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A review by ddnreads
A Bit of Earth by Karuna Riazi
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I love this π«Άπ½ Pitched as a contemporary middle grade retelling of The Secret Garden, A Bit of Earth nailed it. Diverse characters with found family trope, this book depicts how children deal with grief differently and how adults should be accountable for their action (not in patronising way). How they should be more considerate, care and listen to what these children has to say. Told in both verse and prose combined, this book is so beautifully written.
Maria Latif is not your typical lovely smiley FMC. She's prickly, grumpy, and does her own things with her own way. The story started with Maria being sent to live in Long Islands, NY. Growing up orphan, Maria steelled herself up and totally distrust adults in any way. She doesn't fear of being 'difficult'.
Until she found 'the garden'. Her bit of earth.
I love her character development best. She was still herself, but we can see how she starts to love her friends, and be loved equally.
I enjoy the friendship dynamic. We all deserve a Mimi, and Ricky in our life. And how could Ricky the youngest of them is the wisest?!! ππ
Maria and Colin started off bad. Same grumpy teens, with unloaded feelings and issues that they keep within themselves. They're just so much alike and I like how they reflected and learned from each other.
Rich with cultural trivia, it food described are mouth watering. And I long to hear the music~
The issue was touching. We tended to forget that children or teens are just justified as adults on having feelings and emotions. Opinions. When they're being 'difficult', adults tended to give up on them and never try to understand what's beneath. Girls like Maria and boys like Colin exist, and they deserved to be loved no differently. Adults are taking huge part on how they understand and accept the grief. The meaning of losing someone's dear. The loneliness and confusion they keep inside.
This is a book about being yourself. A self discovery. I'm far from being the target market of this book, but, as I'm a middle school teacher, I'd love to have my students reading this and know that they matters. They don't have to go through the hard times alone.
Maria Latif is not your typical lovely smiley FMC. She's prickly, grumpy, and does her own things with her own way. The story started with Maria being sent to live in Long Islands, NY. Growing up orphan, Maria steelled herself up and totally distrust adults in any way. She doesn't fear of being 'difficult'.
Until she found 'the garden'. Her bit of earth.
I love her character development best. She was still herself, but we can see how she starts to love her friends, and be loved equally.
I enjoy the friendship dynamic. We all deserve a Mimi, and Ricky in our life. And how could Ricky the youngest of them is the wisest?!! ππ
Maria and Colin started off bad. Same grumpy teens, with unloaded feelings and issues that they keep within themselves. They're just so much alike and I like how they reflected and learned from each other.
Rich with cultural trivia, it food described are mouth watering. And I long to hear the music~
The issue was touching. We tended to forget that children or teens are just justified as adults on having feelings and emotions. Opinions. When they're being 'difficult', adults tended to give up on them and never try to understand what's beneath. Girls like Maria and boys like Colin exist, and they deserved to be loved no differently. Adults are taking huge part on how they understand and accept the grief. The meaning of losing someone's dear. The loneliness and confusion they keep inside.
This is a book about being yourself. A self discovery. I'm far from being the target market of this book, but, as I'm a middle school teacher, I'd love to have my students reading this and know that they matters. They don't have to go through the hard times alone.