At Home in a Faraway Place

November 4, 2024
In this conversational illustrated travelogue by Perkins (Violet and Jobie in the Wild), a tween discovers friendship that transcends a language barrier and the exhilarating mysteries of an unfamiliar environment. While visiting her father’s high school friend Raúl in “a part of the world where most people speak Spanish,” white-cued Lissie catalogs the things she observes and the ways they make her feel; a looming nearby volcano unsettles her, but she is charmed by gardens inside people’s homes and muses that “maybe there are a lot of different ways to make a house.” She cheerfully collects Spanish words and phrases and incorporates them into her narration, which proves useful as she befriends Flory, the Spanish-speaking daughter of Raúl’s girlfriend. A trip to the ruins of a Mayan pyramid spurs thoughtful conversation between Lissie, her grandmother, and the tour guide, giving Lissie further opportunity to ponder her place in time and space and ruminate on the connection she feels to this new place. Realistic full-page b&w illustrations punctuate the narrative, evoking a gentle episodic feel to the plot and emphasizing Lissie’s wide-eyed insights. Ages 8–12.

January 15, 2025
A young traveler finds home in another land. Alongside her grandma, Lissie joins her father on a two-week trip to visit his old friend Ra�l in an unnamed Latin American country, referred to as a "faraway place." Though she knows very little about the world around her, her adventures provide plenty of opportunities to learn and grow, whether through impromptu Spanish lessons from Ra�l and a new friend at the park, soccer sessions with neighborhood kids, or a hike up a volcano that "spits out lava and ashes sometimes." Throughout each brief, delightful chapter, Newbery Medalist Perkins adeptly weaves in bucolic, whimsical black-and-white illustrations--some full page, many in panels--that serve as humorous snapshots, phonetic translations (including a phrase in Kaqchikel, an Indigenous Mesoamerican language), or both. Visits to Mayan pyramids and a bustling, humming mercado make for informative, fun explorations. Lissie even forges a tight bond with a girl named Flory. As her escapades conclude, Lissie feels fully at home in this faraway place. Ending on a wistful note, this leisurely, earnest tale devoted to "tiny friendships" and their cumulative effects emphasizes small moments of bliss and gentle understanding. Lissie appears light-skinned; the friends she meets are darker-hued. A warmhearted introduction to the joys of travel. (author's note, Spanish words and phrases that Lissie learns)(Fiction. 8-12)

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January 1, 2025
Grades 3-6 Newbery Medal winner Perkins writes and illustrates an engaging middle-grade book about the personal fulfillment and delight of travel. Lissie, her father, and her grandmother travel to Guatemala to visit her father's friend Ra�l for two weeks. Lissie tells her dad that she feels apprehensive about the trip because of her limited ability to speak Spanish. However, as she meets people and visits new and exciting places, her anxiety starts to diminish. Lissie visits a Mayan pyramid and volcano, marveling at the ancient culture and the wonders of nature. While unable to communicate freely with other kids, she learns that words are not always necessary, especially when playing soccer or making friendship bracelets. Black-and-white multimedia artwork appears in the book as full-page illustrations and comic panels, adding visual interest and helping readers see the beauty and wonder of Guatemala. Spanish phrases with phonetic spellings and English translations are also included throughout the narrative to help readers learn Spanish phrases alongside Lissie. An author's note and glossary conclude the book.

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