Starting Over in Sunset Park

by Lynn McGee, Jose Pelaez, Bianca Diaz (Illustrator)

Brooklyn is a strange, intimidating place for a girl who speaks no English when she steps off her very first plane after a flight from the Dominican Republic. Jessica and her mom, Camila, must live in their cousins’ crowded apartment until Camila finds work making holiday decorations and they can afford their own place. Isolated on the playground and baffled in class, unable to understand her teacher’s instructions, Jessica is intensely homesick. But little by little, things get better. She begins to learn English, and she loves the cats she and her mom care for to earn extra money. Left behind by traveling owners, the cats make the best of their situation, inspiring Jessica to do the same. color throughout

Genres: Picture Books, Immigration, Family, Latinx, Childrens, Realistic Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2021

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jessica and her mother Camila move from the Dominican Republic to Brooklyn, everything seems strange, new, and confusing to Jessica. They stay with relatives until they have enough money for their own place, and Jessica feels that they are in the way even though she and her mother appreciate the generosity of their family. After a frustrating search, they eventually find a place to call their own. Still, learning English is hard, and Jessica struggles in school, at one point becoming frustrated and calling her teacher a name. But the teacher has a kind heart and uses a parent/teacher conference to explain that she too struggled with the new language after moving to the United States from Poland. Slowly, things get better, and the homesickness both mother and child are experiencing eases. They met a neighbor who makes masks and has a side business watching cats for New Yorkers who have to leave town. Jessica and Camila decide to do the same, and Jessica learns to adjust by watching the cats that come and go from her place. Some of them are very shy at first and hide, but eventually, they make themselves at home and come out of their hiding place. Their apartment starts feeling homey as Camila decorates with holiday displays from work. And slowly, Jessica starts seeing the beauty of this amazing city. This picture book with its color-drenched images will provide reassurance to youngsters in a situation similar to Jessica's, reminding them that they will start feeling more comfortable in their new surroundings. But doing so will take time. I wish there had been more about the cats and how they settle in or maybe even a small section about how some cats are more reluctant to embrace their new temporary home than others. The illustrations show this to some extent, but it would have added interest to the story. It's clear that humans can learn a lot about life from their feline friends.

[Jennifer Hili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting over in Sunset Park is a special children’s book that illuminates the adjustment process as part of the immigration experience children and families face when arriving in iconic New York City. The book captures Jessica’s perspective starting with fear and shifting to hope as she and her Mom get settled in their new life. The colorful pictures and inclusion of other ethnicities, including her ESL teacher’s childhood experience coming from Poland makes this both a captivating and enjoyable read with a clear message of hope and support. As a psychotherapist working in NYC for many years, I recommend schools, hospital child psych departments and counseling agencies along with mental health professionals who work with children whether adjusting to NY or born here, incorporate this work into their collections.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl and her mother move to Sunset Park (NYC) from the Dominican Republic. There is family there yet both are terribly homesick missing a grandmother, wild parrots, mangoes, and dancing. The language, some trouble with doing homework at school, seeing that no one knows how good she is at soccer feels very sad and very hard. Things do improve with a kind neighbor who shares about cat-sitting, an apartment of their own, and snow! I love the delectable colors Bianca Diaz manages to fill the pages with, even in nighttime snow! The endpapers with many waving from apartment windows show different, happy scenes. José Pelez and Lynn McGee have written a story with all the feels that will help younger readers understand what immigrant classmates may be feeling.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting Over in Sunset Park is a beautifully illustrated and written book that teaches children about immigration. It is written in a way that makes it easy to understand the basic concept of immigration and that it’s not easy to make it in America but it is doable. I think this would be a great book to introduce children to the subject of immigration and culture. This book would be perfect to read in a story time or classroom setting. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads.)

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gorgeously illustrated book is a child’s perspective on immigration and adjusting to a new life in the United States. Her mother, teacher and neighbor all help her settle into New York City. The colors in this book are so vibrant and pictures give a great glimpse into life in Sunset Park. I will definitely buy this for my girls. Thank you NetGalley for the preview!

[Bee (BacchusVines) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do you have a little one having trouble adjusting to America? Do they miss their homes and languages and food?

I feel like Starting Over in Sunset Park to be a great picture book for young immigrants.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Elizabeth]

The colors and illustrations are really pretty.

[Becky]

I liked the child’s perspective on immigration and fitting in to a new community. Could also be good for any child having trouble fitting in and possibly acting out in frustration.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thrown off by the Spanish translations being in line with the text in parentheses.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the parallel story with the cats.

[Cecile · Rating 3 out of 5]

My child abandoned because the illustrations inside the front cover were frightening. We have the WonderBook edition.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed in NYT Book Review, 7/14/24: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/12/bo...

[jada alexis]

be still my heart 😭