Synopses & Reviews
A kid who considers himself an epic fail discovers the transformative power of love when he deals with adoption in this novel from Cynthia Kadohata, winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows heand#8217;s an and#8220;epic fail.and#8217; Thatand#8217;s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new babyand#8212;to replace him, heand#8217;s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels...nothing.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;But when they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant theyand#8217;ve travelled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels something that isnand#8217;t pure blinding fury, and thereand#8217;s no way to control it, or its power.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;From camels rooting through garbage like raccoons, to eagles being trained like hunting dogs, to streets that are more pothole than pavement, andlt;Iandgt;Half a World Away andlt;/Iandgt;is Cynthia Kadohataand#8217;s latest spark of a novel.
Review
and#8220;Kadohataand#8217;s stunningly intimate narrative reveals a complex boy, as self-protective as he is a danger to himself, but oh so clear about the true nature of things.and#8221;
Review
"[Q]uietly powerful."
Review
"If literary genius is composed, at least in part, by an uncanny ability to enter other worlds, then 'Half a World Away' proves Cynthia Kadohata's genius - not that there was any doubt."
Review
"Kadohata creates an inspiring story that celebrates hope and second chances."
Review
"Thought provoking and emotionally engaging, this is wholly satisfying."
About the Author
Cynthia Kadohata is the author of the Newbery Medaland#8211;winning book andlt;Iandgt;Kira-Kira, andlt;/Iandgt;the National Book Award winner andlt;Iandgt;The Thing About Luckandlt;/Iandgt;, the Jane Addams Peace Award and Pen USA Award winner andlt;iandgt;Weedflowerandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Cracker!, Outside Beautyandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;A Million Shades of Grayandlt;/iandgt;, and several critically acclaimed adult novels, including andlt;iandgt;The Floating Worldandlt;/iandgt;. She lives with her son and dog in West Covina, California.