book data
662 ratings, 4.10 average rating, 134 reviews
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published
October 1st 2005
by Scholastic Paperbacks
binding
Paperback, 272 pages
isbn
0439269970
(isbn13: 9780439269971)
description
Naomi Soledad Leon 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), h...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 815)
Reviewed by Mechele R. Dillard for TeensReadToo.com
Eleven-year-old Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw doesn't like to talk. What is she supposed to say? Abandoned by her parents at age four and raised by her great-grandmother, Naomi is a mixture of Oklahoman and Mexican, but is not able to understand even a word of Spanish--although her new best friend, Blanca, informs her that "Leon" means "lion" and "Soledad is some big saint in Mexico" (p. 54). All these years, her he...more
Eleven-year-old Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw doesn't like to talk. What is she supposed to say? Abandoned by her parents at age four and raised by her great-grandmother, Naomi is a mixture of Oklahoman and Mexican, but is not able to understand even a word of Spanish--although her new best friend, Blanca, informs her that "Leon" means "lion" and "Soledad is some big saint in Mexico" (p. 54). All these years, her he...more
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I read the book Becoming Naomi Leon. It is about a girl who lives with her grandmother and her brother, Owen in a trailer park. Their mom took them away from their dad when they were little and then gave them to their grandma. The conflict in this story starts when Naomi and Owen’s mom comes back and wants to take Naomi away to live with her. Naomi likes her life and doesn’t want to go with her mom. But her mom wont give u, she says that she will take her mother to court to get custody o...more
Read in April, 2008
LISTENING LIBRARY (unabridged) 2004, read by Annie Kozuch.
Cass: I can't figure out how to add the audio cassette version, so I've attached my review to the paperback listing.
(CIP) When Naomi’s absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father.
(Claudia) Although Naomi, the 5th grade narrator, and her younger brother long to know their parents, they are happily secure, growing up with their g...more
Cass: I can't figure out how to add the audio cassette version, so I've attached my review to the paperback listing.
(CIP) When Naomi’s absent mother resurfaces to claim her, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother in search of her father.
(Claudia) Although Naomi, the 5th grade narrator, and her younger brother long to know their parents, they are happily secure, growing up with their g...more
Read in January, 2008
This book addresses a surprising range of issues such as cultural and personal identity, what it means to be a family (even if the family is "non-traditional"), life in a trailer park, and much more. Despite the obvious downsides of the main character Naomi's life, such as living in Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho, having a disabled brother, and growing up for seven years minus either of her biological parents, there is a pervasive sense of hope throughout the novel, shown in Naomi and h...more
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This is the story of Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw, an 11 year old girl who is abandoned by her mother. She and her younger brother Owen are happy living with their grandmother in Avocado Acres Trailer Ranch, even though Naomi is ?nobody special? at school. They are happy, until their mother, Skyla, shows up with her new boyfriend. She had been gone so long; the children didn?t even recognize her! She starts buying all sorts of presents for Naomi, but not for Owen, who is disabled. They soon find ou...more
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this story is sad and happy. The sad thing about this story is that Naomi does not know who her father is and she lives with her grandmother. her mother drinks alot and her mother was in rehab for her drinking problem. her mother just now wants to come be in her and her brothers life and her brother has a problem and her mother treats her better, than her brother. her mother does not like him because he has a problem. i think you should treat your kids equal and not be mean to them.carla is a ...more
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Read in March, 2008
I loved this book! For the last 50 or so pages, I was crying happily with the characters and wanting to pick up and drive all the way down to Oaxaca, Mexico. There are so many levels to this book -- identity, parental relationships, dealing with trauma, child abuse, friendship, discovering yourself, expressing yourself. Just like in "Esperanza Rising", the characters are genuine and compelling. Throughout the whole book, I just wanted to sweep Naomi up in a huge hug and tell her th...more
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
kids and adults who enjoy a good story
This charming book for young readers introduces us to Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw, a 5th grader who finds her voice and lives up to her family title of "lion." Naomi and her brother Owen live with Gram in the Baby Beluga, an Airstream trailer in the middle of a California avocado grove. Life is good until her mother, who deserted the children seven years earlier, shows up and wants to cart Naomi off to Las Vegas. The ersatz family packs up and journeys to Oaxaca in search of Naomi and Ow...more
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This was a great book. It's a sad book with a strong girl figuring out her life and the sad events that have happened to her and her family. I read so many of these books-and this was a great one! Pam Munoz Ryan has written other books, so far this is the only novel by her that I have read.
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This book is about a girl and her brother who live with there grandmother. They live with ther grandmother because there mother left them with her. Then a few years later her mother comes back to her grand mopthers house and expects to get her children back. Naomi wanted to meet her but at the same time she was mad at her for leaving them at such a young age.The clothes she wears is made because her grandmother sews them. She dosent have a good school life because of her name. Then when there mo...more
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Read in December, 2007
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Joanie by:
Arlinda, my job share partner
I REALLY liked this book. I read it with a small group of 5th grade girls and it was hard to slow them down. It's a very compelling story about a young girl, Naomi, and her brother, Owen, that are being raised by their great grandmother. Suddenly, after 7 years, their mother returns and chaos ensues. I was surprised how the girls in my class related to this broken family, every single one in the group had divorced parents; sad commentary on our time. We had great discussions and I really felt l...more
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Read in November, 2008
We are reading this book for school, right now.
I am skipping ahead a bit... IT IS REALLY GOOD!
I would recomend it, though, for me, it is a bit of an easy read.
I am skipping ahead a bit... IT IS REALLY GOOD!
I would recomend it, though, for me, it is a bit of an easy read.
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Read in January, 2006
recommended to Rebeca by:
My aunt gave it to me recommends it for: Girls (maybe guys) ages 10-13
I read this in 6th grade and loved it. It is really, really sad. It is about a girl (Naomi) whose mother left her. Suddenly, she comes back. Her mother is disappointed by her son, who is disabled, caused ny her drinking while pregent. She also is disappointed by Naomi living with her grandmother in the tralier park. Naomi's mom wants to take her back, but not Naomi's brother. If I said too much it would give it away. So it is a story about a girl wanting to find her past and family she n...more
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This book was pretty good.I though this book had an interesting plot.
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Read in March, 2008
This is a good book for kids to learn about standing up for themselves and finding something good in themselves to be proud of. The main character is an endearing 5th grade girl, but the story tends to be more insightful rather then entertaining... so it might have a hard time keeping the younger mind engaged. This book also deals with unfit parents and adults who use kids for there own purposes, so this would be a good book to discuss with your kids after they finish reading it... they might ...more
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Read in July, 2006
While the author touches on tough subjects with success, the characters are not well developed. She does a good job writing what Naomi observes, then shows her reactions the way an outsider would. Not much to read about Naomi's personal thoughts.
Sure this is a book written for elementary children, but so are Judy Blume's books - and she does a much better job with this type of writing.
Nonetheless, the book is fairly good for the age group intended. No need to be afraid of the author...more
Sure this is a book written for elementary children, but so are Judy Blume's books - and she does a much better job with this type of writing.
Nonetheless, the book is fairly good for the age group intended. No need to be afraid of the author...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Maia by:
Mrs.Klonowskirecommends it for: All
WHOA!
Naomi Leon is a quiet girl, who lives with her Grandma and her brother Owen in a trailer park. Naomi is a worrywart, who loves to make lists and carve soap, just like her father, Santagio. But everything changes when her mother decides to come back. Skyla wants Naomi. Not Owen. Naomi isn't about to leave Owen, or Gran. Plus, Skyla wants her to babysit her new boyfriends daughter. Gran,Naomi,and Owen set out on an epic adventure, to find their father, and stay with Gran.
I loved readi...more
Naomi Leon is a quiet girl, who lives with her Grandma and her brother Owen in a trailer park. Naomi is a worrywart, who loves to make lists and carve soap, just like her father, Santagio. But everything changes when her mother decides to come back. Skyla wants Naomi. Not Owen. Naomi isn't about to leave Owen, or Gran. Plus, Skyla wants her to babysit her new boyfriends daughter. Gran,Naomi,and Owen set out on an epic adventure, to find their father, and stay with Gran.
I loved readi...more
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Read in January, 2005
I read this for a multicultural children's lit class and absolutely loved it. The heroine, Naomi Leon, is an endearing mix of optimism and realism. She constantly makes lists, which is her mechanism for coping with almost everything in her life. She lives with her grandma and little brother -- her mom has run off, and her father is somewhere in Mexico.
Her journey is one of finding her story and her voice and is portrayed in such a way that you can't help but fall in love with Naomi's indomitab...more
Her journey is one of finding her story and her voice and is portrayed in such a way that you can't help but fall in love with Naomi's indomitab...more
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