La vida sin Santi

by Andrea Maturana

Santi y Maia tienen que separarse, pues uno de ellos se va a vivir lejos y no se verán en algn tiempo. Los días serán tristes y complicados al principio. Con el tiempo, la distancia se sentirá cada vez menos y el vacío que quedó se llenará. ¿Quedará algún espacio libre para cuando Santi regrese?

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Grief, Storytime

48 pages, Hardcover

First published July 8, 2014

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Mexico under the title La Vida Sin Santi in 2014, Kids Can Press translated and published this picture book earlier this year. This book touched me really deeply, because there are times in our lives where we are separated from friends and/or family that we love dearly for a time.

Maia is separated from her best friend, Nico, when his family travels halfway across the globe for a period of time. In his absence, Maia feels unable to cope with the immense void she feels in her heart, until she makes a new friend and discovers a new hobby. Will the passing of time and Nico’s return signal a change in their friendship? Can things ever go back to the way they used to be? Such a good book! One of my favorites; I’ll be adding a copy to my library very soon. I couldn’t help but be reminded of my soulmate. Sigh.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

l thought this little book provided an honest and poignant description of the void left behind when friendships are unexpectedly ended or disrupted. Too many picture books aimed at making sense of emotions are oversimplified. Even the joy felt when the friends were reunited was realistically tempered with the anxiety of not knowing if everything would be as it was before. This book really got it right.

[Noura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is charming.

I was totally engrossed in this. Part of that is because of how magical the illustrations were and the other is because the story was approached and dealt with from a child's point of view. I know that's how most picture books are approached but few succeed with in the same level this did.

I can't wait to get a copy for my cousins/everyone else I know.

[Elena Delos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es de esos cuentos que narran tanto con palabras como con la ilustración y que de dejan al final ese tiritón de emoción que apreta la garganta. Hermoso

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the subtle illustrations in muted colors and the tender storyline about friendship. This book shows how true friendship can withstand distance and time.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maia and Nico are best friends, and of course they do what best friends do: they share, and play, and laugh. Everything is better when they are together. Now you can understand why Maia is so shocked when she knows Nico and his family are moving away for a few months due to his father studies. How will she survive?

At the beginning it was really, really hard. Maia only could feel a big emptiness. Time seemed to move so slowly. But after some time she dared to try, and a new pet appeared. Then a new friend. Even piano lessons. Maia feels much happier now, and she loves to share all of this with Nico by phone.

And finally the great day is here. Nico will be back at any moment. Will Maia have time enough to play with him now that her life is so full of new things? But as soon as she sees Nico she knows. She just knows. Nico's place in her heart is intact.

Beautiful story to help kids make sense of normal feelings we all have when things unexpectedly change. Maia learns to make the best of the situation she has to go through. It's a very encouraging story. The pictures are lovely and sweet.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tale of a moving friend. How to deal with a friend moving, and how to move on without forgetting. There's always room for friends old and new.

[Tina at Mommynificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book for children facing either a move of their own or a move of a friend. It does a wonderful job of validating the strength of the emotions felt and also explains the stages of grief in a very child-friendly way. It's really very well done.

I also appreciated the rather unexpected multicultural nature of the book. I'm not exactly sure why Nico is blue, but that's ok. The children seem to live in South America and Nico's family moves to Australia for a time. As an American family living abroad, I found this refreshing, and I know my kids will notice and appreciate it too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and I can honestly say that I highly recommend this beautiful picture book!

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the art - so simple, yet so expressive! It perfectly portrays the emotions in the book. The emptiness Maia feels when Nico leaves. How she feels when he returns.

And such a sweet, sweet story.

I would recommend it - especially for a little who is sad for someone that has had to leave them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for a copy in return for an honest review.

[Jason Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Without Nico is another fantastic book from Kids Can Press.

Maia and Nico are best friends. They can spend hours playing together and never get bored. Then, unexpectedly, Nico and his family leave behind their South American home for the land of koalas and kangaroos.

Maia is devasted.

Read more at: http://jasoncstanley.com/book-review-...

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful story that is emotionally intelligent and affirming. I will probably purchase this one for my own collection.

[Nadia Nazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartwarming picture book is for children around ages five to eight. The book follows Maia, who is best friends with Nico. After Nico and his family leave for Australia for his father's studies, Maia grapples with the loss of her friend. The book follows how Maia deals with Nico's absence and how she is able to grow and move on from it. This book is very universal for anyone that has had to deal with a friend moving away. The pain of losing someone is visualized in a symbolic way. There is a shadow of a hole that grows larger around Maia, and what is interesting is that these holes overlayed on her are all shadows and realistic depictions of light in the setting she is in. Flowers are also used to visualize her growth and blooming. The color scheme of the book is so wonderful too with its blues and cream tones. The pacing of the words is slow and steady. It's very helpful to follow along in a way where you can connect more with Maia. The end of this book had me tearing up and thinking of friends who I don't see often but hold a spot in my heart for. This is a beautiful book and would be helpful in teaching kids about grief and friendship.

[P. Ericka Infante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimamente me ha dado por leer bastantes (Nunca demasiados) libros infantiles, debido a que mi mini-monster ha descubierto el amor por la lectura (¡Por fin!) y ahora que cuenta con su credencial de la biblioteca, espero que se convierta en pasión.
Uno de los ejemplares que tomamos prestado fue "La vida sin Santi", ¿El motivo? Sencillo: El pequeño lector se emocionó al escuchar que existe un libro con su nombre en el título.
Aunque parece ser un libro sencilo que trata el tema de cómo lidiar la partida de un amigo y su regreso después de que te has hecho a la idea de que se fue; me pareció que no solo era para niños, sino para todo el que se enfrentase con la misma situación.
Nos habla sobre ese vació que deja una persona cuando sale de nuestra vida ¿Qué se supone que vamos a hacer? ¿Con quien pasaremos el tiempo? ¿Nos quedaremos solos?, parece que el tiempo no quiere avanzar, que los días son largos y tristes y cada vez se vuelven más oscuros, pero poco a poco la autora nos muestra que esto no dura para siempre, y que algún día ese vacío desaparecerá.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple book about a friend moving away, but it delivers its narrative and emotion so smoothly as Nico leaves and Maia is left behind. The visual and emotional cues are perfect--he is excited for his adventure and she is mournful in her aloneness--and it doesn't sidestep the real feeling of loss or diminish or sweep away those emotions by suggesting "You'll find another friend" or "It's not so bad." Even their "moving on" stage presents its own questions of what becomes of the earlier relationship. The happy resolve is both realistic and hopeful. This can be an engaging book to give a child the chance to feel their loss. It is a satisfying book for adults too--we've all had friends move away, and that has more emotional than factual consequences. I'm so glad that a book first published in Mexico and written and illustrated by two Chileans made its way into my Midwest public library.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genre is realistic fiction because it involves events that can happen in real life. For example, Maia’s best friend moves away and she has to figure out how to live life without him.
The target audience is primary (K-3).
Making Connections:
Text-to-Self: This book reminded me of my own life because I’ve had many friends that I was close to but eventually lost contact with, and during that time, I felt many of the same things that Maia did.
Text-to-Text: This book reminded me of Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier because both explore the concepts of loss and friendship and the feelings surrounding them.
Text-to-World: This book could really help children explore their feelings surrounding loss, especially grief. It can be very helpful for young children to see someone go through what they are going through or might go through.

[Annie Gbaford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nico and Maya are best friends and always play together. One day Nico's father tells them that Nico will be leaving someday soon and this make s the two friends very sad knowing that they won't be able to play with each other anymore. When it time for Nico to leave Maya doesn't know what to do without him she's very bored and lonely she doesn't know how to get rid of that feeling. Maya meets a cat and finds new things to do in place of the longing and missing for Nico. Nico is returning and Maya's worried that she will not have enough room or love in her for Nico, once they unite it's like he never left.

Life without Nico is a good book to use to teach children about moving away and helping them understand the concept that just because someone isn't physically there with you means that they don't love or that you will stop loving them. This is a must-read!

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nico and Maia are best friends and do everything together. But when Nico's father must go to a different country for his studies, Maia feels a deep emptiness without Nico. She finally finds things that help fill the void in her life, but when Nico's father's studies are done and he comes back, will he fit back into Maia's life?

In our international community it is extremely common for families to be gone for a chunk of time and then come back. I know many, many of our students will resonate with Maia and Nico. I like the hope that this provides, though not all friendships may fit back as smoothly as Maia and Nico's. The illustration style in this is very unique, but I liked it. Highly recommended to expat families and third culture kids.

[Brittany Marcoux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Hook:
Has one of your childhood friends ever moved far away? Were you filled with confusion and sadness? That is how Maia felt when her best friend Nico moved far away with his family. Maia lived with sadness for a while, until she got a cat and met a new friend. She comes to the realization that she can make other friends and she does not have to have just one friend. It was not the end of the world for Maia and Nico and they still remained friends.

Three words or phrases that best describe this book are:
- Friendship
- Long-Distance
- Challenges

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maia and Nico are the best of friends but Nico has to move far far away. Maia misses him so much but as time goes by, she finds things to do and makes new friends. When Nico returns, Maia isn't sure how things will go. Is there still enough room in her heart for her friend Nico?

I really liked how the beginning of the books descrives Maia's feelings of missing and grieving Nico's leaving. Young children going through the same situation may find common ground and comfort in these examples and story.

[AEK7300 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustration on the cover grabbed my attention. The colors were unusal...the aqua colored boy, especially. The whole book has deep tones of aqua, gold, brown, and orange. Along with the simple illustrations, it really portrays well the sad emotions of Maia after Nico moves away. A great story of friendship that withstands time and miles.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maia and Nico are best friends and play together until the day Nico has to move far away for awhile. Maia things she'll be lonely forever, but one day she realizes her life has become full again. She's worried that when Nico moves back she won't have time for him anymore. This is a lovely story about friendship.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sweet and simple book with a great message. The worries Maia has about losing her friend, accepting change, understanding distance and time doesn't have to change friendship are all very real and important feelings to understand. A beautiful short story with a great message, I loved it.

[Mariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this book multiple times, whenever I struggled with homesickness. “After Nico leaves, a hole appears in Maia’s life. The empty feeling grows.” This’s exactly how I felt when I moved to a new country and got separated from my best friend. I imagine that it would be very helpful for third culture kids dealing with homesickness and separation anxiety.

[Mariana Jourdan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dejando de lado la historia (preciosa, nada que decir), las ilustraciones y la tipografía resultan difíciles de interpretar y leer para el niño. Sin embargo, el contenido del libro álbum y su importancia para la visión de la vida de las infancias es algo importantísimo; nos deja un mensaje precioso y muy emocional.

[Ellon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book for a kindergarten lesson about friendship and what you can do if a friend moves away. Very cut story that kids were able to easily understand without dumbing it down. I liked the description of depression that was easy for kids to understand.

[Trish Banda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story about losing your best friend (moves away) and the ups and downs of life afterwards.

I really like how this book deals with sadness and how life can get better and you can enjoy life even after heartache.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este bello libro ilustrado con trazos y colores llenos de emoción nos habla del amor, amistad y el sentimiento de ausencia que pasa una pequeña al tener que alejarse de su mejor amigo y como será su vida a partir de ese cambio.

[Carlos Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maia se tiene que despedir de Santi, su mejor amigo que se va a vivir a otro pais, ella esta con mucho temor e incertidumbre, pero los dias pasan y ese vacio que dejo Santi va siendo ocupado por otras personas, que pasara cuando Santi vuelva?

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a best friend moving away, and how one might cope w that. Originally published in Mexico. Love illustrations, especially blue boy.

[Liz Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art..the ideas in the art.. is what makes this book so special.