A kid who considers himself an epic fail discovers the transformative
power of love when he deals with adoption in this novel from Cynthia
Kadohata, winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award.
Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he's an "epic fail.'
That's why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby--to
replace him, he's sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his
stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession
with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels...nothing.
But when they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they've
travelled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are
faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents
agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy
named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees
him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about
Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will
soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as
Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels
something that isn't pure blinding fury, and there's no way to control
it, or its power.
From camels rooting through garbage like raccoons, to eagles being
trained like hunting dogs, to streets that are more pothole than
pavement, Half a World Away is Cynthia Kadohata's latest spark of a
novel.
