LitPick Review
Halito, Gianna is a modern-day fairy tale about a young girl with an uncertain past who is searching for answers. Her search explores U.S. and Mexican history, as well as important aspects of Native American and a long-forgotten connection to Ireland. This book is for children 8 to 12 years old with a message about the importance of family, heritage, and friendship.
Opinion:
Halito, Gianna is like a Hallmark movie for 8 – 12-year-olds. It is straight-forward, predictable, and with a happy ending that leaves the readers with a positive feeling about family. This story also teaches lessons about the importance and having an open-minded to learning new things in school and exploring your past through genealogy. The writing was crisp, the story was easy to follow, and the dialogue appropriate for 8 – 12-year-olds. The history of the Choctaw Indians was interesting, and I wish more information was presented about their plight in Oklahoma. Overall, I enjoyed this book and feel it has a perfect, upbeat read for this age group and a book that will encourage students to question their own heritage.
