Another BookBuzz title, which is a great addition to the offer! ‘When life gives you mangoes’ is a lovely read, seemingly relatively predictable at the start, although beautifully written. Cora lives in a village on a Caribbean island. It’s a close-knit community, and there are very few children to play with. Cora is pretty excited when best friend Gaynah announces that a new girl about their age has arrived, and Cora and Rudy soon became very close. Cora has clearly fallen out with super-critical and sulky Gaynah, so with a new friend to introduce to their village home the summer starts to look promising.
It is clear, though, that not all is well in this paradise. Cora’s uncle who lives in a big house higher up the hill has become more or less a recluse after the village pastor tells terrible stories about him, and it becomes clear that Cora herself holds a secret to do with the sea and an event that took place the previous year. It will be a summer of revelations, recovered memories and forgiveness.
This lovely book is ultimately about friendship. Cora’s developing friendship with quirky Rudy is full of sensitivity, fun and honesty – all of which seem to be oddly missing when she is with Gaynor. Cora is a lively and appealing character, although clearly troubled deeply by an event she can’t remember. Facing up to gradually returning memories will challenge Cora to come to terms with a terrible tragedy that is revealed to the reader in an unexpected huge plot twist.
This is a quick to read title but is packed full of adventure and drama. It’s also one I’ll include in empathy displays, and I hope will be a popular BookBuzz choice for our new students
Book reviews & school library stuff 