When Life Gives You Mangos by Kareen Getten - ADVISABLE

When Life Gives You Mangos by Kareen Getten, 208 pages. Delacorte Press (Penguin Random House), 2020. $17 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f') Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Clara loves her beautiful island village, and when she grows up, she wants to be a surfer. her best friend is her cousin Gaynah, but lately their relationship is strained. It's been a year since a big hurricane hit the island, and Clara's memory of that summer is gone - - only bits and pieces - - and now she's deathly afraid of water. A new girl from New York is visiting a neighbor of Clara's, and she is independent, fun and vibrant. This summer is looking like it'll be unforgettable. But, another storm is brewing, and Clara may need to face her lost memories after all. 

I loved all the references to Jamaican food and culture. The setting was beautiful - down to the leaves on the trees, and the characters seemed so real. There's even a bit of adventure to add to the mysteries. 

Lisa Librarian