On These Magic Shores

Review
By Booklist

Seventh-grader Minerva is used to looking after her little sisters, especially when their mom takes on extra shifts, but when she fails to come home one morning, Minerva must scramble to take care of her sisters and herself without anyone finding out that Mamá is missing. Carrying the weight of fear and uncertainty, Minerva must also deal with the school play of Peter Pan, in which she’s hoping for the role of Wendy—along with a new friendship with eighth-grader Maverick. With no sign of Mamá’s return, Minerva finds the strength to keep her sisters safe, thanks to the help of new friends, a caring neighbor, and a little bit of fairy magic. Fast-paced chapters are driven by the mystery of Mamá’s whereabouts and the suspense of Minerva’s struggle to maintain all of her responsibilities. Distinctive characters will delight readers, who will find themselves laughing at the cleverness of Minerva’s little sisters. A strong addition to middle-grade collections, with a unique point of view and memorable characters.