Half a World Away, Cynthia Kadohata
Half a World Away, Cynthia Kadohata
1 Rating(s)
List: $17.99 | Sale: $12.59
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Half a World Away

Author: Cynthia Kadohata

Narrator: Kirby Heyborne

Unabridged: 4 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/28/2014


Synopsis

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 (Kira-Kira) and the National Book Award (The Thing About Luck).

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.

When they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve traveled 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, the vivid depictions in Half a World Away create “an inspiring story that celebrates hope and second chances” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

About Cynthia Kadohata

Cynthia Kadohata won the National Book Award for The Thing About Luck and the Newbery Medal for Kira-Kira. She’s also the author of many more critically acclaimed novels, including Checked, A Million Shades of Gray, A Place to Belong, Weedflower, Cracker!, and Outside Beauty. In addition to rescuing Dobermans, she’s also managed her son’s hockey team. She lives in California. Visit her online at CynthiaKadohata.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Staci

I am shocked by the "low" average rating on this book. Written from the perspective of a child internationally adopted at age 8, this is SPOT ON author-nailed-it heart wrenching stuff that really gets behind the fears, brain function, loss, grief, social challenges and mental illness that afflict ch......more

Middle grade books shouldn't be this tiring to read. If an adult asks me if they should read this book, I would say no. Because it tries too hard and seems to forget what the story is actually about. If I am asked if the book is recommended for the actual audience, I would still say no. Because the a......more

***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato Actual Rating 4.5 I haven’t read a Middle Grade in a while, but after hitting a bump, I decided to go for this one because I knew Kadohata wouldn’t let me down. One of the books I can remember making a huge difference in my life as a kid was Ki......more

Goodreads review by Katie

I think maybe a high 3, but I'll still stick with 3. I liked the idea of this and I reallllly liked some of the ideas that were touched on, but there was a lot going on and I didn't feel like it was satisfactorily wrapped up in the end. Maybe it needed to be just about Jaden without the story of the......more