School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 6 Up-Unlike many novels in verse, which can read like conventional narratives with line breaks, Caminar contributes poetry that elevates the genre. In this story of a decimated Guatemalan village in 1981, readers will encounter a range of imagery, repetition, rhythms, and visual effects that bring to life the psychological experience of Carlos, a young boy caught in the violent clash between the government's army and the people's rebels. Like most small villagers, Carlos feels far removed from the conflict and is unsure which side to trust. Still, the army emerges as the clear villain after publicly hanging an innocent man and, weeks later, massacring the village while Carlos collects mushrooms in the forest. Now the boy attempts to survive on his own, stay ahead of the army, and warn his grandmother's mountaintop community of the coming threat. Only when he meets a band of rebels does he realize the extent of the carnage he has escaped. Caminar is a good classroom choice for either social studies or English units. Unfortunately, Brown's introductory note lacks clarity, so educators should provide some brief historical context for students. This is a much-needed addition to Latin American-themed middle grade fiction.— Denise Ryan, Middlesex Middle School, Darien, CT

Horn Book

Exquisitely crafted poems make up this verse novel set in 1981, during the Guatemalan Civil War. Wracked with survivor's guilt after his village is massacred, Carlos begins to walk--caminar--to his grandmother's village to warn of attack. The poems, all written from Carlos's point of view and all accessible to readers, are emotional, visceral, and lyrical. Glos.

ALA Booklist

The Guatemalan Civil War is powerfully fictionalized through the eyes of a young boy on the verge of becoming a man in this debut novel. Carlos wants to defend his village from the Communist rebels e group that government soldiers warn everyone away from t his mother tells him now is not the time. But when the village is then overrun by those same soldiers, Carlos escapes and is the only one who can run to the top of the mountain to warn his grandmother's village about what is coming. The horrors of war force the boy to grow up quickly and discern who exactly is to be trusted. Basing her story on true events, Brown infuses the novel with facts that will teach readers plenty about this piece of history. Written in verse, the book takes advantage of a variety of formats and styles. This is a welcome way to increase the diversity of any collection while providing a glimpse into a period of history unknown to most American kids. A glossary of Spanish words is included.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Writing in verse, Brown debuts with a tense coming-of-age story set amid the Guatemalan Civil War. Opening in 1981, it follows a timid boy named Carlos as he wrestles with what it means to be a man after his fictional village, Chopán, is visited by government soldiers and, later, by a band of guerillas. Brown uses concrete poetry to excellent effect, skillfully playing with spacing, structure, and repetition. One poem is a jumble of quotations as villagers discuss the passing rebels (- -We must protect our village.- -They have guns.- -Dios mío.- -). In another, Carlos argues with himself as he trudges through the forest after disaster strikes Chopán, his thoughts (- -Mama told me to run- -Only boys run- -) appearing on both sides of a column of text that repeats -I walked.- Brown offers some historical context in an opening note and a Q&A (a glossary of Spanish words is also included), but the ambiguities and uncertainties within the story itself help align readers with Carlos and his fellow villagers, caught in a conflict they don-t understand. Ages 10-up. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (Mar.)

Voice of Youth Advocates

Using free verse, Brown imagines one boy's experiences in the mountain villages of Guatemala in 1981. At that time, rebels and army forces battled for the citizens' allegiance, often through violent means. The children in Carlos's village of Chopßn razz him because he always does as his mother tells him. When the soldiers come, Carlos again obeys and flees into the jungle to hide. There he witnesses the mass extermination of his village. Carlos journeys through the jungle on his way to another village, Patrichßl, but ends up traveling with a rebel group he meets along the way. In speaking with the rebel leader, Miguel, and a child soldier, Paco, Carlos grapples with his identity and takes his first steps toward healing and a sense of purpose.Brown's sparse story may not be an easy sell to teens, but it would be a solid choice for a teen poetry or world conflict school unit. The free-verse format makes it a quick read, and many of the poems eschew imagery for succinct plot statements. When Brown's poetry does take a lyric turn, she shares rich details, like the sounds of helicopter blades or the feel of marbles in Carlos's hand. Brown conveys the fear and violence of Carlos's experiences without overwhelming readers, making it appropriate for most middle schoolers. While the gentle story arc moves deliberately, the dramatic conclusion gives Carlos satisfying closure, albeit in microcosm.Caitlin Augusta.