When Life Gives You Mangos

July 15, 2020
A young girl loses her memory after the incident that changed her life Clara Dee-Henson is a 12-year-old girl from an unnamed tropical island reminiscent of Jamaica. She spends most of her time with her best friend, Gaynah. But Gaynah has become more temperamental lately, and Clara begins to question their friendship. When a new girl moves to town, Clara is excited to meet her. That is, until she begins to fear the new girl will first hear about her from Gaynah and make up her mind about Clara before they get to know each other. Clara used to love surfing until something happened--now she has a deep fear of even going near water. To make matters worse, Clara has no idea what caused this change, as she cannot remember anything from last summer. Clara feels a constant anger that is always ready to overwhelm her and has begun acting out, much to the concern of her parents and neighbors. In order to work through her feelings, Clara needs to face her past--but how can she do that when she cannot remember it? Debut author Getten tells a story about the commonalities and complexities of friendship and loss that many readers will relate to. Their attention will be held by the fast pace and evocative language that brings the setting to life. All major characters are Black. A touching novel about letting go of the past and moving on. (Fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 14, 2020

Gr 3-6-Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call "exotic." But for Clara it's what she knows; it's home. Unfortunately, Clara is struggling to remember last summer. She's knows something big happened, but that space in her mind is nearly blank. As friends both new and old help Clara navigate her tricky situation, she not only rediscovers what happened that summer, she also learns to mend relationships and forgive herself. This is a beautifully written and paced novel perfect for a middle grade audience. Getten's handling of potentially tough topics like family, disability, and religion is spot-on, weaving important discussions into an adventurous, summery plot that just keeps going. In the end, a big twist blurs the line between reality and the supernatural. Readers will root for Clara and ultimately her whole community as they come together despite their differences. Clara and most of the cast have dark brown skin and hair, and both the story and setting are inspired by the author's childhood in Jamaica. VERDICT Getten's heartfelt, lyrical debut will find a home in all collections. Recommended as a first purchase.-Taylor Worley, Springfield P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
Everyone in the seaside village of Sycamore knows that twelve-year-old Clara Dee Henson hasn't been herself for a while. Last summer something fateful happened -- if only she could remember what -- and now she fears water and is prone to emotional outbursts. Moreover, her relationship with her best friend, Gaynah, is unraveling. Clara's unusual behavior is as shrouded in mystery as her uncle Eldorath, the village pariah with whom she develops a special bond. The arrival of a new girl in Sycamore prompts Clara to confront her complex feelings about Gaynah. Set on an island inspired by Jamaica (the author's birthplace), this story of friendship, healing, and self-forgiveness sensitively explores the emotional landscape of childhood and the complexity of loss. The villagers, each in their own way, help Clara face her troubles and lay the ghost of last summer to rest. This layered and realistic portrayal of relationships in a close-knit Black community complements rather than competes with elements of the supernatural, resulting in a plot that reads like a gradually unfolding revelation. Although the characterization can be shaky at times, and the island setting is not as fully realized as it could be, deft storytelling and an authentic rendering of a child's voice make this a promising debut.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2021
Everyone in the seaside village of Sycamore knows that twelve-year-old Clara Dee Henson hasn't been herself for a while. Last summer something fateful happened -- if only she could remember what -- and now she fears water and is prone to emotional outbursts. Moreover, her relationship with her best friend, Gaynah, is unraveling. Clara's unusual behavior is as shrouded in mystery as her uncle Eldorath, the village pariah with whom she develops a special bond. The arrival of a new girl in Sycamore prompts Clara to confront her complex feelings about Gaynah. Set on an island inspired by Jamaica (the author's birthplace), this story of friendship, healing, and self-forgiveness sensitively explores the emotional landscape of childhood and the complexity of loss. The villagers, each in their own way, help Clara face her troubles and lay the ghost of last summer to rest. This layered and realistic portrayal of relationships in a close-knit Black community complements rather than competes with elements of the supernatural, resulting in a plot that reads like a gradually unfolding revelation. Although the characterization can be shaky at times, and the island setting is not as fully realized as it could be, deft storytelling and an authentic rendering of a child's voice make this a promising debut. Summer Edward

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)