Sleeping with the Light On by Carlos Aquilera, David Unger
Published by Groundwood Books on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 1773063847
Pages: 96
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

This book is fewer than 100 pages long, but it packs so much into the short story. Davico lives in Guatemala with his family above the restaurant his family runs, La Casita. The beginning of the story is light hearted and depicts a warm and rich life. Things take a dramatic turn, however, when political unrest threatens Davico’s family’s livelihood. His parents leave him and his brother, Felipe, with their aunt and uncle so they may travel to the US to escape the violence and, hopefully, set up a new life. Davico and Felipe are miserable with their aunt and uncle, but Davico never loses hope that they will join their parents in the US. When that finally happens, it’s a different city than they had planned, and things are so different than what Davico ever expected.

This is a great book in a small package. The language is colorful, descriptive, and it’s just really well written. Davico is relatable and many young readers will connect with him. There are illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, and while they don’t add much to the story, the art is well done. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME