Mom Comes Back After Seven Years

Book_♥; Becoming Naomi Leon
Author_♥; Pam Munoz Ryan
Pages_♥; 246

As I've noticed, Pam Munoz Ryan's Esperanza Rising and Becoming Naomi Leon share many similarities. First of all, the covers both have a long haired girl that is either jumping or rising. Secondly, the titles both have the main character's name on it. Thirdly, the stories both deal with family bonds and Mexican culture. Lastly, they both have earned many awards. Having only read "Becoming Naomi Leon", it is almost a must to read Esperanza.

The novel is based around the life of Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw. Besides the fact of having the weirdest, longest name in the world, she lives in a place called the Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho with her middle classed grandma and disabled younger brother. Naomi describes her talents as soap carving, worrying, and making lists. She developed her soap carving skills from her father, who left when she was just a baby. Her mother was the one that gave her and her brother to grandma. Naomi worries that grandma would die any day, that her brother would never be normal, and that she might lose her lists and forget things. Living life as it comes, Naomi experiences similar routines each day. That is, until the day her mother came back- after 7 years. Her grandma is dumbfounded, and is not wild about the reunion. Naomi's mom, now alcoholic, carried along her obnoxious boyfriend. Along with the shock that Naomi and her brother are having, their mother seems to be lathering Naomi with gifts and affection, leaving her brother out on everything. After this, her mother's boyfriend suggests that Naomi moves in with them, and become the babysitter of his own girl. This forms a battle between grandma, Naomi, her brother, the neighbor, and their mother with her boyfriend. Read the rest of the book to find out how the four plan to fight for their old lives back, and see how Naomi finds her other half. This story connects to MANY all around the world because this type of family conflict can be found almost anywhere. Readers connect well with the characters, for they amazingly seem real. This story about Naomi's family and her future's beginning teaches a useful lesson and is a extraordinary one to read.

- amy!