Review of Brownstone by Samuel Teer

Authors

Nate Borling, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publisher

HarperCollinsPublishers

City

New York, New York, United States of America

Date of Publication

2024

ISBN

9780358394754

Date of Review

2025

Disciplines

Library and Information Science | Modern Literature

Keywords

Children's literature, reviews, identity, heritage, family

Review

A teen girl is forced to spend the summer with her Guatemalan father, whom she has never met, while her mother is away. She must navigate this new relationship while experiencing culture shock from her father’s neighborhood and questioning how to relate with this side of her heritage. Not being able to speak Spanish also poses problems several times throughout the story. Mar Julia’s illustrations have a youthful quality that fits with the main character’s 15-year-old perspective. This story can be enjoyed by students of mixed heritage, or students who want to learn about the experiences of others. Major themes include: the strength of community in the face of discrimination, acceptance, and experiencing new cultures. Parent/teacher discretion advised for profanity and LGBTQ elements.

Recommended, Nate Borling, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University

Recommended Citation

Borling, Nate, "Review of Brownstone by Samuel Teer" (2025). Library Intern Book Reviews. 433.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/433

Files

Author Type

Students