Tall Story
RSS
GOURLAY, Candy. Tall Story. 304p. Random/David Fickling Bks. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75217-6; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-385-75218-3; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89847-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-9-Separated for years by immigration restrictions, Bernardo, a Philippine teen, finally gets legal permission to join his mother, a nurse, in England. His younger half sister, Andi, can't wait to meet her eight-foot-tall brother and share with him her love of basketball. Bernardo's desire to join his family is tempered by his loyalty to his village where he is compared to a legendary giant revered as a protector from earthquakes. After arriving in England, Bernardo gets medical help for a pituitary tumor and seizures; inadvertently propels his sister into realizing her dream of playing basketball; and reconciles his fears about leaving his village. Bernardo and Andi tell their compelling, heartwarming reunion story in alternating chapters. Bernardo grapples with adjusting to life in England, physical pain and superstition, and guilt when an earthquake destroys his Philippine village. Meanwhile, Andi struggles to fit into a new school and cope with added family responsibilities. Contemporary Tagalong and British vernacular enhance the brother/sister narration and enliven the depiction of cultures. In her first young adult novel, Gourlay offers an appealing blend of diverse characters, emotional conflicts, well-paced action, and an upbeat finale. The challenges facing separated, immigrant families and the universal teen desire for acceptance and respect ring true.-Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
