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bibliobrandie's review
3.0
I didn't really understand the intended audience for this novella. Is it for middle grade since the protagonist is that age?
melodyseestrees's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
julinino19's review
5.0
Full disclosure: I am Colombian, and my family is mainly from Bogotá. My dad is Bogotá through and through – born and raised. This 100% had a lot to do with my enjoyment of this short, lovely novel.
This book is written in both English and Spanish. The English side is a translation, so perhaps if I read it in English I would've had a different experience. Regardless, this is a beautifully written story that might seem really simple to most, but there is an underlying love letter in the pages… a love letter to Bogotá itself. Maybe not those love letters that are a proclamation of love, but one of acknowledgement. One that says… you are what you are and I will always love you for it, even if your magnitude scared me my entire life.
I agree with the people that think this is misplaced and shouldn't have been marketed as middle grade. I think it would do better in the YA section of a bookstore. The prose is one I admired, but I think it's safe to say it would've probably gone over my head if I read this when I was younger.
Nevertheless, I love what this story subtly said about memory, loss, family, and how we interact with the place we call home.
I will always be eager to read anything from a Colombian voice (:
This book is written in both English and Spanish. The English side is a translation, so perhaps if I read it in English I would've had a different experience. Regardless, this is a beautifully written story that might seem really simple to most, but there is an underlying love letter in the pages… a love letter to Bogotá itself. Maybe not those love letters that are a proclamation of love, but one of acknowledgement. One that says… you are what you are and I will always love you for it, even if your magnitude scared me my entire life.
I agree with the people that think this is misplaced and shouldn't have been marketed as middle grade. I think it would do better in the YA section of a bookstore. The prose is one I admired, but I think it's safe to say it would've probably gone over my head if I read this when I was younger.
Nevertheless, I love what this story subtly said about memory, loss, family, and how we interact with the place we call home.
I will always be eager to read anything from a Colombian voice (:
paigemcwilliams23's review
3.0
A beautiful piece of literature for young readers. I was absorbed from start to finish and can’t wait to recommend this to others. Really a heartfelt book about truths and life that makes every reader ponder these same concepts. Bonus, this book includes the original Spanish as well as the translated English version.
seyfert's review
4.0
A nice, short story of a boy in Bogotá. It can be a philosophical read, or it can be a snipped of a boy's life and some lessons he learned. The writing is lovely, either way.
critter's review
4.0
This is a philosophical look into the life of a boy who forgets how to ride his bike. The edition I received contains both the English translation and the original Spanish text. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. The journey of the main character has him going through issues of identity and learning about truth and lies. The illustrations that are included in the book are stunning. I would highly recommend this book to others.
I would like to thank Levine Querido for providing me with an ARC.
I would like to thank Levine Querido for providing me with an ARC.
nadjatiktinsky's review
Fabio has forgotten how to ride a bike - something his parents have told him is impossible, something body memory is supposed to prevent. No longer able to deliver bread for his mother, he begins spending time with his elderly neighbor, Alicia, who tallies for him the many lies - and precious few truths - of her life. Lyrical and rich with symbolism, this novel is bracketed with narrative illustrations that feel reminiscent of the technique Brian Selznick debuted in The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Algorta does a terrific job of trusting her child readers with challenging, high-level craft.
library_kb's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
2.0
I did not particularly enjoy this book. It was a short one; it felt like when I reached the end I was just starting to figure out what was going on. I think partially, my disconnect was because it is a translated work--not sure if it is translation disconnect or that I am just not used to the different storytelling style. Definitely not one that I would hand to middle school students--I think they would really struggle with the subtle magical realism(?) elements (I think it was subtle magical realism, but to be honest, I'm not sure about that either) and the style of storytelling.
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