  | Lost kites and other treasures Author: Carr, Cathy | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
When twelve-year-old Franny's estranged uncle comes home to help out after Nana's accident, some long-guarded family secrets come to light, forcing Franny to confront the discoveries she makes about her troubled absent mother, and herself.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (01/01/24)
School Library Journal (02/01/24)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/01/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 02/01/2024 Gr 3–7—Twelve-year-old Franny Petroski lives with Nana in an apartment in New Jersey and enjoys creating art and spending time with her friends. But when Nana falls and breaks her leg, Franny's life drastically changes. Her estranged Uncle Gabe comes to help, and she starts to learn more about herself, family, and mother's mental illness and incarceration. She learns that by sharing her feelings and fears, she can find ways to deal with the pain of loss and strengthen family bonds. Franny finds power in art and talking about her past as she forges new relationships with Nana and her uncle. She also learns that being true to herself and her past may mean changes in friendships. Carr's first-person narrative features a well-developed character in Franny; readers will root for her from the beginning. Franny displays the complex emotions of a preteen dealing with complex issues. Carr's thoughtful and nuanced representation of a family dealing with bipolar disorder and incarceration gives voice to readers who have similar issues. VERDICT At times this book seems to have too many things going on, but the approach to mental health and family trauma makes it an important addition to any shelf.—Rebekah J. Buchanan - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
