Where the Watermelons Grow

Gr 4-6—When 12-year-old Della finds her mom digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night, she worries that the schizophrenia that put her mom in the hospital several years ago is back. Along with the stress of her mother's illness, her dad is struggling to save the family farm as scorching hot temperatures and a drought threaten the crops. Della asks the local Bee Lady for magic honey, which has been known to repair the wounds of residents in their North Carolina town for generations. She also helps take care of her 16-month-old baby sister so that her mom will have more time to rest. But as her mom's symptoms worsen, Della begins to see that rather than trying to fix her mama, she must find a way to love and accept her. The family is surrounded by helpful neighbors including Della's best friend Arden's family, who owns the farm next door. Della's voice will tug at reader's heartstrings as she tries to hold her family together. VERDICT Middle grade stories about mental illness, particularly those that focus on empathy and acceptance, are rare. This heartfelt story will stay with readers. A top choice.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"I closed my eyes, trying to forget all about those watermelon seeds, all about Mama yelling and acting crazier than she had in a long, long time, wishing there was anything in the world that could pull Mama's brain back together." It's been years since 12-year-old Della's mother's schizophrenia took control. Now, as a drought threatens their North Carolina farm, her mother once again becomes preoccupied by germs and debilitated by fear. Della tries to step up, taking care of her sister, Mylie, a rebellious toddler, and letting her mother rest. She feels responsible; after all, the doctors say that it was Della's birth that first woke the schizophrenia. Still, she can't help but wish for a normal mother, and she is disappointed in her father, whose own anxiety closes him off, leaving Della abandoned. In her debut novel, Baldwin presents a realistic portrayal of life with a mentally ill parent; the simultaneous confusion and frustrated anger ring true. There isn't an easy answer to Della's guilt and her mother's illness, but, with the help of family and friends, Della begins to view her mother as she is--sick--and accept the support of those who love her. Ages 8-12. (July)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"[Della's] first-person narration is realistically earthy without crossing into gritty. This debut novel gushes with Southern charm. This story's as sweet as Della's daddy's watermelons but never saccharine."—Kirkus Reviews