Educator Review: When Life Gives You Mangos defies all expectations and is a noteworthy debut for author Kareen Getten. Based in a fictionalized version of Getten’s hometown in Jamaica, the novel tells the story of Clara who suffers from trauma-induced memory loss. The major theme of empathy toward social outcasts and coming-of-age friendships is reminiscent of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and the backdrop of the Jamaican coast provides a great setting for Clara and her friends to explore. This novel is fantastic for young readers due to a focus on a largely unexplained event for the majority of the novel and a twist facilitates great possibilities for intrigue and classroom discussion.

This book will be featured in a review video releasing in July 2020 on my YouTube channel TeachingReadingDreaming. Please stay tuned and subscribe for updates!

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kereen Getten ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
This is a middle grade book that i just couldn't help but get my hands on. Thanks to netgalley and random house childrens for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date- 9/15/20⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣This story deals with the grief of losing a loved one, and the struggles you face when trying to move on. It tugged on all my heart strongs and i very much so enjoyed following 12 y/o Clara. ⁣⁣
She has a memory problem and struggles remembering her previous summer which is heartbreaking and absolutely believable. From there the journey she embarks on really moved me and I'm glad i was given the chance to read and join Clara. ⁣⁣
I rate this one 5/5 ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣

Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. But there's nothing exotic about it to Clara. She loves eating ripe mangos off the ground, running outside in the rain with her Papa during rainy season, and going to her secret hideout with Gaynah--even though lately she's not acting like a best friend.

The only thing out of the ordinary for Clara is that something happened to her memory that made her forget everything that happened last summer after a hurricane hit. Sometimes things come back to her in drips like a tap that hasn't been turned off properly. Other times her Mama fills in the blanks...only she knows those aren't her memories and it is hard feeling like she is not like everybody else.

But this summer is going to be different for Clara. Everyone is buzzing with excitement over a new girl in the village who is not like other visitors. She is about to make big waves on the island--and give Clara a summer she won't forget.- Goodreads

It is hard for me to write this review because all 208 pages was perfect.  Seriously. This book was perfect. 

The moment I knew it was perfect was I loudly gasped and my jaw dropped. I felt betrayed by the shock I felt and it is hilarious thinking about it but I wasn't expecting this book. I wasn't expecting the curiosity and the heart that came from this book.

I freaking loved it. The pace was on point. The imagery had me thinking I was about to experience a storm myself. The tone of the novel moved with the plot i.e. it wasn't monotone or boring. Clara was relatable as well as her family. 

Everything about this novel was so on point that I have no idea how I am going to read after this. 

Overall, highly recommend this read. 

5 Pickles

This story follows 12 year old Clara who has memory problems. Throughout the story, she struggles with remembering a certain even that took place last year. She also goes through the struggles of losing a best friend, as well as making new friends in the process.

I enjoyed this immensely. I was very moved by Clara’s journey to remembering her forgotten memory. The characters in the story were very lovable, and well written. The more I read, the more I was eager to continue. This story deals with the grief of losing a loved one, and the struggles you face when trying to move on. I laughed, I cried, and I overall had a wonderful time with this book. Definitely recommend.

Clara has a memory problem, she can’t remember what happened last summer. Her best friend Gaynah keeps getting in arguments with her and sharing her secrets with their friends. A new girl Ruby comes to town and Clara begins to come out of her shell. They venture up to her uncle Eldoroth’s house on the hill and discover that he is not as evil as the townspeople have made him out to be. Will Eldoroth and Clara be able to overcome the how the town views them?
WhenLifeGivesYouMangos #NetGalley

This character driven middle grade will appeal to readers of quieter books such as The Thing About Jellyfish. The universal themes of friendship, family, and loss are explored in an engaging and age-appropriate manner. Readers will stay with the story in order to figure out Clara’s memory loss. Recommended.

When Life Gives You Mangos is a beautiful story of friendship, family, and forgiveness. Kereen Getten has a way with words that perfectly captures the feelings and thoughts of 12-year-old Clara against the backdrop of a summer soaked island. Clara’s journey of remembering her previous summer is heartbreaking and believable, making this book a great one for young readers dealing with loss of any kind.

I was moved by this book. I could feel Clara’s grief at the loss of a friendship. I definitely did not predict the end!

Ciarra lives on an island - for tourists it is an exotic location, for her it's home. She has friends, routines, games, drama. Lately though there have been issues...something happened last summer and she can't remember it and her best friend is acting strange. Fortunately a new girl arrives to visit and she is full of adventure. Can Ciarra ever face the ghosts of her past and move on perhaps even healing old wounds along the way?
This was a decent book. There is a pretty big surprise near the end but it almost felt too late and I wasn't sure there were enough "hints" along the way.

I really enjoyed this story about friendships, new and old as well as family. The story kept me intrigued and definitely surprised me with a twist.

Clara remembers that she is 12-years old, and has lived her whole life on a small tropical island. She remembers that her cousin Gaynah has been her best and only friend her whole life, though lately they have been fighting more than usual. She remembers that there are all kinds of bizarre rumors about her uncle, who lives in an abandoned plantation house at the top of the hill, being a witch doctor. She remembers that she used to love surfing and being in the water, though now it terrifies her. But she cannot remember why, or much of anything about the previous summer, something Gaynah constantly makes fun of her for. Clara turns to Rudy, a newcomer to the island, whose bright, adventurous, and generous spirit is just what Clara needs in a friend right now, and may lead her to the person who can help her resolve things with Gaynah and recover her lost memories.

This is a beautiful, touching story that shows the complicated friendship that often develops between cousins, the lasting effects of trauma, grief, and guilt, and recovery. It also explores the insidious effects of jealousy, grief, superstition, gossip, and fear of those that are different, but also the healing power of friendship, acceptance, and forgiveness of others as well as yourself.

This is a very character-driven story, told from Clara's perspective. Adults might guess the ending, but it will likely surprise most younger readers. Parts of it are fairly emotional, as the reader can feel Clara's anger, fear, and frustration, but the ending is satisfying. I would highly recommend this for readers who enjoy character-driven stories that deal with relationships, overcoming loss and trauma, and enjoy an unexpected twist.

The importance of family and community rings true in this heartfelt story of a pre-teens experience with tragedy and grief. The authors use of language and setting quickly wraps the reader up in these life-changing moments shared by many on the island, to learn the true lesson of what one does when life hands you ripened mangoes.

4 stars

WOW, this cover is beautiful, and that is what drew me in to requesting this arc originally; I admit it! I was pleasantly surprised to find that the pages underneath were just as charming.

_When Life Gives You Mangos_ centers on a young girl's experience with forgetting a traumatic event. While there are parts of the novel that feel a bit slow and repetitive in the beginning, it becomes clear why this is a stylistically and thematically relevant choice. Also, the characters and scenery are engaging from the start, so that helps in those sections. When the twist hits at the end, everything comes together nicely, and the messages and character development are incredibly moving and charming.

It's always exciting to see a debut that is this powerful and memorable. I am already excited to read what Getten produces next!