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Con cariño, Amalia (Love, Amalia)
Martha, la mejor amiga de Amalia, va a mudarse muy lejos. Y Amalia se siente triste y enojada. Sin embargo, aunque la vida parece injusta, las sabias palabras cariñosas de su abuelita la ayudan a sentirse un poco mejor. Amalia disfruta el tiempo que comparte con su cocinando, escuchando cuentos y música y aprendiendo de la familia mientras miran las tarjetas que la abuelita atesora en una caja de madera de olivo.
Pero cuando una nueva pérdida sacude la vida de Amalia, nada tiene ya sentido. ¿Podrá descubrir Amalia, a pesar del dolor, que especial es, aun si quienes ama ya no están a su lado?
Pero cuando una nueva pérdida sacude la vida de Amalia, nada tiene ya sentido. ¿Podrá descubrir Amalia, a pesar del dolor, que especial es, aun si quienes ama ya no están a su lado?
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Alma Flor Ada
672 books188 followers(http://facebook.com/almaflorada)
Dr. Ada was the founder and First Editor in Chief of :
NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education
She has been active for many years in various professional associations including : IRA, International Reading Association
CRA, California Reading Association
CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education
USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People
She is a member of :
Advisory Board of Loose Leaf Public Radio Programs
National Television Workshop
Between the Lines
Reading Up!, Natural Head Start Association
A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents.
The award-winning author of numerous children’s books and a prolific translator, Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States.
She has authored several reading programs, among them two Spanish reading programs :
Cielo abierto (K-6)
Vamos de fiesta! (K-3)
and of two English reading programs :
Signatures (K-6)
Collections (K- 6)
and is a series consultant for Relatos de la historia (1-5), a Spanish social studies program developed by Harcourt School Publishers.
Among her most substantive contributions to the transmission of Hispanic culture to children are :
Música amiga, a program for learning through songs, published by Del Sol Books
Puertas al Sol - Pathways to the Sun, published by Santillana
Latino poetry, Art, and Biographies for children, published by Santillana
Dr. Ada received her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima, Perú and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute and a Fulbright Research Scholar.
Dr. Ada was the founder and First Editor in Chief of :
NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education
She has been active for many years in various professional associations including : IRA, International Reading Association
CRA, California Reading Association
CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education
USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People
She is a member of :
Advisory Board of Loose Leaf Public Radio Programs
National Television Workshop
Between the Lines
Reading Up!, Natural Head Start Association
A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, Dr. Ada also works in school districts with children, teachers and parents.
The award-winning author of numerous children’s books and a prolific translator, Alma Flor Ada is a leading mentor and philosopher of bilingual education in the United States.
She has authored several reading programs, among them two Spanish reading programs :
Cielo abierto (K-6)
Vamos de fiesta! (K-3)
and of two English reading programs :
Signatures (K-6)
Collections (K- 6)
and is a series consultant for Relatos de la historia (1-5), a Spanish social studies program developed by Harcourt School Publishers.
Among her most substantive contributions to the transmission of Hispanic culture to children are :
Música amiga, a program for learning through songs, published by Del Sol Books
Puertas al Sol - Pathways to the Sun, published by Santillana
Latino poetry, Art, and Biographies for children, published by Santillana
Dr. Ada received her Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Lima, Perú and did post-doctoral research at Harvard University as a Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute and a Fulbright Research Scholar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 7, 2012
This children’s novel has 127 pages: 21 titled chapters, 2 recipes, and a page of 7 questions for “our readers” at the end.
I would have definitely given 5 stars to this book when I was 7-12; I’d have been completely smitten; I experienced several meaningful losses during my childhood so I’d have really thoroughly immersed myself in this book, even though my life experiences were very different from Amalia’s. Reading it now I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I love the seamlessly included Spanish words. I knew most of them but had to look up one word, and I didn’t understand the context even when I saw the English translation, so I’ll be doing further research.
I appreciate the expression of various genuine feelings by both children and adults. The personalities and relationships, particularly between granddaughter and grandmother, shine brightly through the pages. I was continually touched. The people and situations seemed very genuine. I enjoyed mention of other books and of how Amalia loves the library so much.
I recommend this especially for 7-12 year old girls, and also family read alouds, including for kids as young as 5. This is a particularly good story for kids who are close to a grandparent or other older relative or friend, who have had a friend move, have lost anyone they’ve loved, who are about to move or have recently moved themselves, those looking for friendship or grandparent-grandchildren stories, morality stories, and even guidance on how to write essays. Kids who are interested in cross cultural issues, family traditions, and foreign/second languages are likely to really appreciate this story.
It’s a good book for independent readers, one to one reading aloud, and reading aloud to groups such as siblings or schoolmates. It would be a particularly good choice for mother-daughter book clubs because there are so many subjects and feelings to discuss. Every school and therapeutic community should have a copy in their libraries. It could be used very successfully as a bibliotherapy book.
I got just as emotional over the wrong thing Amalia did, and about her essay writing as I did over the losses she suffered, and some letters toward the end were just wonderful.
What an amazing grandmother and an amazing family. Any child who has this kind of adult support and family closeness is so fortunate.
The recipes are 2 flan recipes, but unfortunately not the cake or savory dishes mentioned, but they’re still a nice touch. For vegan children: I’ve had delicious vegan flan so I think the recipes could be veganized.
I thought the cover illustration was absolutely lovely, and does a fine job of conveying what’s to come in the book. This book was co-written by two authors and now I’m curious about their creative process and what it was like to create this book as a team. They did a fabulous job. There was no way I could have told it wasn’t written by a single author.
4 ½ stars, and I’m tempted to round it up to 5. Currently mulling it over. I treasure my copy of the book. I have a feeling this fine story and its characters will remain vivid for me.
ETA: Whoops. Review guidelines posted (almost) just in time: "Commercial reviews are not allowed and will be deleted. If you received a free copy of the book, you are required to disclose that in your review in compliance with federal law." at http://www.goodreads.com/review/guide.... So, I'd already put this book on my from-author-publisher shelf and I thought that was sufficient information, but I guess not. So, the author did send me a free book. That did not influence my review. If I know an author and I get a free book from them, I rate and review honestly. I guess if I really didn't enjoy a book, I might ask them if they wanted me to refrain from adding it to my Goodreads shelves, and if not, I might not. (full disclosure)
I would have definitely given 5 stars to this book when I was 7-12; I’d have been completely smitten; I experienced several meaningful losses during my childhood so I’d have really thoroughly immersed myself in this book, even though my life experiences were very different from Amalia’s. Reading it now I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
I love the seamlessly included Spanish words. I knew most of them but had to look up one word, and I didn’t understand the context even when I saw the English translation, so I’ll be doing further research.
I appreciate the expression of various genuine feelings by both children and adults. The personalities and relationships, particularly between granddaughter and grandmother, shine brightly through the pages. I was continually touched. The people and situations seemed very genuine. I enjoyed mention of other books and of how Amalia loves the library so much.
I recommend this especially for 7-12 year old girls, and also family read alouds, including for kids as young as 5. This is a particularly good story for kids who are close to a grandparent or other older relative or friend, who have had a friend move, have lost anyone they’ve loved, who are about to move or have recently moved themselves, those looking for friendship or grandparent-grandchildren stories, morality stories, and even guidance on how to write essays. Kids who are interested in cross cultural issues, family traditions, and foreign/second languages are likely to really appreciate this story.
It’s a good book for independent readers, one to one reading aloud, and reading aloud to groups such as siblings or schoolmates. It would be a particularly good choice for mother-daughter book clubs because there are so many subjects and feelings to discuss. Every school and therapeutic community should have a copy in their libraries. It could be used very successfully as a bibliotherapy book.
I got just as emotional over the wrong thing Amalia did, and about her essay writing as I did over the losses she suffered, and some letters toward the end were just wonderful.
What an amazing grandmother and an amazing family. Any child who has this kind of adult support and family closeness is so fortunate.
The recipes are 2 flan recipes, but unfortunately not the cake or savory dishes mentioned, but they’re still a nice touch. For vegan children: I’ve had delicious vegan flan so I think the recipes could be veganized.
I thought the cover illustration was absolutely lovely, and does a fine job of conveying what’s to come in the book. This book was co-written by two authors and now I’m curious about their creative process and what it was like to create this book as a team. They did a fabulous job. There was no way I could have told it wasn’t written by a single author.
4 ½ stars, and I’m tempted to round it up to 5. Currently mulling it over. I treasure my copy of the book. I have a feeling this fine story and its characters will remain vivid for me.
ETA: Whoops. Review guidelines posted (almost) just in time: "Commercial reviews are not allowed and will be deleted. If you received a free copy of the book, you are required to disclose that in your review in compliance with federal law." at http://www.goodreads.com/review/guide.... So, I'd already put this book on my from-author-publisher shelf and I thought that was sufficient information, but I guess not. So, the author did send me a free book. That did not influence my review. If I know an author and I get a free book from them, I rate and review honestly. I guess if I really didn't enjoy a book, I might ask them if they wanted me to refrain from adding it to my Goodreads shelves, and if not, I might not. (full disclosure)
October 16, 2012
I enjoyed this book very much. I would definitely recommend it, especially to children (and their parents) 8 and up.
Even though the book is only 127 pages, the author did a good job developing the characters, especially the main character, Amalia. It was easy for me to relate to her and feel her sadness.
In my opinion it would be a great book for all parents to read with their children. It has interaction with Amalia and her grandmother. There is a lesson taught to Amalia by her grandmother regarding a wrongdoing on her part. It also teaches about loss in two different ways. The main character loses her best friend because her father takes a job in another state. She also learns to deal with the death of her beloved grandmother. She has a "close knit" and very loving family that helps her deal with everything she has to go through.
I enjoyed the use and explanation of Spanish words all throughout the book. There are two recipes at the end of the book. Although I have not attempted to make them, YET, they both sound very tasty.
(I won this book on First Reads. I do not know the author in any way. )
Even though the book is only 127 pages, the author did a good job developing the characters, especially the main character, Amalia. It was easy for me to relate to her and feel her sadness.
In my opinion it would be a great book for all parents to read with their children. It has interaction with Amalia and her grandmother. There is a lesson taught to Amalia by her grandmother regarding a wrongdoing on her part. It also teaches about loss in two different ways. The main character loses her best friend because her father takes a job in another state. She also learns to deal with the death of her beloved grandmother. She has a "close knit" and very loving family that helps her deal with everything she has to go through.
I enjoyed the use and explanation of Spanish words all throughout the book. There are two recipes at the end of the book. Although I have not attempted to make them, YET, they both sound very tasty.
(I won this book on First Reads. I do not know the author in any way. )
February 24, 2025
A beautiful story about processing loss, told by a young girl about her Abuelita and her best friend who moved away. I really enjoyed the Spanish sprinkled throughout and the inclusion of Abuelita’s recipes. Perfect for girls ages 7-12.
October 11, 2025
Really hate that this was the book that got me to my reading goal this year haha. Another read aloud with my students. So boring…
October 12, 2012
Amalia had been going to her grandmothers every Friday since she was very small. Her friend Martha had been going with her since they were in the fourth grade. But now Martha is moving away to California. Her father has a new job and she won't be able to spend time with Amalia any longer. Amalia is sad and hurt by this abrupt news. What will happen to her when Martha leaves?
Amalia remembers the fun that she had with Martha. They would hang out at the park together. They rode bikes on the weekends, visited the library, played soccer and fun word games. Together they shared a lot of interests and learned from each other. Amalia is now left with a feeling of abandonment and anger. Her Grandmother explained to her the value of friendship. She told her the story of how she would write cards and letters to family and friends and the ones she received she would keep. She advised Amalia to consider keeping in touch with Martha by sending her letters.
Grandmother shares a family history and traditions which were woven throughout her lifetime and provided a loving warmth and inspired in Amalia a longing to learn more. But, Amalia experiences more pain, her grandmother passes and she is devastated. Amalia was left a box filled with letters that her grandmother had kept over the years. She learned so much about her family. Now she must decide if whether or not she will follow in her grandmothers footsteps and connect again with Martha.
Alma Flor Ada has created another tremendous story of family and tradition. The Hispanic culture is full of glorious traditions and tasty foods. Young girls will come to love Amalia. A quick fun read, this story and its colorful journey will have young readers wanting to connect with their own families. The back of the book has recipes for pineapple and coconut flavored flan for readers to try and enjoy. There is also a list of question readers can answer and send to Alma Flor Ada. I recommend this read for any young girl coming of age.
Amalia remembers the fun that she had with Martha. They would hang out at the park together. They rode bikes on the weekends, visited the library, played soccer and fun word games. Together they shared a lot of interests and learned from each other. Amalia is now left with a feeling of abandonment and anger. Her Grandmother explained to her the value of friendship. She told her the story of how she would write cards and letters to family and friends and the ones she received she would keep. She advised Amalia to consider keeping in touch with Martha by sending her letters.
Grandmother shares a family history and traditions which were woven throughout her lifetime and provided a loving warmth and inspired in Amalia a longing to learn more. But, Amalia experiences more pain, her grandmother passes and she is devastated. Amalia was left a box filled with letters that her grandmother had kept over the years. She learned so much about her family. Now she must decide if whether or not she will follow in her grandmothers footsteps and connect again with Martha.
Alma Flor Ada has created another tremendous story of family and tradition. The Hispanic culture is full of glorious traditions and tasty foods. Young girls will come to love Amalia. A quick fun read, this story and its colorful journey will have young readers wanting to connect with their own families. The back of the book has recipes for pineapple and coconut flavored flan for readers to try and enjoy. There is also a list of question readers can answer and send to Alma Flor Ada. I recommend this read for any young girl coming of age.
January 31, 2013
Love, Amalia
By Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta
ISBN 13: 978-1-4424-2402-9 hardcover $15.99
Love, Amalia by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta is the story of a young girl learning to deal with loss, first when her best friend moves away, and then shortly thereafter when her beloved abuelita passes away. Through it all Amalia comes to better understand the importance of family and friendships and to learn that even when someone is gone they are still with you in so many ways.
In Love, Amalia, Amalia comes to understand her history and her culture much better through the stories of her abuelita who tells her of her uncles and aunt. She shares stories, cards, letters and traditions with Amalia, who feels a justifiable pride in her heritage.
Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta do a wonderful job at making Amalia and this story come alive for readers. Amalia is identifiable to any girl in any country. Her best friend moves away, her grandmother helps her deal with it, but then her grandmother passes away and Amalia is left feeling all alone and can’t understand the strange mix of extreme sadness mixed with joy that comes from the adults who are gathered together for the first time in years. Amalia feels like her world has ended, how will she cope and what will she decide to do about her best friend who now lives far away?
I really enjoyed Love Amalia. I loved the way it presented Amalia’s Hispanic culture, I loved the family orientation of it and I loved the storytelling of it. Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta are to be commended on an excellent story that should appeal to readers of all ages – even those too young to read for themselves who may be dealing with a loss. It would be a great book for mom or dad to read to them if necessary.
By Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta
ISBN 13: 978-1-4424-2402-9 hardcover $15.99
Love, Amalia by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel M. Zubizarreta is the story of a young girl learning to deal with loss, first when her best friend moves away, and then shortly thereafter when her beloved abuelita passes away. Through it all Amalia comes to better understand the importance of family and friendships and to learn that even when someone is gone they are still with you in so many ways.
In Love, Amalia, Amalia comes to understand her history and her culture much better through the stories of her abuelita who tells her of her uncles and aunt. She shares stories, cards, letters and traditions with Amalia, who feels a justifiable pride in her heritage.
Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta do a wonderful job at making Amalia and this story come alive for readers. Amalia is identifiable to any girl in any country. Her best friend moves away, her grandmother helps her deal with it, but then her grandmother passes away and Amalia is left feeling all alone and can’t understand the strange mix of extreme sadness mixed with joy that comes from the adults who are gathered together for the first time in years. Amalia feels like her world has ended, how will she cope and what will she decide to do about her best friend who now lives far away?
I really enjoyed Love Amalia. I loved the way it presented Amalia’s Hispanic culture, I loved the family orientation of it and I loved the storytelling of it. Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta are to be commended on an excellent story that should appeal to readers of all ages – even those too young to read for themselves who may be dealing with a loss. It would be a great book for mom or dad to read to them if necessary.
January 19, 2018
En el libro “Con cariño, Amalia,” proporciona información sobre un problema común a todas las personas. En el libro hay muchas problemas que todos pueden tener en casa, afuera de casa, o personas alrededor del mundo. Un problema que hay en libro es que la mejor amiga de Amalia, Martha, se va a mudar a California. Y Amalia se siente muy triste y enojada porque su mejor amiga se va y no va estar con ella. En la vida real, las personas pasan por esto en un momento en la vida de ellos. Y las personas también se ponen tristes que su mejor amiga(o) se van. Y también se ponen enojados porque piensan que van a estar solos y no van a encontrar a otra persona para ser amigos. Entonces, este problema todos tienen en común como Amalia. Otra problema que hay en el libro es la abuela de Amalia se muere. Esto es muy difícil para Amalia y sus padres y su familiares. Y estan muy triste que una familiar querido se murió. Todo el mundo pasa por esto, un familiar querido fallece y todos se ponen triste. Todo el mundo puede conectarse a este problema común que todos tiene. Entonces, el fallecimiento de un querido es muy triste y este problema todos tienen en común. Finalmente, las problemas que pasan en el libro, todos pueden tener todas las problemas en el libro como Amalia o si no solo una de las problemas que hay. Pero estos problemas que pasan en libro, personas alrededor del mundo tienen algo en común hoy en día.
April 28, 2020
Written by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta, the story of Love, Amalia tells the story of a young girl, the relationships she holds dear, dealing with loss, and being thankful for those in our lives.
Love, Amalia is a 2012 (Announced in 2013) International Latino Book Award winner for best youth chapter books in English. The book would make a great addition to a classroom library in grades 3 – 6. Depending on the student, there could be some sensitivities depending on their experience with loss. During the 2020 pandemic or any other period of social distancing, this book can also be useful to help students see that there are ways to maintain relationships or hold onto things that are dear.
Love, Amalia is a 2012 (Announced in 2013) International Latino Book Award winner for best youth chapter books in English. The book would make a great addition to a classroom library in grades 3 – 6. Depending on the student, there could be some sensitivities depending on their experience with loss. During the 2020 pandemic or any other period of social distancing, this book can also be useful to help students see that there are ways to maintain relationships or hold onto things that are dear.
October 13, 2012
Intense book about loss, family and responsibility. I loved it though~ very different from My Name is Maria Isabel.
December 28, 2012
This is a very sweet book and tells a good story, but the voice is strange. It does not sound like a child at all. It sort of reads like little lessons a parent is telling their child.
August 3, 2013
Amalia can’t believe it. Her best friend Martha is moving away from their neighborhood in Chicago all the way to “some weird place in California.” There are so many emotions surrounding this sudden change that Amalia doesn’t want to think or talk about Martha at all. She doesn’t think things can get worse, but then her beloved Abuelita dies and Amalia finds herself overwhelmed with even more emotions. Amalia has so many wonderful memories of spending Friday afternoons with her grandmother. They would listen to soft music while Abuelita shared family recipes and tell stories of Amalia’s relatives, her mami, tios, tias, and Abuelito. Who will tell these stories now? How will Amalia learn the all the recipes unshared? How will Amalia get along without her two best friends?
This short book begins with a quote in English and Spanish from a poem by Pedro Salinas. This sets the stage for a quiet, reflective story about sensitive young Amalia. The story is written in third person, with Amalia’s thoughts and feelings at the center. In short chapters Amalia reflects on significant moments she shared with Abuelita and Martha and through these reflections she is able to deal with her grief at losing two close friends. Cultural and family pride is a major theme throughout this intergenerational story, from the delicious foods Amalia and her grandmother make to the values Abuelita passes onto her family. Easily defined by context, Spanish words are deftly incorporated into the narrative and dialogue. Back matter includes two recipes that Abuelita gives to Amalia, as well as a list of open ended questions and an invitation for readers to write to the authors with their answers. These questions would be great for a book club discussion. A good recommendation for readers who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Full review at Chapter Book Explorer: http://chapterbookexplorer.blogspot.c...
This short book begins with a quote in English and Spanish from a poem by Pedro Salinas. This sets the stage for a quiet, reflective story about sensitive young Amalia. The story is written in third person, with Amalia’s thoughts and feelings at the center. In short chapters Amalia reflects on significant moments she shared with Abuelita and Martha and through these reflections she is able to deal with her grief at losing two close friends. Cultural and family pride is a major theme throughout this intergenerational story, from the delicious foods Amalia and her grandmother make to the values Abuelita passes onto her family. Easily defined by context, Spanish words are deftly incorporated into the narrative and dialogue. Back matter includes two recipes that Abuelita gives to Amalia, as well as a list of open ended questions and an invitation for readers to write to the authors with their answers. These questions would be great for a book club discussion. A good recommendation for readers who are dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Full review at Chapter Book Explorer: http://chapterbookexplorer.blogspot.c...
July 14, 2016
I read this to practice my basic Spanish. It was a struggle that took several days. I wonder how much of my impressions about the book were shaped by my own limitations, needing to sit with a dictionary to translate several phrases on each page.
For example, beginning the book with the loss of a close friend and not revisiting the issue until the final chapter felt like a large time gap. It also seemed that Amalia often spoke like an adult, saying "I realized that" and offering insights and empathy for the adults around her as they grieved her abuela's death. Her prolonged melancholy and withdrawal seemed more suited to a young adult - for the age of this character, I would have expected a passing tantrum or an explosion of anger at the relatives around her who did not seem to be grieving her abuela in the way she thought should occur.
Lastly, the sequence of events surrounding the stolen DVDs and its resolution were the most compelling and perhaps a bit of more strategic editing could have placed more focus on this to illustrate the crux of their relationship, her grandmother's lasting influence.
For example, beginning the book with the loss of a close friend and not revisiting the issue until the final chapter felt like a large time gap. It also seemed that Amalia often spoke like an adult, saying "I realized that" and offering insights and empathy for the adults around her as they grieved her abuela's death. Her prolonged melancholy and withdrawal seemed more suited to a young adult - for the age of this character, I would have expected a passing tantrum or an explosion of anger at the relatives around her who did not seem to be grieving her abuela in the way she thought should occur.
Lastly, the sequence of events surrounding the stolen DVDs and its resolution were the most compelling and perhaps a bit of more strategic editing could have placed more focus on this to illustrate the crux of their relationship, her grandmother's lasting influence.
January 24, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this meditation on the different losses that occur during our lives, and I'm certain middle grade girls in particular will find comfort in its pages. Sixth grader Amalia relishes the time she spends with her maternal grandmother who guides her in many ways, including cooking and the right way to behave. After Amalia's best friend Martha unexpectedly moves from Chicago to California, Amalia can't forgive her or find a way for their friendship to continue. But in some respects that loss pales in comparison to the death of her grandmother. It is only through recalling her grandmother's stories and reading the cards she collected and letters she received that her pain starts to dissipate and she opens her heart again. Although some of Amalia's own recollections about the mistakes she made and her grandmother's firm but loving response illustrate their shared bond, they also seemed out of place at times. The thoughtful letters Amalia writes are therapeutic and reflective and show wisdom beyond her years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
One Friday afternoon, Amalia comes to Abuelita’s house without her best friend, Martha. Abuelita senses that something is very wrong. The girls have been inseparable since fourth grade. When Amalia tells her grandmother that Martha is moving far away, Abuelita encourages her to keep in touch with her friend. Amalia feels so hurt that she doesn’t even want to say good-bye to Martha. She certainly can’t think about staying in touch through letters. Then, Abuelita dies, and Amalia’s mind relives all of the wonderful times with her grandmother- listening to family stories, making melcocha (taffy) and vanilla cake with strawberries and dulce de leche. Amalia remembers the time Abuelita helped her through a rough time at school. When her mother gives her Abuelita’s olive wood box, Amalia finds the Christmas card that her grandmother made for the coming holiday. The other cards and letters in the box begin to heal Amalia’s hurt heart, and so, Amalia thinks of a way to reconnect with Martha.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
March 8, 2020
Wow. Such an incredible book. Although it is an intimate story about a young Latina girl's relationship with her Mexican-Puerto Rican family and especially her dear abuelita, it is a story that can be universally appreciated by children of all backgrounds. It talks about friendship and losing friends who move to new cities. It talks about grief as Amalia loses her abuelita suddenly. It talks about family and the importance of making time and putting the effort in to keep in touch with those we love. It talks about right versus wrong. About mundane things like lazy Saturday mornings or tough days at school or not wanting to socialize all the time. Amalia is such an easy character to relate to and her Latina identity is so easy and beautifully incorporated that it is a constant presence and yet so flawlessly written that anyone, even non-Latinos, could easily relate to her story. A bittersweet read. Would recommend for anyone 4th grade and up. It is a short read but kind of a precocious read.
April 15, 2013
After reading the book love amalia, I thought it was a great book dealing with the lose of a loved one or friend. When the book started out, it talks about how amaila was upset that her best friend of 5 years was suddenly going to move to california. She had a hard time dealing with her friends sudden move but her abuletia was there to comfort her. Then only a few days later after her friend left chicago for california her grandmother passed away on the day she was supposed to go over to her granmothers house. After her grandmother passing she had a very hard time dealing with. All of her relatives was telling her how lucky she was to have been apart of her life but she didn't feel that way. But after a couple of weeks had past she had totally forfot about her friend martha, but she remember what her grandmother told her that she will find away to stay close to martha. So she finally wrote martha a letter.
December 2, 2017
Sometimes adults don't realize the grief children experience when a dear friend moves away. Alma Flor Ida's story of Amalia shows the depths of that when Amalia's friend, Martha, suddenly moves, immediately off to visit her grandparents before her father takes a new job. Amalia is heartbroken, and the story shows her memories of the girls' great times together. She is helped by her dear Abuelita with whom she spends every Friday, and there again we learn of the good times they've spent together, until again deep sadness strikes again, Abuelita dies. One Friday, she is there and they make taffy together; the next Friday she is gone. Alma Flor Ida takes time to show Amalia's thoughts as she greets her family members from far away who arrive for the funeral and then as she remembers good times and also learns new things about her beloved grandmother, Abuelita. For children who are immersed in loss or those who have a friend they want to support, it's a lovely book.
January 20, 2018
En el libro, "Con cariño Amalia," por Alma Flor un evento que me golpeo relevante para mi vida fue cuando la mejor amiga de Amalia se mudo. Por que a mi también me paso eso, perdí a mi mejor amiga. Y cuando ella se fue yo me sentí muy mal. Me sentía sola. Así como Amalia, Martha su amiga se mudo para California y ella vive en Illinois, Chicago que esta al otro lado del país. Y yo si entiendo el dolor que Amalia paso. Y cuando se sintió así, mal y triste. Ella se acerco con su abuela, para consuelo. Y yo hice casi lo mismo, pero yo mejor me acerque a una amiga de mi iglesia. También, cuando ella estaba pasando por ese momento difícil, otra cosa también le ocurrió, su abuela falleció. Y le hizo falta su mejor amiga para que le haga sentir mejor. A mi también me paso eso, un mes después que se fue mi mejor amiga, tuve problemas familiares. Y me sentía tan mal, y me hacia falta tener a mi amiga a mi lado. Por que ella siempre sabia que decir.
December 28, 2016
Anabel A-this book was amazing. The author is amazing in telling this story if this girl named Amalia. I recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction and for anyone who likes sad stories.
Now, Amalia went from happy to ..... well sad and angry. She couldn't stand how one of her very best friends was going to leave her behind. Even though she felt hopeless her grandmothers sayings made Amalia feel better.
Amalia and her grandmother have a lot of happy moments: cooking together, telling stories, and learning different lessons.
But now a real big tragedy happens and it keeps Amalia confused and just worried on how to continue her life(this is like the climax were everything just changes ).
Will Amalia be able to fight through the roughest times of her life?? ..... Well just read to find out and remember you are special !!!
Now, Amalia went from happy to ..... well sad and angry. She couldn't stand how one of her very best friends was going to leave her behind. Even though she felt hopeless her grandmothers sayings made Amalia feel better.
Amalia and her grandmother have a lot of happy moments: cooking together, telling stories, and learning different lessons.
But now a real big tragedy happens and it keeps Amalia confused and just worried on how to continue her life(this is like the climax were everything just changes ).
Will Amalia be able to fight through the roughest times of her life?? ..... Well just read to find out and remember you are special !!!
October 15, 2012
I loved all the themes of this book, but it also happened frequently that I'd read a sentence and just think, That wasn't very well-written. So I'll give it three stars, even though I think content-wise it's really beautiful. Amalia is a sixth-grader who learns that her best friend is moving across the country—and then, just a few days after her friend leaves, her beloved grandmother dies suddenly. For the next several days she struggles to deal with her grief while being surrounded by the family she barely knows, and in her memories there's a lot about the love of nature and reading and cooking with her abuelita. I also kind of want to try the recipes for pineapple flan and coconut flan that are included at the end.
July 6, 2016
Amalia is devastated when she finds out that her best friend Martha is moving faraway to California. Her grandmother tries to help her cope with the loss of friend, but learn that she can still stay friends with someone even though they are faraway. Then, Abuelita suddenly passes away leaving Amalia even more hurt, lost, and angry. All of Amalia’s aunts, uncles, and cousins come from various countries from all over South America to celebrate Abuelita’s life, and in the process learn how important it is to stay in contact and maintain all sorts of relationships. Appropriate for grades 3-6, this books positively highlights the Latino/a culture and how they value family. It also explores concepts of loss and friendship.
May 4, 2015
This is a sweet story about a young girl who experiences loss for the first time (both as a result of her best friend moving and the death of her beloved grandmother) and how she learns to find happiness and peace again. Although I think this story does a great job of showing young readers that our reactions to grief are natural and how we continue in our lives, I don't think many young readers would be motivated to stick with this book. The "voice" of young Amalia just doesn't sound like a child to me and the pace of the story is too slow and meandering. Might make a good read-aloud for a parent and young child who are facing this issue, though.
July 26, 2013
Amalia is horrified when her dear friend Martha moves away from Chicago to California. Amalia loved being in the same class with her, loved going to the library with her, and playing games, and just having fun with her. However, Martha announces one day that she is moving and before you know it Martha and her Mom are leaving, hardly giving Amalia a chance to say goodbye. Once Martha is gone she remembers everything they did together and it makes Amelia mad that she left, so she winds up spending more and more time with her grandmother. They bake together, and her grandmother tells her stories about their family. What happens next is something that is really not prepared for.
January 7, 2017
This book is really more like 3.5 stars. I couldn't give it the full 4 because the ending is so abrupt. I think I actually said, "What?" out loud when I flipped a page and it went from the story to a recipe for flan. Then I flipped back a couple of pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything, I hadn't. It is just that jarring.
Still the book is a touching story about one girl trying to deal with her best friend's move to California and then the sudden loss of her grandmother shortly thereafter. It is about friends, family, love, and learning that even when people are gone they have left part of themselves with us.
Still the book is a touching story about one girl trying to deal with her best friend's move to California and then the sudden loss of her grandmother shortly thereafter. It is about friends, family, love, and learning that even when people are gone they have left part of themselves with us.
April 3, 2017
In this book, Amalia struggles with her feelings about her best friend, Martha, moving. Her grandmother tries to help her but before Amalia can feel better a tragic event happens in Amalia's life. Amalia's grandmother has always been a huge part of her life and someone who helped her with many things. Amalia loved learning about her heritage through her grandmother's stories and baking. This book was just too simple for me and was very flat. Amalia was one dimensional as were the other characters.
December 13, 2016
I read this children's book as I like to have a collection of suggestions for those who want books that will speak to children with a Latino background. However, I found that although there are some Spanish words scattered in the book and that it would be meaningful to someone with a Latin American background, it would also be good for any child, especially girls. I think all children can better cope with loss if they read books that deal with this subject as this one does.
September 8, 2013
A beautiful and gentle story that celebrates the very special bond a grandmother and her granddaughter share. It will warm your heart but also make it ache as Amalia has to deal with loss and sorrow. The book is a wonderful reminder, especially for those of us living abroad, that we can (and should make it a priority to) stay in touch with family and loved ones, no matter how far the geographical distance between us, and to treasure the times we can spend together.
August 23, 2016
This is a story that many children can relate to as it talks about friendship and the importance of family. Amalia's best friend moves leaving her behind feeling all alone and frustrated that she had to leave. Shortly after, her grandmother dies whom she was very close to. Love, Amalia is a book that I would recommend to 3rd-5th graders. It is a book that opens the discussion of the importance of family and friends.
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June 6, 2019Very good! This book shows how loss can make you into the person you are meant to be. Amalia showed tremendous change throughout the story. Even though the change was devastating it really helped to show how the growth and development within the family. A conclusion that was made from this book was loss can bring a family together. Also, I like how this book incorporates Latin culture. It really helps to bring the rawness out of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2012
At the same time her BF moves away, Amalia loses her beloved abuelita. I cried through most of this book, but it was a lovely journey through coping with the our mistakes and the pain of death. If you have/had a close relationship with your grandmother, this will make you appreciate that gift even more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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