Half a World Away

Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Jaden Kincaid is fascinated by electricity, admiring its powerful constancy and connectedness to everything. Electricity is one of the many things Jaden didn't know about when he was adopted from a Romanian orphanage four years earlier. More importantly, it serves as an emotional salve against the deep-rooted pain the tween feels from having been abandoned at age four by his birth mother. But Jaden doesn't feel connected to Penni and Steve, his adoptive parents. He lashes out by hoarding food, stealing, and lying to those around him. With his parents preparing to adopt a baby from Kazakhstan, Jaden feels confused and worries that he is being replaced. While the Kincaids busy themselves with the adoption, Jaden bonds with Dimash, a special needs toddler with whom he feels an instant kinship. Kadohata writes compellingly about the convoluted issues surrounding overseas adoption, including profound psychological and physical traumas suffered by children who are abandoned and neglected in orphanages of developing countries. Jaden is a multidimensional character who will likely frustrate readers but also draw their sympathy. Though it has strong characterization, the story suffers from issues that strain credibility; for instance, Jaden's parents don't see anything wrong with adopting another child when they already have a son with so many psychological issues. The pat conclusion feels like a letdown given the narrative's complex arc. Despite these slight flaws, Kadohata's candid exploration of adoption and attachment disorder is a timely choice that fills a gap in middle grade literature.—Lalitha Nataraj, Escondido Public Library, CA