Islandborn by Díaz, Junot by Marissa Posada

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Justification: I chose this book because I liked the art style on the cover. As I flipped through, I loved all of the colors that were in it. The synopsis was also very intriguing to me. I resonated with the grandma's quote “Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you.” I also wanted to figure out which island country Lola was from.

Evaluation: The illustrations in this book are a good example of the illustrations providing an interesting aside. After Lola talks about the blanket bats, the 'bats' show up in almost all of the spreads afterwards. The show up in the background of the shops and imaginary places, and even inside her backpack. Another interesting aside are all of the plant leaves that show up whenever someone talks about the Island. Every time the leaves show up it makes it seem like the island life is growing around Lola as she learns about her first country. After Lola complies all of her information, a jungle 'grows' in her bedroom. When her book, with the Island inside, opens the plants and blanket bats come pouring out.

This book also has some unexpected insights. The first unexpected insight is that just because you do not have first hand accounts of where you are from does not mean you aren't from there. Lola cannot remember much first from the Island. Although, as she learns from other people's memories she realizes that she has the Island with her even without her own memories. She is able to experience the Island through her friends' and families' memories and the way they live in the 'North.' The colors and music is something the people brought back with them from the Island. A first country is not the geographical location, but the culture the people have there.

This book has a lot of instances of figurative language. when Lola is trying to remember the Island, she describes the bats that chased her as blanket bats. When Mrs. Bernard describes the Island, she says that there was more music than air. Other people mentioned how colorful like a rainbow the island and people were. Lola's grandmother describes the beaches as poetry. The dictator of the island is described as a monster who terrorized the Island. There are other examples, but again, the story has many instances of figurative language.

Response: This book related to me personally because my family is very Americanized and I don't feel very connected to my culture. So, although I don't have a first country, I can understand the disconnect Lola feels with her first country. This book reassured me that even though I don't have first hand accounts with the country of my ancestors, I am still part of the culture. I just need to ask or do my own research in order to feel more connected to the culture I feel disconnected to. I really enjoyed this book as entertainment and as a work of art. The story was interesting and I feel like I learned about another culture. The art work was beautiful. Every page was beautifully put together.

Conclusion: This book has good examples of figurative language, unexpected insights, and illustrations with interesting asides. This is a beautiful story about discovering your culture and first country. I would have this book two thumbs up! I recommend anyone to read this book, if not for the story, then at least for the art.

APA Citation: Díaz, J. (2018). Islandborn. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.