characters - 18/20
Creativity - 18/20
The *Wow* Factor - 9/10
Grand Total - 94/100

Grade – A

Review -

I read this book over a year ago, so my memories of it aren't as clear as with a book I just read. But I do remember how wonderful it was! When the story began, Clara Luna seemed pretty much like a normal American teenager, and remains so when she meets her grandparents in Mexico. She under More...

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Aug 03, 2009

Elizabeth rated it:

this is the story of clara luna. her father came to america at a very young age and made a life for himself with a landscaping business. although clara asks her father about his home, he never speaks of his parents or where he came from in mexico. as clara is on the cusp of high school, she feels restless in her maryland town. a letter arrives from mexico addressed to clara. it is her maternal grandmother and she is inviting clara to visit for the entire summer. and so begins a young girl' More...

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Feb 01, 2010

Sandi rated it:

This was a book that my daughter read for school. She said I would like it...guess she knows me pretty well. It was a lovely story of a teenage girl from Maryland who goes to rustic Mexico to visit her grandparents whom she had not previously met. It is a story of a young girl discovering her roots, listening to her soul and becoming aware of her families' interconnectedness. The stories of her grandmother's life are compelling. The author brings the landscape and scenery of the mountain re More...

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Jun 27, 2009

Alexa rated it:

As a new Laura Resau, I found this book pretty good. I liked how I was able to relate to the main character, Clara. Like her, I probably wouldn't have wanted to go to visit my long-lost grandparents over the summer. As the book progressed, I enjoyed the transitions from Clara's time and Helana's time. I really like hearing how strong and cool her grandparents are. This book made me think a lot and I really liked it. It was interesting to hear about another culture and I enjoyed hearing about the More...

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Feb 21, 2009

Faith rated it:

4 1/2 stars
Ooo, I really liked this one. I find language and culture fascinating, so it's not much of a suprise that I like it. I also liked that I was able to translate the bits of Spanish that were interwoven into the book (they're translated into English for non-Spanish-speakers). I think that this was a very well written book that fully deserved the LoneStar award (a TX award given to a list of books each yr). Some of the LoneStars are not so great, but this one lived up to my expectat More...

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Aug 03, 2009

Teepet rated it:

A different story but almost the exact same themes as the other book by Resau that I've read, Red Glass. Fortunately it is also eqaully good and inspiring. I just have a feeling I'm going to wind up with the stories all muddled in my mind.

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Jun 06, 2010

Jennifer rated it:

Laura Resau touches the hearts of young adults with the story of Clara Luna. Readers will be mesmerized by the amount of heart that was put into writing this book. Clara Luna’s path to self discovery is a story that every reader can relate to. Resau brings to life the story of a young girl with detailed descriptions and eye opening adventures anyone can enjoy. Readers will fall in love with Clara Luna’s adventures into the background of her heritage.

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Jun 20, 2010

Claire rated it:

13 year old Clara Luna feels restless growing up in her Maryland home. Just as she feels like she is lost in the US, a letter comes from her Abuelita in a small village in Oaxaca, Mexico. Clara decides to take a trip to meet her grandparents for the first time. While in Oaxaca, she learns about the great power of healers in her family, and discovers the secrets of the village and grows closer to her illegal immigrant father's history.

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Aug 03, 2010

Melissa rated it:

I'm trying to read books based in other cultures. This book was amazing! It is based in the mountains of Mexico and mixes a lot of culture into the writing, without you really noticing. The writing is extremely figurative and filled with metaphors...I thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm thinking of putting it on my 7th graders' reading list because it is really a story of coming to realize how shallow all the possessions in America are.

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Aug 19, 2009

Amy rated it:

Interesting story of a girl, Clara, who is sent to a village in Mexico for the summer. She lives with her grandparents, who basically have nothing. Coming from the suburbs, she has to adjust to the new lifestyle but begins to enjoy it. When her grandmother begins to teach her some of her healing arts, Clara begins to feel as though she were meant to live that way, and resolves to not fall into the conspicuous consumption trap back home.

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Jul 06, 2010

Patsi rated it:

I stumbled across this book while searching for something else. Glad I did. I enjoyed the dilemmas of a suburban teenage girl who chooses to spend a summer in the remote Mexican village where her father grew up. There's humor, drama, a touch of romance, and hints of magic in the gift for healing that the girl clearly shares with her grandmother.

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May 26, 2009

Kirsten rated it:

Coming of age novel - a young girl grows into herself as she travels to her father's small village in Mexico to meet her grandparents. Sweet and well written - puts the importance of cultural traditions before materialism and works. Timely, a "Women Who Run with the Wolves" for young girls.

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Mar 21, 2009

Talia rated it:

I had to do a project on this book so I think it made me enjoy the book more. I like it because it includes Spanish culture and I learned more about the way people live in Mexico, including some Spanish and Mixtecan (the local language) words. By the way, "Ita" means flower in Mixteco!

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Aug 04, 2011

Monica rated it:

I love books about a character in a different culture. This one had potential to put in a lot more details about the Mixtec culture, though. Also thought there should be a reconciliation with Dad at the end, but there was no mention of her asking him why he left.

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Dec 03, 2008

Jean rated it:

When Clara Luna goes to visit her illegal immigrant father's parents in Oaxaca, Mexico, she learns about healing, both herself and her family. This satisfying story has an exciting climax as Clara and her friend/soul-mate, Pedro, survive a torrential storm.

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Dec 08, 2011

Annell rated it:

I do enjoy reading this authors books. There is always a great story with a little bit of magic. It is heartfelt and real and truly inspiring. I also like how the author writes.

http://dragonflowersandbooks.blogspot.co...

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Dec 03, 2010

Linda rated it:

Clara Luna knows her father came from Mexico, but he doesn't speak about his boyhood or past life. When she is invited to visit her grandparents, It is nothing like what she expected.
This is a lovely story with great imagery and spirituality.

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Apr 19, 2008

Smaileh rated it:

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I was caught in its spell, much as the main character, Claire, is caught in the spell of her grandparents' remote home in Mexico. Claire has grown up without knowing her Mexican parents, but when she turns 14, she receives a letter inviting her to stay the summer. At first she dismayed by how very different it is from the home she's used to--from the airport there is a long bus ride, and an even longer walk when the bus slides down the m More...

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Dec 28, 2008

Nathan rated it:

This is a young adult that revolves around a young girl discovering her roots, and herself in the process. While the story was entertaining, and easy to follow, I found that it was the writing itself that made this a worthwhile read.

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Jun 05, 2010

Heather rated it:

This is a juvenile novel a friend recommended about a young girl whose father is from Oaxaca, Mexico. It tells about her journey finding who she is and where she came from. It is a fun coming of age novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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May 20, 2010

Leslie rated it:

I love books that make me think about my priorities and values, without being too heavy handed. This is a lovely story about a girl who comes to realize that all her stuff doesn't mean anything, but relationships and service to others are more important. It's set in the present, with mystical experiences that are fantastic, but drive home the point.

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Dec 02, 2011

Dalea rated it:

Such a great, lovely book. I love the setting and all the cultural aspects. It was so nice to read and I didn't stop reading once I'd started. Now that I'm thinking about it, I think i need to reread it

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May 27, 2011

Michelle rated it:

I love the way author Laura Resau describes Clara's first encounters with a culture that's not her own. It's a very sensitive and inspiring account, and I'm hoping to pick up some writing tips as I work on my own story about a Canadian girl in the Dominican Republic.

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Feb 17, 2011

MCPLD Youth Department rated it:

This is an amazing book! Readers interested Mexican culture and heritage would really like this story, or anyone curious about traditional healing arts and spiritual journeys would enjoy this book as well.

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Jun 19, 2009

Angela rated it:

One of the best books I have read. The book is just so...well-written. An amazing book! One of those find-your-place-in-the-world type of books.

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Mar 24, 2008

Susan P rated it:

Wow! This one was gorgeous. Lyrical, descripitive writing and a beautiful sense of place and time. The summer of her 14th year, Clara Luna goes to visit the grandparents she has never met. They live in a tiny town in Mexico called Yucuyoo. They don't speak English or have a TV or any of the modern conveniences that Clara takes for granted. What they do have however is a way of filling the gaps in Clara's soul that she never realized were there until she came to this magical place. Clara s More...

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Jun 06, 2011

Danie rated it:

Beautiful book about a young teen who spends the summer in Oaxaca Mexico with grandparents she is meeting for the first time.

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Jun 15, 2010

Corinne rated it:

I love reading about Mixteco. It is a young adult book and it is a great read. http://www.lauraresau.com/what-the-moon-...

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