  | Treasure of Maria Mamoun Author: Chalfoun, Michelle | |
| Price: $21.88 | ||
Summary:
An island adventure about a girl from the Bronx on a journey of mystery and discovery.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/15/16)
School Library Journal (00/04/16)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (09/16)
Full Text Reviews:
Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 Maria knows her mother is doing her best to support the two of them, but New York life is expensive, drab, and usually harsh because of the mean girls in her neighborhood. A rough encounter results in this Lebanese-Puerto Rican girl being uprooted from the city and landing in Martha’s Vineyard, where her mom has scrambled to find a new job as a nurse and a fresh start. There Maria finds a treasure map and dives into a quest to find riches, never really doubting the map’s authenticity. Along the way, she pairs up with a local boy, who introduces her to regional culture while also helping her expand her horizons (including some rule breaking). It’s all a bit too convenient, but Maria is deeply sympathetic, and her earnest attempts to help her mother find joy and peace are endearing. In addition, her grumpy but close relationship with the elderly man for whom her mom works is warmly conveyed, and it develops in a way that matches Maria’s age and personality. This is a quiet book that affectionately portrays its locale and carefully constructs and uses its characters. AS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
