Becoming Naomi Leon
by Pam Munoz Ryan
List Price:
Our Price: $2.99
You Save: $4.00 (57%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Pam Munoz RyanBrand: Scholastic
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2005-10-01
ISBN: 0439269970
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks
Book Reviews of Becoming Naomi Leon
Book Review: QofA#5: Fantastic novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
In Becoming Naomi León, Pam Muñoz Ryan described how a Mexican family in current time had to deal with unfortunate pastimes. Naomi, a troubled girl, had to deal with immature boys making fun of her last name Outlaw. Her hobbies included making lists and carving animals out of soap. Her younger brother Owen put up with the difficulties of looking different, but actually being super smart. Although not really caring, he was often teased at school because of his abnormal ways. Their thoughtful Gram had taken care of them ever since the kids' mother had left them, and she looked after them quite well. Then, when Naomi and Owen's long lost mother returned to their small trailer in Lemon Tree, California, Naomi and Owen learned more about their interesting past. Though when Naomi finds out what her crazy, alcoholic mother is really up to, she finds herself traveling far from the little town of Lemon Tree. In order to keep her family together, she embarked on a wild journey and learned about a fun-filled family tradition.
Personally, I really enjoyed reading this novel. I read Becoming Naomi León right before I went to bed, and could not put the book down. I ended up reading the book in a few nights, and I stayed up quite late each time. I particularly enjoyed the amount of detail that was offered in the book. There was not excruciating detail, but enough to hold a picture in your head of what was occurring at a certain point in time. I also was impressed by the descriptions of each character. They were all so different. While some were quiet and thoughtful, others were quite obnoxious and mildly rambunctious. More so, the storyline surprised me through and through. I have never read a story very similar to this one. It was great how the book talked about the problems that the entire family was having, while also informing the reader about the family's historical traditions. Lastly, I enjoyed the suspense too. Until the very end of the book, I had no clue whether the story would turn out hopeful or terrible. Because of this, it forced me to keep the book in my hands. It was a major page-turner. This novel made me hold my breath until it concluded. The ending partially surprised me, and I would definitely recommend it to others who enjoy fiction books. This novel was happy and fun part of the time, while other parts were surprising or sad.
Ryan's style of writing was interesting because she seemed to make sure that each individual character stated their opinions strongly. You could tell a lot about each person by the words they stated. For example, Naomi had always been a pretty shy kid. Though she spoke louder throughout the book because she stood up to her mom and disagreed with her mom's statements. When her mom picked on Owen for acting abnormally, Naomi stuck up for him by saying, "It does not hurt anything." (p.117) Also Gram was quite an individual because she was not an old, timid grandmother who let anyone do as they pleased. When she found out what Naomi's mother was up to she screamed, "I would go to the end of the earth to protect those children! I'll go to court if that's what I have to do!" (p. 126) Gram would never let any harm come to her precious grandchildren. Lastly, you could tell how Naomi's mother was so deceiving when she bellowed, "I have had it with your attitude and your only saying two words and speaking-in-whispers nonsense!" (p.119) Though five minutes later she stated coolly, "Now Naomi honey, you know I didn't mean that, so don't hold it against me. You are just like me, two peas in a pod." (p.121)
Ryan was strong in using personification, too. For one, she said that Naomi and Owen's mother "swooped like a hawk diving for a morsel of meat" when she grabbed Naomi's arm(p.122). You could tell that she was irritable. And when Naomi was talking back to her mother, Ryan stated that she was "a shaking leaf", indicating that Naomi was nervous (p.117). Her mother's reaction was not the best to Naomi's strange behavior. She stared at Naomi with "fire and hammers", meaning Naomi's mother's stare probably was not very heart-warming (p.118).
Again, Becoming Naomi León was truly an original novel. If you compare it with another fiction book such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares, there are only a few similarities. A female narrates each book, and each narrator is having problems with her parents. They both go through mixed emotions, and their parents do not understand their sadness. The differences are that The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is not entirely connected to real life. Is it possible for a pair of pants to be magical? Becoming Naomi León seems to be completely realistic. I could imagine the entire novel happening to some unfortunate girl. Though if you compare the novel with a fantasy book, such as any Harry Potter book by J.K. Rowling, then the results are quite different. Both main characters are going through hardships with their parents, and both are around the same age. Though differently, Becoming Naomi León, as already said, is more connected to real life and is fit for younger girls. Harry Potter has wizards, wands, and magical creatures in the story line, and is fit for men and women of all ages. Harry Potter is definitely more action-filled, too.
This exciting fiction book would grab the attention of girls ages nine through twelve mainly because the novel is written through a point of view of a young girl of around that age. The complexities of the words are fit for those ages, and from personal experience, it seems like a book that would interest them. If you enjoy this book, then I would also recommend Esperanza Rising because it is also written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, and is just as amazing as Becoming Naomi León. Because of the good quality and interesting plot, I award this book five out of five stars.
Summary of Becoming Naomi Leon
A reissue of Pam Munoz Ryan's bestselling backlist with a distinctive author treatment and new cover art by Raul Colon.
Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, and her status at school as "nobody special."
But according to Gram, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. And with Gram and her little brother, Owen, Naomi's life at Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho in California is happy and peaceful...until their mother reappears after seven years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover and proclaim who she really is.
Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, and her status at school as "nobody special."
But according to Gram, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. And with Gram and her little brother, Owen, Naomi's life at Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho in California is happy and peaceful...until their mother reappears after seven years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover and proclaim who she really is.
Multigenerational Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Multigenerational Books
Rough Watersby S. L. Rottman
Puffin; Published: 2000-04-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.74
Price in other shops:
Back Home (Picture Books)by Gloria Jean Pinkney
Puffin; Published: 1999-06-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Lucy's Picture (Picture Puffins)by Nicola Moon, Alex Ayliffe
Puffin; Published: 1997-06-01; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Cook's Familyby Laurence Yep
Viking Penguin Inc; Published: 1999-12; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
Humbugby Nina Bawden
Puffin; Published: 1994-02-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
Me and My Family Treeby Joan Sweeney
Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval; Published: 2000-04; School & Library Binding; Book
Price in other shops:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moonby Grace Lin
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Published: 2009-07-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.25
Price in other shops:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factoryby Roald Dahl
Puffin; Published: 2005-06-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.00
Price in other shops:
When I Was Young in the Mountains (Reading Rainbow Books)by Cynthia Rylant
Puffin; Published: 1993-01-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.38
Price in other shops:
Walk Two Moons (Newbery Medal Book)by Sharon Creech
HarperCollins; Published: 1994; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.01
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road)by Kate Klise
Sandpiper; Sandpiper; Published: 2010-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Number the Starsby Lois Lowry
Laurel Leaf; Sandpiper; Published: 2011-05-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.45
Price in other shops:
The Magical Ms. Plumby Bonny Becker
Yearling; Published: 2011-08-09; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher: A Magic Shop Bookby Bruce Coville
Sandpiper; Published: 2007-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.59
Price in other shops:
How Oliver Olson Changed the Worldby Claudia Mills
Square Fish; Published: 2011-10-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.62
Price in other shops:
Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central Highby Melba Pattillo Beals
Books; Simon Pulse; Published: 2007-07-24; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.72
Price in other shops:
Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses, a Memoirby Paula McLain
Back Bay Books; Published: 2004-05-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.59
Price in other shops:
Seedfolksby Paul Fleischman
HarperTrophy; Published: 1999-03-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.60
Price in other shops:
Where the Mountain Meets the Moonby Grace Lin
Books; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Published: 2011-04-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.11
Price in other shops:
Esperanza Risingby Pam Munoz Ryan
Scholastic; Scholastic; Published: 2002-06-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.25
Price in other shops: