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therearenobadbooks's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
With a fun Comedy format, this novel for middle graders is a family adventure great to buddy read with parents and kids.
First, everything goes wrong before they can go right. Starts silly and light but then has a more emotional and deep message towards the end.
Moving across the country and starting in a new school can't be easy for all the members of the (Cuban) Ramírez family. Especially when Ben is the only one to see the ghost of his Abuelo. This grandfather is no easy character to deal with. He doesn't listen. He is arrogant and thinks he knows it all, but forcing Benny to be the best trumpet player is not his unfinished business. Ben starts realizing he is making the same mistakes in life that his grandfather did, losing his friends and ignoring his family. Also, Ben's talent is not in music.
Very pertinent when nowadays adults must support their families with long hours of work, or older siblings lose contact with younger ones, because they are growing up and changing their interests. But it's important to know what the priorities are: health, family, happiness, helping, and understanding each other. It's very easy to grow apart, even living in the same house.
I am glad I picked this one to read. It's like a movie or a fun play that starts chaotic and silly but wraps us in a warm family hug.
Promotes friendship and cooperation instead of stressing competition.
First, everything goes wrong before they can go right. Starts silly and light but then has a more emotional and deep message towards the end.
Moving across the country and starting in a new school can't be easy for all the members of the (Cuban) Ramírez family. Especially when Ben is the only one to see the ghost of his Abuelo. This grandfather is no easy character to deal with. He doesn't listen. He is arrogant and thinks he knows it all, but forcing Benny to be the best trumpet player is not his unfinished business. Ben starts realizing he is making the same mistakes in life that his grandfather did, losing his friends and ignoring his family. Also, Ben's talent is not in music.
Very pertinent when nowadays adults must support their families with long hours of work, or older siblings lose contact with younger ones, because they are growing up and changing their interests. But it's important to know what the priorities are: health, family, happiness, helping, and understanding each other. It's very easy to grow apart, even living in the same house.
I am glad I picked this one to read. It's like a movie or a fun play that starts chaotic and silly but wraps us in a warm family hug.
Promotes friendship and cooperation instead of stressing competition.
sakeriver's review
5.0
Something I particularly enjoyed about this one is that there isn't really an antagonist, just a family working through some changes and struggles, partly in parallel and partly together. I don’t read enough middle-grade fiction to know whether this is part of a larger trend in that market segment but I like that there are stories for younger readers that are centered on something besides animus or violence.
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