  | Rosa's song Author: Rhee, Helena Ku | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
A young immigrant from South Korea finds community and friendship in an apartment house filled with other newly arrived kids.
| Illustrator: | Campion, Pascal |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (-) (04/15/22)
Booklist (+) (05/15/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2022 *Starred Review* Change is hard, but friendship is perhaps the best balm. In this story, a South Korean boy named Jae moves to the U.S., and he is intimidated by his new surroundings—that is, until he meets a girl his age named Rosa, who has a colorful bird. Together, they (along with the bird) conjure up enough magic of imagination and play to last for a whole summer. The living room couch turns into the mountains near Jae's old village. The apartment complex becomes a site for lost llamas and hidden Inca treasures. Rosa sings to him with her bird. Unfortunately, everything is brought to a stunning halt when Rosa and her family suddenly leave without warning or explanation. She leaves only her bird for Jae, who's devastated. As he grieves, he meets new friends but keeps her memory as he and the bird sing her song. The illustrations are striking and raw with their depictions of natural light coming through windows, flooding a room, or glaring directly into your eyes around sunset. Readers will share the sadness of Jae's loss, but only after seeing Rosa and Jae's joyful playing—a happiness that's distinct to childhood. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
