At Home in a Faraway Place

by Lynne Rae Perkins

Overview

From Newbery Medal winner Lynne Rae Perkins, this short novel for younger middle grade readers explores themes of empathy, friendship, discovery, language, and the life-changing epiphanies of travel. Features black-and-white illustrations, including full spreads, comic panels, and vignettes throughout.

Lissie, her dad, and her grandmother travel “to a faraway place, in a different part of the world” in this short illustrated novel. Their destination is Guatemala, where Raúl—Dad’s friend from high school—and his family live. Lissie doesn’t know how to speak Spanish, and initially the world is cloaked in mystery. But Lissie is a fearless explorer, both of language and new places, and soon she is embracing the sights and sounds, the delicious foods, the family stories and history, and the people she encounters. There are memorable discoveries and almost disasters, but mostly there are new friends—including a forever friend named Flory—who Lissie hopes she will meet again one day. A gorgeous book about the joys and rewards of opening yourself up to new experiences. Illustrated in black and white throughout by the author.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063378452
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/18/2025
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	51 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Lynne Rae Perkins was awarded the Newbery Medal for Criss Cross. She is the author of five other novels—All Alone in the Universe, As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth, Nuts to You, Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea, and Violet and Jobie in the Wild. Lynne Rae Perkins has also written and illustrated several acclaimed picture books, including Frank and Lucky Get Schooled, The Broken Cat, Snow Music, Pictures from Our Vacation, The Cardboard Piano, Wintercake, and The Museum of Everything. The author lives with her family in northern Michigan. Visit her online at lynnerae.com.

Editorial Reviews

An enriching, inspiring, and well-crafted story for young readers. It blends adventure, friendship, courage, and the transformative power of travel into a bilingual package.” — NY Journal of Books

“In this conversational illustrated travelogue by Perkins. . . a tween discovers friendship that transcends a language barrier and the exhilarating mysteries of an unfamiliar environment. . . . Realistic full-page b&w illustrations punctuate the narrative, evoking a gentle episodic feel to the plot and emphasizing Lissie’s wide-eyed insights.” — Publishers Weekly

“Newbery Medal winner Perkins writes and illustrates an engaging middle-grade book about the personal fulfillment and delight of travel. . . . While unable to communicate freely with other kids, [Lissie] learns that words are not always necessary, especially when playing soccer or making friendship bracelets. Black-and-white multimedia artwork appears in the book as full-page illustrations and comic panels, adding visual interest and helping readers see the beauty and wonder of Guatemala. Spanish phrases with phonetic spellings and English translations are also included throughout the narrative to help readers learn Spanish phrases alongside Lissie.” — Booklist

“This younger middle grade novel is delightfully adorned throughout with black-and-white artwork that ranges from spot art to multi-page spreads and comic panels which both enhance and amplify the well-written story. . . . A simple, charmingly written story about a vacation to Guatemala” — School Library Journal

“Lissie travels with her father and grandma to a distant country, where volcanoes overlook the city and the residents speak Spanish. . . . Lissie’s engagement with Spanish partially drives the narrative, and she is portrayed as listening closely to gauge the meanings of unknown words and excitedly asking for translations. . . . With vignettes both lighthearted and profound, the story also strikes a resonant note of cultural sensitivity.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Lissie. . . hopes to learn Spanish on the trip she’s taking with her dad and grandma. . . . Word by word, phrase by phrase, Lissie’s Spanish skills expand in that faraway place where she has both new and familiar experiences and meets many kind people. . . . Black-and-white drawings illustrate elements of Lissie’s trip, as well as some of the words, phrases, and concepts she is learning in Spanish, with phonetic pronunciation and English translation provided in this quietly captivating, full-hearted story.” — Cooperative Children's Book Center

From the Publisher

2024-12-14
A young traveler finds home in another land.

Alongside her grandma, Lissie joins her father on a two-week trip to visit his old friend Raúl in an unnamed Latin American country, referred to as a “faraway place.” Though she knows very little about the world around her, her adventures provide plenty of opportunities to learn and grow, whether through impromptu Spanish lessons from Raúl and a new friend at the park, soccer sessions with neighborhood kids, or a hike up a volcano that “spits out lava and ashes sometimes.” Throughout each brief, delightful chapter, Newbery Medalist Perkins adeptly weaves in bucolic, whimsical black-and-white illustrations—some full page, many in panels—that serve as humorous snapshots, phonetic translations (including a phrase in Kaqchikel, an Indigenous Mesoamerican language), or both. Visits to Mayan pyramids and a bustling, humming mercado make for informative, fun explorations. Lissie even forges a tight bond with a girl named Flory. As her escapades conclude, Lissie feels fully at home in this faraway place. Ending on a wistful note, this leisurely, earnest tale devoted to “tiny friendships” and their cumulative effects emphasizes small moments of bliss and gentle understanding. Lissie appears light-skinned; the friends she meets are darker-hued.

A warmhearted introduction to the joys of travel. (author’s note, Spanish words and phrases that Lissie learns)(Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews