When Life Gives You Mangos - by Kereen Getten (Paperback)

About the Book

"Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. But to Clara it's just ... home. The only thing out of the ordinary is that after a hurricane hit, something happened to Clara's memory that made her forget everything from last summer. Sometimes things come back to her in drips, like a faucet that hasn't been turned off properly. Clara tries to move on, but it's hard when everyone on the island is treating her like she's broken ... especially her best friend and cousin, Gaynah, who hasn't been acting like a best friend at all lately. But this ear is going to be different. Everyone is buzzing with excitement over a new girl. She's about to make big waves on the island, waves that just might carry Clara to the truth about her missing memories ... if she has the courage to remember it. Kereen Getten's deeply poignant debut is a powerful story about feeling like an outsider, weathering life's storms, and letting go"--

Book Synopsis

Named to Oprah Magazine's Best Caribbean Books for Your 2021 reading list, imagination and adventure run wild in the most talked about middle grade debut of the year!

A small village on a Jamaican island.
A girl who doesn't remember the previous summer.
A best friend who is no longer acting like one; a new girl who fills that hole in her heart.
A summer of finding fallen mangos, creating made up games and dancing in the rain.
Secrets she keeps from others...and herself.
The courage to face the truth even in the toughest of storms.

Inspired by the author's childhood experiences, When Life Give You Mangos is a celebration of island life as well as a rich, lyrical mystery.

Read it...and don't spoil the unforgettable ending!

A recommended read for classroom discussons and educators looking for diverse offerings.

"A heartfelt and accessible debut about friendship, memory, and forgiveness." --Tae Keller, author of Newbery Medal winner When You Trap a Tiger

"A wonderful story with great heart, mystery, and insight. Kereen Getten is a bright new voice." --Clare Vanderpool, author of Newbery Medal winner Moon Over Manifest and Printz Honor book Navigating Early

"A heartwarming yet suspenseful debut about the strength of family, the turmoil of friendships lost and found, and most importantly, remembering who you are." --Lynne Kelly, author of the Schneider award winner Song for a Whale

Review Quotes

"A heartfelt and accessible debut about friendship, memory, and forgiveness." --Tae Keller, author of Newbery Medal winner When You Trap a Tiger

"When Life Gives You Mangos is a wonderful story with great heart, mystery, and insight. What a treat to walk alongside Clara in her vibrant Jamaican home, through the peaks and valleys of the human experience--heartache and joy, alienation and deep friendship, regret and redemption. Clara is the girl we all wish was our best friend--honest, spirited, and real. Kereen Getten is a bright new voice. Her writing strikes the perfect balance of beauty, depth, and a touch of mango!" --Clare Vanderpool, author of Newbery Medal winner Moon Over Manifest and Printz Honor book Navigating Early

"A heartwarming yet suspenseful debut about the strength of family, the turmoil of friendships lost and found, and most importantly, remembering who you are." --Lynne Kelly, author of the Schneider Award winner Song for a Whale

"Getten's handling of potentially tough topics like family, disability, and religion is spot-on, weaving important discussions into an adventurous, summery plot that just keeps going." --SLJ, starred review

"Getten lures readers in. Readers occupy pretty much the same position as the island kids, puzzling over clues and gossip but unable to pry out the truth." --The Bulletin, Starred Review

"A touching novel about letting go of the past and moving on." --Kirkus Reviews

"Deft storytelling and an authentic rendering of a child's voice make this a promising debut." --The Horn Book

About the Author

Kereen Getten grew up in Jamaica where she would climb fruit trees in the family garden and eat as much mango, guinep and pear as she could without being caught. She now lives in Birmingham with her family and writes stories about her childhood experiences. When Life Gives You Mangos is her debut novel. Visit her on Twitter @kereengetten or on Instagram @Kezywrites.