Marisol Rainey struggles with feeling confident in life. In this book, by Erin Entrada Kelly, Marisol has a very vivid imagination to the world around her. Her best friend, Jada, can do something that Marisol struggles with and wishes that she could do. Jada can climb, Peppina, a huge magnolia tree. In this children's book we are able to experience what is going on in Marisol's head as she tries to overcome her fears.

As an avid reader of children's literature I did not find this book very captivating. I feel that it lacked excitement and humor that children often look for in books that they read. This is not my favorite Kelly book by far.

However, I also try to find positives in books that I read and think about how I could use this in the classroom. This book has great examples of figurative language and personification. You could definitely use this as a mentor text in lessons. The chapters are short and lend themselves as teaching tools. The theme is also strong and can be used to help students develop a meaning of theme which is hard for students to grasp in elementary school.

Marisol Rainey is an eight-year-old girl who wants nothing to do with Peppina. Peppina is the tree in her backyard and everyone loves it BUT her. She is too scared to climb it. All of the what-ifs... Marisol is the kind of girl who has a big imagination, loves cats and watching silent films, and she must name all of the inanimate objects in her home, but she will not climb Peppina.

Marisol's best friend Jada gets her. She knows how much to push Marisol and when she needs a moment. She is always there for her no matter what. Evie Smythe? She will never understand her. Marisol's mom was born in the Philippines and her father is basically living on an oil rig in Mexico. Evie likes to point out Marisol's faults and prove that she has a better life than her. Marisol is tired of it. She is tired of put down, being scared, and afraid. Maybe, just maybe she will be brave.

This book has so much heart and the characters are perfect. What makes this short story even better is the illustrations from Erin Entrada Kelly, too! This is a fantastic book for young readers. I cannot wait to read what comes next.