When twelve-year-old Izzy discovers a beat-up baseball marked with the words "Becausemagic" while unpacking in yet another new apartment, she is de...
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Jan 15, 2012
Elizabeth
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What would you do if you were confronted with a mystery about your father, and your mother won’t talk about it? Izzy’s mother has always been restless. After many moves in California, they have just moved again. While unpacking, Izzy comes across her father’s old baseball with the mysterious words, "Because… Love," written on one side. The words between have been rubbed out. Her mother has never told Izzy anything about her father, except that he died before Izzy More...
Jul 23, 2010
Cindy
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Izzy and her mother have moved more times than she wants to remember. She’s just getting settled again when her mom announces she’s received a research grant to study in Costa Rica and Izzy will be spending the summer with her nana in New Mexico.
Izzy doesn’t know her grandmother very well, and she’s not at all happy about being dumped for a couple of months while her mom is gone. But once she arrives at the small adobe village near Albuquerque, magic starts to happen. As Izzy begins More...
Izzy doesn’t know her grandmother very well, and she’s not at all happy about being dumped for a couple of months while her mom is gone. But once she arrives at the small adobe village near Albuquerque, magic starts to happen. As Izzy begins More...
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Oct 31, 2010
Sandra
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Izzy has just gotten settled into yet another new home. While unpacking she comes across a baseball that had belonged to her father. It has the words because...magic on it. When she asks her mom about it her mom takes it away and puts it up. Izzy gets the ball back out and then learns the next morning that her mother has received a grant to finish up her studies in Costa Rica. She is sending Izzy to New Mexico to stay with her nana. She is not thrilled about this. However when she arrives
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Jun 16, 2010
Claire
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Izzy is preparing to settle into a new apartment for the summer. She is going through a box one morning and sees a baseball that must have belonged to her father. Her mom just cannot face her husband's death (even after 12 years) and hides the ball.
Now, really curious, Izzy finds and stashes the ball so her mom won't see it.
Unexpectedly a grant comes through for Mom to study in Costa Rica and Izzy must go visit her Nana in New Mexico. Izzy really does not want to do this but is giv More...
Now, really curious, Izzy finds and stashes the ball so her mom won't see it.
Unexpectedly a grant comes through for Mom to study in Costa Rica and Izzy must go visit her Nana in New Mexico. Izzy really does not want to do this but is giv More...
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Mar 23, 2011
Carol
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Twelve year old Izzy lives in San Diego but mother is going to Costa Rica to finish her research. Izzy has to go to New Mexico to live with her grandmother. She has always wanted to know about her father who died before she was born. She doesn’t make friends easily because they are always moving.
Izzy learns about folk medicine, songs, how to make tortillas and a lot about her heritage and how to deal with grief.
This book is filled with the smells, sounds and folklore of More...
Izzy learns about folk medicine, songs, how to make tortillas and a lot about her heritage and how to deal with grief.
This book is filled with the smells, sounds and folklore of More...
Aug 02, 2010
Cathe
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This was a sweet book about a twelve-year-old girl Izzy who spends the summer with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother finishes her studies. While she is there, she becomes immersed in the Mexican culture that her mother had surpressed out of grief after the death of her husband. Izzy searches for answers about her father's death and she may find them if she can find the voice in the wind.
I'm always looking for books with Latino culture and was very happy to have found thi More...
I'm always looking for books with Latino culture and was very happy to have found thi More...
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Sep 30, 2011
Ed
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An impressive debut--a beautifully written, gentle family story though the plot does seem a bit derivative of other stories of this kind.
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Jan 15, 2010
C.J.
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Beautiful debut with a pitch-perfect middle-grade voice. Great setting and characters with just a hint of magic that makes it even more special. Jen has created a New Mexico village that makes me want to move there and get to know the people who inhabit it even better.
When Izzy is shipped off to her grandmother's village, she starts to put the pieces of her early life together - how did her father die? Is the baseball she found full of magic? Why does she hear words on the wind? Pic More...
When Izzy is shipped off to her grandmother's village, she starts to put the pieces of her early life together - how did her father die? Is the baseball she found full of magic? Why does she hear words on the wind? Pic More...
Aug 15, 2010
Tamsyn
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This was a wonderful story of a girl without a sense of place or even of family. Her father died before her birth, and her mother, after moving to CA from NM, has never settled in one place long enough for Izzy to put down roots. When a grant for her mother to complete her research comes through at the last moment, Izzy is sent to NM to spend the summer with her grandmother, who she hasn't seen in 6 or 7 years. What she discovers about her family and herself makes for a magical story.
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Aug 31, 2011
Angela
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I like this book because it's interesting and taught me two things. One is family is very important even if the person isn't really related to you. Also, you shouldn't always think about yourself because you might hurt yourself or someone else. I enjoyed it so much because I really understood how Izzy felt about not meeting her dad. I didn't experience it yet, but I think her life is great now because she gets to stay with Nana and Maggie, even her mother.
May 29, 2011
I think that the book was amazing because it talked about a little girl and her life rather than the other books that just have the info about the character that is very boring but this book was actually really good. I recommend this book for others to read but definitely young kids form 8 and above most likely because they will like the book and the way it is kind of like a mystery like you will never know what happens next so I think that it is a very good book. I really enjoyed reading it.
Apr 07, 2011
Erin
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A sweet, coming-of-age story about a girl who has to go live with her grandmother in New Mexico while her mother does graduate work in Costa Rica and learns the magic of a small, tight-knit community and uncovers some details about her past and how her father died. The story flowed well and the characters were warm and loving. My only complaint is that the village life seemed a little *too* idyllic, even the tragic bits.
Apr 03, 2011
MaryKay
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jun 26, 2010
Melissa
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This should be the next Newbery winner!
My journey through the story touched something bigger in my soul. I love Young Adult books and read at least one a week. But, I haven't read one like Tortilla Sun that touched me so deeply since Return to Sender by Alvarez or Star Girl by Spinelli.
http://wp.me/pPp61-6p my full review will be up on Monday June 28, 2010.
My journey through the story touched something bigger in my soul. I love Young Adult books and read at least one a week. But, I haven't read one like Tortilla Sun that touched me so deeply since Return to Sender by Alvarez or Star Girl by Spinelli.
http://wp.me/pPp61-6p my full review will be up on Monday June 28, 2010.
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May 05, 2011
Amari
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I thought that the book was full of mystery and secrets because Izzy discovered that her mom is keeping secrets from her so Izzy won't feel the same pain her mom is feeling. I really liked this book because it talks about a girl who goes to mexico to visit her grandmother. And while she is there, she finds more secrets than she will ever know.
May 02, 2011
Many themes going on:
Telling stories and writing; discovering your own story; the importance of family; love is magic; healing from loss; finding love.
Really enjoyed this sweet book with flavor of Spanish speaking New Mexico. I love the magic realism-- might be a book enjoyed by fans of Saavy.
Telling stories and writing; discovering your own story; the importance of family; love is magic; healing from loss; finding love.
Really enjoyed this sweet book with flavor of Spanish speaking New Mexico. I love the magic realism-- might be a book enjoyed by fans of Saavy.
Jun 04, 2011
Christine
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I LOVED this book. It is a lovely story about a 12 year old girl finding her roots, rediscovering magic & understanding the power of love. It was beautifully written, making a children's story into a very enjoyable read as an adult. I'll be curious to see if my daughter (much closer to the target audience) feels the same...
Jun 25, 2011
Heather
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All of the characters seemed very realistic and approachable, and the little bit of magic thrown in was just right. I really enjoyed the story, but all the talk of food made me so hungry! I am definitely in the mood for some good Mexican food now.
Jan 21, 2011
Erick
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This s a very good book. This is a must have for any teacher or would-be teacher to include in their class library. It exemplifies Latino culture in New Mexico mixing in the traditional with modern ways and practices. A very nice feel-good story.
Jan 08, 2011
Olivia
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I have only 4 words. I LOOOOVVVEEEE THIS BOOK!!!!!! I didn't quite like it ( I guess ) in the beguinning ,but then I just loved it for the next week that I read it. This is a book anyone could enjoy!!! It is amazingly great!!
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Jan 14, 2011
Chuck
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A fun middle-grade novel about a girl who spends a summer in New Mexico with her grandmother. Once there the magic starts happening. Not the wizard magic with spells and wands, but a subtler magic from Mexican culture exploring it's tradition and folklore.
Dec 26, 2009
Irene
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From the cover art to the quaint size, this book is magic. I loved the infusion of culture in this sweet story. Haven't tried to make Nana's tortillas, but I will. Complete tesoro by a fellow Tenner!
Jan 21, 2012
Robin
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The other members of the committee liked this one more than I did. I liked this unusual story about family and loss but I was in disbelief toward the end.
May 04, 2011
Jackee
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Combines many of the flavors and colors of the Southwest. A quick read about a culture not written about nearly enough.
Jan 26, 2011
Lindsey
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This book is sweet and magical. Also, you might want to stock up on homemade tortillas before you start reading. Otherwise, you're going to have to put the book down at some point and find some.
Jan 26, 2012
Pamela
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Definitely for a younger audience, but I really liked the "magic" woven in the story.
Feb 12, 2011
Mary
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Lots of growth taking place. This would make a good read aloud for writers to be.
Aug 06, 2010
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
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If you read this book, have a box of tissues ready. I plan on posting a longer review but want to think about this a little more. I will say that I loved having a story featured around Latino characters and celebrating the Latino heritage and culture. I would like to use this as a read aloud with my fifth graders this year. Very powerful message.
See my full review on: http://kidlitfrenzy.com/2010/08/06/book-...
See my full review on: http://kidlitfrenzy.com/2010/08/06/book-...
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