Name: Kath Lau's review of The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly
Item: The Land of Forgotten Girls
Rating: 3
Author: Kath Lau

Erin Entrada Kelly

Erin Entrada Kelly, the author of the acclaimed Blackbird Fly, writes with grace, imagination, and deepest heart about family, sisters, and friendship, and about finding and holding on to hope in difficult times. Two sisters from the Philippines, abandoned by their father and living with their stepmother in Louisiana, fight to make their lives better in this remarkable story for readers of Cynthia Kadohata and Rita Williams-Garcia, and for anyone searching for the true meaning of family.

The Land of Forgotten Girls

Kath Lau

In this acclaimed novel from Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly, two sisters from the Philippines, abandoned by their father and living in impoverished circumstances in Louisiana, fight to make their lives better. School Library Journal called The Land of Forgotten Girls “A charming and affecting novel about sisterhood, the magic of imagination, and perseverance.” For readers of Pam Muñoz Ryan, Rita Williams-Garcia, and anyone searching for the true meaning of family. Winner of a Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Soledad has always been able to escape into the stories she creates. Just like her mother always could. And Soledad has needed that escape more than ever in the five years since her mother and sister died, and her father moved Sol and her youngest sister from the Philippines to Louisiana. After her father leaves, all Sol and Ming have is their evil stepmother, Vea. Sol has protected Ming all this time, but then Ming begins to believe that Auntie Jove—their mythical, world-traveling aunt—is really going to come rescue them. Can Sol protect Ming from this impossible hope? Acclaimed and award-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly writes masterfully about the challenges of finding hope in impossible circumstances, in this novel that will appeal to fans of Cynthia Kadohata and Thanhha Lai. Booklist said, “Kelly’s sophomore novel is both hopeful and heartfelt, but strong emotions are only part of the successful equation here. Told in Sol’s true voice, the direct dialogue brings the diverse characters to vivid life.”

Sarah Sammis

rose.

I really wish that I had read this book when I was 12. This books is light and fluffy and imaginative. While there is so many narrative in the conversation, the book is far from boring because it feels... Real. It is like Sol is also inviting the reader to her imaginary solitude. 

I can already see a kid with a hard background, reading this book to learn to use fairy tales as a coping mechanism. I love this. 

I might make a full review on this later :)

renee badenoch

The Land of Forgotten Girls deals with one of my favorite themes in literature-- the capacity of the imagination to provide salvation in the middle of unbearably dire life circumstances. The main character of the book, Sol, has a lot of bad circumstances. Her sister died at 2 years old in an accident she blames herself for, and her mother died shortly after. Her father remarried a detached and sometimes cruel woman before immigrating to America and abandoning the his new wife, Sol, and Sol's little sister Ming. The plot in the book moves slowly. Part of the story follows Ming writing letters to a non-existent Aunt Jove, and Sol and her best friend Manny robbing a junkyard to try to build a treehouse for Ming. A few other plot points come up in the book, but the plot moves in a hazy and slow pace that mimics the Louisiana summer that the story takes place in. Throughout the book Sol and Ming repeatedly find solace in telling each other stories and imaging a better life for themselves. A rare thing about this book is that it ends with the characters in pretty much the same place the story took place. Sol and Ming have made a few friends and allies that have made their life more bearable, but they still live in their small, cramped apartment with their semi-abusive stepmother. It's rare in children's books to have characters you're rooting for not reach a place of complete security and happiness by the end. However, by the end of the book you've spent enough time with Sol and Ming and their inventive, creative minds to feel that though their life is hard, they're going to make it through.

Ashley Wendt

There were parts of this that felt so beautiful written and thoughtful....then there were parts that were really just middle grade basic...then there was the end. The end that disappointingly didn’t seem finished.

After Sol's sister and mother died, their father decided to move the family from the Philippines to Louisiana together with his new wife. Months later, their father went back to the Philippines and never returned. Leaving her with her younger sister with their bitter and cruel stepmother.

Of course, one of my favorites was the Filipino culture and representation. I wasn't sure about my feelings towards Sol at first but she grew on me and I ended up loving her. I liked how she's using her rich imagination as an escape and to make herself and her sister feel good. Her magical tales (mostly told to her by their mother) are fascinating to read and I liked that she's passing them on to Ming. Ming is also a very adorable character. Just like Sol, she's also brave and determined.

I honestly didn't think Vea is pure evil and it's a shame that we didn't really get to know her more. Same goes with the other side characters. I also felt like there were some unresolved issues. There are heavy themes in this book such as death of loved ones, child abuse, racism, and bullying so parental guidance is necessary for younger readers.

This is a beautiful coming-of-age story of hope, sisterhood, and friendship. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book but I didn't love it as much as Hello, Universe.

Kath Lau &
The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Kath Lau &The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Kath Lau &
The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly