Maribel’sYear by Michelle Sterling with
illustrations by Sarah Gonzales
A
year can feel like a very long time when you’re missing someone you love. For
Maribel, the year is not only long, it begins in a new country, eight thousand
miles away from her home, and most importantly, her Papa. Month by month,
Maribel offers insights into her experiences as she tries to find her place.
The struggle feels very real, but Maribel consoles herself with recollections
that create sharp contrasts between present and past—gray, rainy March is no
match for her memories of swimming in the warm sea of the Philippines beneath a
dazzling canopy of stars. The passing seasons fill her days with hopeful
moments as she makes friends and discovers new-found pleasures in her first
Thanksgiving. But beneath each joy lies
a yearning for her heart’s desire. Until… her wish is granted and Papa’s
arrival makes home a reality.
Sterling’s
narrative is a tender and heart-warming story that brings into clear focus the
experience of new immigrants and offers readers a charming glimpse into Filipino
culture. Maribel’s perspective is honest and simply stated enabling readers to
easily empathize with her experience. What could be more universal than finding
one’s way in unfamiliar situations and missing a loved one?
Gonzales’
clever artwork is rich in detail. And her use of color reinforces the text by
offering bold contrast between the traditional American landscapes of gray
winters and bronze autumns with the vivid tropics of Maribel's homeland.
Recommended
for home and school libraries.
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