Student Name: Chris Maynard

Purpose: Multicultural Literature (Wide Reading Project)

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Format: Novel

Grade level: Intermediate (ages 9-12, grades 4-5)

Subjects/Themes: See above bookshelves

School use: If I owned this book, I would have it in my classroom library and refer it to Latino students whose parents may be going through divorce, as it offers much relevance in terms of the feelings that children experience when their parents suddenly split. As described in my review, this book also has some applications for ELL learners, specifically the parts about the children teaching Tia Lola the difference between figurative and literal language. This book is best used on an individual or small group basis and does not merit a whole-class read or examination.

Review: I was pleasantly surprised with How Tia Lola Came to Stay, specifically its combination of humor and sensitivity when dealing with some complicated subjects like divorce, language barriers, moving to a new state and yearning for acceptance in school all the while trying to avoid the embarrassment of an adult (in this story, the wild and wacky Tia Lola) who may shatter any chances of being accepted as cool, etc. This book also teaches about the importance of being sensitive to ELL learners, and while some of the situations that result in the story, such as Tia Lola getting lost at the airport were handled creatively, they show how it is important not to assume even the slightest language to be easy for all people, as doing so can lead to some quite uncomfortable and scary outcomes. This book address a lot of different questions about what family and love mean, encourages acceptance of others (including their quirks) and slowly comes to a resolution at the end without sacrificing quality for a happy ending, which I found quite respectable.