  | Tree of dreams Author: Resau, Laura | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Coco Hidden has grown up in her mother's chocolate shop in Colorado, along with her friend Leo de la Cueva, but recently things have not been going well; the shop is failing, and Leo is hanging out with the other boys, and barely wants to talk to her--but when they both win a culinary contest, the two children and their mothers find themselves on a trip to the Amazon in Ecuador, where Coco hopes to find the rare ceiba tree, and where the plight of the native people and their jungle gives her a new perspective and purpose in life.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 5.60 Points: 12.0 Quiz: 501895 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 5.50 Points: 15.0 Quiz: 76292 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (01/15/19)
School Library Journal (03/01/19)
Booklist (05/01/19)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (M) (00/03/19)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 03/01/2019 Gr 4–8—Coco's heart used to be full. Lately, though, there has been some damage to her previously fully functioning heart. Damage has come to Coco's left atrium, occupied by El Corazon, the chocolate shop she and her mother run. Ever since a major competitor, Donut Delite, moved in a year ago, business has slowed to a near halt and El Corazon is in danger of closing. And just as bad, her best friend Leo (the occupant of Coco's right atrium) has chosen to abandon her in favor of the seventh-grade royalty. Coco is despondent and angry until one night a tree, a ceiba, visits her in her dreams promising a treasure that could save El Corazon. By divine providence, (or perhaps orchestrated by a wise old friend with his own motives), Leo, Coco, and their mothers win a trip to visit the Amazon, home of the ceiba tree of Coco's dreams. Accompanied by Gali, a grandfatherly figure to both Leo and Coco, the group make their way to the Amazon, each given opportunity to be healed in their own way. This compelling novel is a lovely blend of magical realism and harsh, realistic reminders of environmental and cultural threats to the Amazon and the people who call it home. It presents an opportunity for discussions of activism, deforestation, and what one can do to protect this vital region for the health of our planet. VERDICT An enchanting novel that raises valuable real-life questions while reminding readers to recognize the magic that connects all life.—Tiffany Davis, Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 05/01/2019 Coco has only ever known Heartbeat Springs, and her mom's chocolate shop, El Corazón. She's comfortable with her familiar surroundings and her routine, alongside her mom, her best friend, Leo, and the only father figure she knows, Gali. But Leo has been drifting away from Coco, her mom is struggling to keep El Corazón in business, and Gali’s health is failing. Coco feels like her life is in chaos, and her sleep is interrupted by strange dreams of a ceiba tree deep in the Amazon, calling for help. When the opportunity to travel to the actual Amazon presents itself, Coco has to take it. Here, she encounters deforestation and the local people who depend on the rain forest. She also finds herself, and will need to mend her friendship, heal her broken heart, and realize home can be anywhere. This novel is full of information about conservation, ecosystems, and people indigenous to the Amazon. A poignant tale about how one person can bring change where it is most needed. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
