  | Once in a blue moon Author: Flake, Sharon G. | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Paralyzed by guilt, eleven-year-old John Henry must come to terms with the events surrounding his Ma's near drowning and with the help of his twin sister Hattie, learn to embrace life again.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/23)
Booklist (06/15/23)
The Hornbook (+) (00/07/23)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 06/01/2023 Eleven-year-old twins James Henry and Hattie Mae live with their grandmother in North Carolina while their father earns money in Detroit to pay Ma's medical bills. James Henry hasn't left home since a mysterious accident traumatized him and left his mother hospitalized with unspecified injuries. Hattie Mae supports her twin against local bullies and tries to encourage him to confront his mental paralysis during a blue moon. In their story that’s told in verse and set during the Jim Crow era, these African American twins are well aware of the rigid rules society dictates for them and the severe penalties for disobedience. The protagonists are well developed (James Henry has a passion for astronomy, Hattie Mae for her pet birds), and the support they receive from family is heartwarming; secondary characters—including the dentist's daughter, Lottie Jean (who has her own missing-mother issues), and the Baker brothers (most of whom are bullies)—are also multidimensional. An arduous journey to the beach where the accident occurred proves eventful and life changing, providing closure and a path forward. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
Booklist - 06/15/2023 Eleven-year-old twins James Henry and Hattie Mae live with their grandmother in North Carolina while their father earns money in Detroit to pay Ma's medical bills. James Henry hasn't left home since a mysterious accident traumatized him and left his mother hospitalized with unspecified injuries. Hattie Mae supports her twin against local bullies and tries to encourage him to confront his mental paralysis during a blue moon. In their story that’s told in verse and set during the Jim Crow era, these African American twins are well aware of the rigid rules society dictates for them and the severe penalties for disobedience. The protagonists are well developed (James Henry has a passion for astronomy, Hattie Mae for her pet birds), and the support they receive from family is heartwarming; secondary characters—including the dentist's daughter, Lottie Jean (who has her own missing-mother issues), and the Baker brothers (most of whom are bullies)—are also multidimensional. An arduous journey to the beach where the accident occurred proves eventful and life changing, providing closure and a path forward. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
