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 Becoming Naomi Leon(Scholastic) by Pam Munoz Ryan Reading Level: 9-12 Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw is a classic underdog character. She lives in the Avocado Acres Trailer Park with her great-grandmother and her younger brother (an official "FLK" or Funny Looking Kid, even after the surgeries), and most of her clothes are made by her Gram with left-over polyester. She's a worrier, a list-maker, a quiet thinker. And a carver. She's NOT a whiner, thank goodness. Naomi's more complex than the usual middle grade protagonist, and she appreciates the good things in her life. In that, Munoz Ryan has created an enjoyable character to spend time with. I suppose I wish Naomi had been a bit more Outlaw than Leon, or that the book itself had been a bit more daring or had taken itself less seriously. Or perhaps my concern is not with the seriousness, but the sincerity. It is a very sincere book which could have been improved with a bit more humor or light-heartedness. However, that's a pretty small complaint. Well-crafted and well-paced, Becoming Naomi Leon would be a quality addition to any school library.— Jennifer Spray Doering, Member SCBWI
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