Lola

Gr 7 & Up Lola ("grandmother" in Tagalog) has just died, and Jesse is reluctant to visit her home in the Philippines. He was afraid of her because she was rumored to have magical abilities, and because he thinks she tried to drown him when he was a baby. Jesse listens to family members tell stories about her as he tries to adjust to their strange mix of superstitions and religion. Lola is one of several dead characters in this book, and they tie into another reason that the boy is worried about this trip. Jesse is an unusually nuanced character, both in relation to his family and to readers. When he sees something extraordinary, it's unclear if he is dreaming, hallucinating, or if he has inherited his grandmother's abilities. Torres's gradual revelation of details will keep readers hanging until they learn the truth. Or's artwork uses sepia tones and smooth lines, and features characters with cute button eyes. But the sweet images can quickly turn horrific when Jesse has his visions. "Lola" ends with a cliff-hanger that could be resolved in a sequel but that just might have to be resolved by readers' imaginations.

"Andrea Lipinski, New York Public Library"

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