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Islandborn

Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Islandborn by Junot Díaz is a vibrant children's book that follows a young girl named Lola, who embarks on a journey to learn about her roots. When her teacher asks each student to draw a picture capturing their family's origins, Lola realises she has no memories of her birthplace. Through stories from her family and friends, she discovers her rich cultural heritage, creating a colourful tapestry of memories and identity. It's a heartwarming tale that celebrates diversity and the power of storytelling.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3299
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have a curiosity for cultures and enjoy stories that celebrate diversity. It's a vibrant children's tale where a young girl embarks on a journey of discovery about her heritage, full of rich illustrations that bring her neighbourhood and its stories to life.

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A powerful tale about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination

A powerful tale about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A powerful tale about the magic of memory and the infinite power of the imagination.

Every kid in Lola's school was from somewhere else. Hers was a school of faraway places. When Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember the Island – she left when she was just a baby.

But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories – joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening – Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: 'just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you.'

Gloriously illustrated and lyrically written, Islandborn is a celebration of creativity, diversity, and our imagination's boundless ability to connect us – to our families, to our past, and to ourselves.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Islandborn by Junot Díaz is highly praised for its exploration of themes like immigration, identity, and belonging, resonating with both children's literature and more mature themes found in Díaz's other works. The book is lauded for its beautiful, vibrant illustrations, which complement a story that encourages significant discussions on culture and heritage. Reviewers commend it for its engaging narrative, with a strong, curious heroine examining what it means to belong, making it an appreciated read for various audiences.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786075512

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Rock the Boat

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Leo Espinosa

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 216.0mm

Height: 280.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 48

About the Author

Junot Díaz was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New Jersey. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Drown; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; and This Is How You Lose Her, a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Leo Espinosa is an award-winning illustrator from Bogotá, Colombia, whose work has been in The New Yorker, Wired, Esquire, The New York Times, The Atlantic, and more. Leo lives with his family in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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    Things have never been easy for Oscar. A ghetto nerd living with his Dominican family in New Jersey, he's sweet but disastrously overweight. He dreams of becoming the next J.R.R. Tolkien and he keeps falling hopelessly in love. Poor Oscar may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fuku – the ancient curse that has haunted his family for...
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  • Drown
    Junot Diaz made his remarkable debut as a writer with this collection of stories that move from the barrios of the Dominican Republic to the struggling urban communities of New Jersey. The stories are all unflinching and strong, and Diaz's prose crackles with an electric sense of discovery. In Ysrael, two brothers hunt a disfigured boy who hides behind a...
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  • The Cheater's Guide to Love
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