In this Newbery Honor Book by Andrea Beatriz Arango, main character Iveliz writes free-form poetry as she recovers from PTSD and depression. She longs for understanding from the people around her as she pushes them further and further away.
The book was heart-wrenching. The use of free-form poetry was very effective at portraying a preteen filled with dreams but at a loss for how to maneuver through the world. The short character list made it possible to have empathy for every single player in Iveliz’s world. Her mom is exhausted. Her grandmother is slipping into Alzheimer’s. Her best friend has his own drama. The author avoided making Iveliz too innocent and those around her too guilty. Instead, it’s a well-told story of messy human drama told in simple, accessible verse.
I have mixed feelings about the integrated English/Spanish. As a person who is bilingual and learned Spanish in the Caribbean, the use of Puerto Rican slang provided a deep sense of character and culture. However, my preteen daughter (who is working through similar emotional struggles) found the book inaccessible and frustrating because she had to ask me about something in every poem.
Overall, this book deserved every ounce of accolade it has been given. It’s so deftly created. I came away with more understanding of mental illness and more heartache for how difficult it is to heal a broken heart.
