Reviews

The Jumping Tree by Rene Saldana

_eliza's review

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5.0

Again, a book my students can relate to. I find that the book could have been better if there was more of a flow to the stories, makig them more connected (not the actual writing itself). The images the stories bring up are familiar and welcome. Great sense of culture without being preachy about it. Love that the author was my professor too!

kjones31's review

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4.0

Really funny but poignant vignettes written by a local author. Full of great messages about courage, integrity, and growing up. My students couldn't get enough.

nerfherder86's review

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3.0

This is a nice book about growing up Chicano in south Texas. Rey is a U.S. citizen, as his father came over the border from Mexico years earlier, and these are stories of his 6th and 7th grade years. Roughhousing with his best friend Chuy, who works migrant labor in the fields; collecting cigarette butts to sneak smokes; accidentally locking his baby brother alone in the house! Boy stuff. He looks up to his hardworking father and uncles, and learns to be proud to be Chicano. I liked the mixing in of Spanish words (some of which are not too clearly defined by context) and culture, and his definition of the term "Chicano" as opposed to "Hispanic" or "Latino." Appropriate for 5th-6th graders, though in later chapters he's getting into "girls."

kimjunmyeon's review

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

battlecat's review

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reflective 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? No
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