The Land of Forgotten Girls

In a starred review, Booklist says, 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. 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. Then he left, and all Sol and Ming have now 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 Kirkus says that Erin Entrada Kelly deftly captures the tumultuous emotions of a preteen who is forced to grow up faster than other girls her age. Kelly writes masterfully about the challenges of finding hope in impossible circumstances, in this novel that fans of Cynthia Kadohata and Thanhha Lai will love.