This book, by Mae Respicio, tells the story of twelve-year-old Isabela Ligaya, who moves away from her hometown in the Philippines to live with her mother in the U.S., in the town of San Francisco. Being in a new and different environment, Isabel overcomes the challenges of unfamiliarity by discovering things that remind her of home, such as making friends and feeling comfort in a particular forgotten garden at her school. This story emphasizes the importance of family, friendship, community, and one’s growth.
(Ages 8-12)
