Publication Date: 25th May 2023
Genre: Middle Grade, Poetry
4.5 Stars
One liner: Heartwarming!
Nyla Elachi, a twelve-year-old girl, loves her Grandma Farida the most. Her father passed away when she was four, or so she’s been told. Grandma Farida has Alzheimer’s, and Nyla takes care of her during the evenings while her mom works back-to-back shifts to keep the family going.
One day, Grandma Farida tells Nyla that she saw her son in the supermarket. Nyla is not sure, but she loves her grandma the most. When the lady asks Nyla to bring her son home, Nyle decides it’s time to turn a detective and trace her history.
Can the grandmother and granddaughter find what they are looking for?
The story comes in poetic verse from Nyla’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a beautiful and heartwarming book! I love the characterization, be it Grandma Farida, Nyla, Ruth (Nyla’s mom), Jess, or Ray.
The book is written in poetic verse, which was a little hard to read until I remembered my friend’s advice (Rosh, thank you) to read such books the same way I’d read prose. So I stopped bothering about the rhythm and paid more attention to the plot. It really helped.
The story deals with different issues like racism, bullying, parental loss, family and relationships, friendships, Alzheimer’s, etc. None of it goes overboard or preachy (kids might feel a little overwhelmed when Nyla is bullied). This isn’t a book about stories but about people.
The plot is well done (though it needs suspended belief in some places). I guessed half of it right and was surprised by the rest. A majority of it is realistic enough, though as MG fiction, the book does simplify a few issues towards the end.
Nyla does take a few risks but doesn’t come across as reckless. In fact, her vulnerability is highlighted, showing that what she did wasn’t exactly a smart thing. However, kids should realize that such acts of bravery are risky and can lead to scary situations.
The presentation is quite intriguing. I like the use of concrete poetic styles to emphasize emotions. However, I’m not sure how it’ll work on Kindle or smartphone. I found it easier to read the book on my desktop.
There are no illustrations in the ARC. I expected at least a couple of them, so that’s one major disappointment. With a cover like that, I hope the final copy has a few illustrations to enhance the story.
The book has happy and sad moments. Jess is a delightful character, and her dialogues are too good. She’s far from perfect, which makes her even more endearing.
I love the use of Elachi (cardamom) and Haldi (turmeric) as last names. Such a wonderful idea!
The aspects of being a mixed-race child, the sense of uncertainty stemming from the lack of belongingness, etc., are effectively portrayed.
To summarize, The Stories Grandma Forgot is a heartwarming book for kiddos and adults. It’s not without a few flaws but will leave you with a sense of satisfaction and peace.
Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Children's Group, and Orion Children's Books, for the eARC.
#NetGalley #TheStoriesGrandmaForgot
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