Gr 5—8—Camilo and Andrés, living in poverty in MedellÃn, Colombia, find redemption at the public library when they meet a special librarian. Mar not only treats the boys with kindness and respect, but also helps them to discover the pleasures of reading. This award-winning novel touches on subjects such as child abuse and urban juvenile delinquency, but with such grace and loving care that readers will be struck by the beauty of the story and the positive message about the power of books and culture to defeat the violence that surges from endless poverty. López Dominguez illuminates the text with gray-shaded drawings. Although both author and illustrator are from Spain, their portrayal of the Santo Domingo Savio neighborhood is genuine.—Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
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