  | If you read this Author: Getten, Kereen | |
| Price: $21.88 | ||
Summary:
When Brie was younger, her mama used to surprise her with treasure hunts around their island town. After she died three years ago, these became Brie's favorite memories. Now, on her twelfth birthday, her mama has another surprise: a series of letters leading Brie on one last treasure hunt.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (07/15/22)
School Library Journal (07/01/22)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/07/22)
The Hornbook (00/09/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 07/01/2022 Gr 3–7—Set in Jamaica, Getten's second novel begins when Brie wakes up on her 12th birthday, her third one since her mother died, ready for a party with all of her loved ones except for her father. Brie just wants to be a normal kid with a new phone; she also craves the attention of her father who is always working. Her big gift turns out to be a box of letters her mother wrote to her before she passed. Brie's mother had a playful spirit, and it carries over into the messages she leaves for Brie—as does her sense that Brie and her father would need a way to repair their bond. Brie and her friends take off on a quest to find the key to a door that will ultimately give her a sense of peace, physically and spiritually. Readers will enjoy all of Getten's characters, several of whom add levity to the hefty subject matter of a parent's death. The strength of the story is in the vibrant community that rises up to support Brie when she acts rashly, knowing ultimately that she is a child mourning her mother and family. Readers who enjoyed Getten's first novel, When Life Gives You Mangos and Suzanne LaFleur's Eight Keys will love this as well. VERDICT A sweet middle grade story where a father and daughter are brought together with the help of their loved ones to figure out their new normal. Recommended for young fiction collections.—Kim Gardner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
