Half a World Away

by Cynthia Kadohata

A kid who considers himself an epic fail discovers the transformative power of love when he deals with adoption in this novel from Cynthia Kadohata, winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award.

Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he’s an “epic fail.’ That’s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby—to replace him, he’s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels...nothing.

But when they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve travelled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels something that isn’t pure blinding fury, and there’s no way to control it, or its power.

From camels rooting through garbage like raccoons, to eagles being trained like hunting dogs, to streets that are more pothole than pavement, Half a World Away is Cynthia Kadohata’s latest spark of a novel.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adoption, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Family

225 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Cynthia Kadohata is a Japanese American writer known for her insightful coming-of-age stories about Asian American women. Her first published short story appeared in The New Yorker in 1986. As she spent her early childhood in the American South, the author set both her first adult novel and her first novel for children in Southern states. The former became a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and the latter--her first children's book, entitled Kira-Kira--won the 2005 Newbery Medal.

Reviews

[Jesse (JesseTheReader)]

This was a nice little read! I liked seeing the topic of adoption being explored through several different angles. We get a child's perspective on being adopted, we see the adoption process through his parents, & we also get a glimpse at what international adoption is like. I also liked how this showcased how it can sometimes be hard to accept love from other people. It can be easy to resent people and push them away for reasons we sometimes can't explain, but it's always worth it to accept and show love in return.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am shocked by the "low" average rating on this book. Written from the perspective of a child internationally adopted at age 8, this is SPOT ON author-nailed-it heart wrenching stuff that really gets behind the fears, brain function, loss, grief, social challenges and mental illness that afflict children who were abandoned and adopted.

The voice of Jaden, the main character is sweet, wonderful and completely authentic. I think this book was extremely well done in the way it handled the very real experiences of adoptees and their well-intentioned parents.

I am an adoptive mom who thinks this book should be required for any parent wanting to adopt internationally, because the challenges Jaden faces are not rare, but quite normal, and any adoption agency that claims it's rare is full of crap. I also think this book would an excellent addition to 3rd-6th grade reading lists alongside The Great Gilly Hopkins by katherine Patterson, as it gives a real glimpse into the heart of kids who've lost family and have to deal with the trauma of a new family on top of losing the first one.

Beautifully done. I know my kids who were adopted will love this. I read it first to screen it, and now I am highly recommending it to everyone.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle grade books shouldn't be this tiring to read. If an adult asks me if they should read this book, I would say no. Because it tries too hard and seems to forget what the story is actually about.

If I am asked if the book is recommended for the actual audience, I would still say no. Because the adult characters are frustrating and there's nothing much to take from this story except that a child is struggling till the end and things do not seem better in the family.

I will recommend better books that deal with adoption and found family.

[Fatma Al Zahraa Yehia · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of my favorite topics-story about a troubled orphan boy- that I like to read about. But the writing wasn't very encouraging to me.

Jaden's character reminded me a lot of the protagonist in "the great gilly Hopkins".

[Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the adoptive mother of four internationally children, all of whom were placed with me at about the same age Jaden was placed, I have very divided opinions about this book. Yes .. it shows a journey to love. I would (perhaps) have preferred the story to be in Jaden's voice. (Who is clearly very bright and who speaks excellent English after 4 years in America.) But the picture of international adoption didn't work for me. His parents, for example, are still dealing with a child showing habits (e.g. food hoarding) which usually disappear after 4-6 months after placement, and desires to set fires (yes, he's in counseling for this.) He lies. OK. But ... they leave a 12-year-old with these issues (among others) alone in a new country? And even at the "orphanage" - they let him play with the toddlers without supervision? (Although they do ask him to join them in "bonding with the baby." Ask?)
No wonder the adoption agency/placement center/"Babies' Home" is not sure about placing a child with them. The legalities of the placement are in some ways realistic .. spending time in the country of origin, etc -- but the baby they adopt (and the older child they choose to adopt, too) are clearly special needs children, when at least the father in the story has not dealt well with being Jaden's father.
Plus - to qualify for an I-600 visa (visa for an adopted child)to be admitted to the United States all children need a physical exam by someone at a US embassy. (That there isn't a doctor in the area doesn't matter.) There are strict guidelines for visas ... and one or more of these children would certainly not be admitted. (One will "die soon.")
And the paper work that would be required before the family even left the US would be, as it was described, for a certain child. Preliminary visa approval would be issued for that child. They couldn't arrive and just "pick another baby," as described. All the paperwork - in both the United States and in the country of origin -- would have to be re-done. Complete with pictures, medical reports - however sketchy - etc.
International adoption, especially private adoptions (their agency had closed)can be challenging. But even without an agency -- they don't have a lawyer? For Jaden's adoption, too ... yes, birthdates on papers sometimes change. But four years for a child that age? (One of my daughters was said to be 8 but later turned out to, most likely, be about 10. But saying a four year old was a baby? I have seen some physical conditions approved for visas if the adopting parents understood what they were... but the US is very strict about intellectual issues.
All together .. I was very disappointed in this book. I wanted to like it. But it was a prose-poem to love and acceptance disguised as a novel.
I've loved Cynthia Kadohata's other books, but this one had too many problems in Kazakhstan ... and what I felt was an unrealistic view (in some cases too positive .. in others too negative) of older child adoption. I know she said she'd worked with many adoptive parents, and I don't know them personally. But as the former head of an adoptive parent organization of abut 300 families, most of whom had adopted older children (4 - teenagers) I felt very uncomfortable with how adoption was pictured here. Even adoption of special needs kids. (Yes -- done that, too.)

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This review has also been posted on The Social Potato

Actual Rating 4.5

I haven’t read a Middle Grade in a while, but after hitting a bump, I decided to go for this one because I knew Kadohata wouldn’t let me down. One of the books I can remember making a huge difference in my life as a kid was Kira Kira by the same author, which is why I was so sure I would love this one. I am so glad I wasn't proven wrong.  I’ve now read 3 of her works and have yet to be let down. This woman can work magic. Her stories are powerful and moving and this one was no different.

Half a World Away really looks at love and how it can change lives. 

Jaden is a 12 year old and was adopted at the age of 8. He is a very difficult child and from the looks of it, and not a very happy one either. He steals and has a tendency to hoard things. He has also went through a phase where he set things on fire. None of this, however, portrays him as unlikeable because Jaden is very much likeable. His heartbreak really gets to you. He refuses to love his parents because of this deep-seated fear (that he himself probably doesn’t realize) that they’ll leave him just like his birth mother did. You can see his constant internal struggle to accept his adoptive parents and let go of his fear and his anger towards them.

This book IS very character driven and focuses on Jaden’s journey. There will be times you’ll want something more to happen, but you’ll realize there are so many things already happening with Jaden.

He and his parents are going to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby and Jaden thinks that this is because they aren’t happy with him. Jaden struggles to not feel something for his parents, but at the same time he is so incredibly jealous of this baby. When they get there though, the baby is already gone. Adopted by another family and so his parents choose another baby. During the ‘bonding meetings’, Jaden meets a toddler, Dimash.

Dimash teaches Jaden how to love again. This 3 year old who cannot talk and is a special needs child teaches Jaden to stop hiding from his feelings. I kid you not when I say your heart will break watching the two interact because while Jaden is ‘falling in love’ with this kid, his parents are bonding with another baby.

The author takes advantage of the setting and also tries to get us readers involved in the culture of Kazakhstan. I will say that there is not a huge focus on this, but the author does incorporate aspects of it. She weaves it in while keeping the focus of the story on Jaden and how he grows.

There are a few secondary characters as well and the most noteable one is Sam. He is in his 60s, but he and Jaden hit it off. They become friends and Sam teaches Jaden, in his own way, to let go of his anger.

I think what makes this book so incredibly beautiful and moving is that it is so real. Jaden blames his adoptive parents for taking him away from the only home he has known. Even though it's been 4 years he still feels unsafe which is why he hoards. He still fears that all this will be taken away from him and he isn't ready to fully accept his new life in the States. It's why he refuses to acknowledge that he loves his adoptive parents (well, we readers know... he doesn't). So over the course of the book, Jaden starts to finally open up.

I am going to keep this review short, just like this book and urge everyone to give it a shot. It’s sweet and won’t fail to put a smile on your face and make you a little teary eyed as a result of all the happy emotions running through you.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think maybe a high 3, but I'll still stick with 3.

I liked the idea of this and I reallllly liked some of the ideas that were touched on, but there was a lot going on and I didn't feel like it was satisfactorily wrapped up in the end. Maybe it needed to be just about Jaden without the story of the new adoption. Or maybe it could've been about the family's decision to adopt another child and Jaden dealing with everything then.

But yeah. I liked being in Jaden's head. I thought most of that was done really well. It just needed to be longer. Or else more specific in its scope.

[Washington Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

The joys, pains and ever-shifting dynamics of family life prove fertile ground, once again, for Cynthia Kadohata. In her new, quietly powerful nove she focuses not on the Japanese American families of “Kira-Kira” (Newbery Medal, 2005) and “The Thing About Luck” (National Book Award, 2013) but on the fragile triad of a boy named Jaden and his adoptive parents. Jaden’s past has left him emotionally numb, cut off from himself and others.

Mary Quattlebaum reviewed it for us: http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...

[Anne Secher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a middle grade for adults.

Jaden is a Romanian adopted boy who refused to feel loved after his mother abandoned him, even though he lives with a couple who deeply show him love. He gets jealous when the three of them go to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby; he thinks that happens because he's not good enough.

This book is properly documented, mental and developmental disorders are perfectly portrayed, as well as the situation of the countries.

It got to my heart; especially for the last 30 pages.

[Suad Shamma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how to feel about this book. On the one hand, it's an important topic, an interesting one even. I liked the way the author displayed all the facts and emotions, how she really tried to show us the different sides of the story so we're never really taking one side over the other. I also liked the fact that it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies with this adoption. That Jaden was actually a difficult kid, who didn't feel like he deserved to be loved, and didn't know how to love either.

I liked the slow development of Jaden as a character. He has many faults, but he also has a good reason for them, given his background. That being said, he has many wonderful traits as well, that even he doesn't realize. I loved his relationship with his mom, and I loved how his relationship transitioned with his dad. Mostly though, I loved how he learned to love in the most unpredictable circumstances.

[Felicity · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a really fast read. A lot of Jaden's thoughts and emotions feel pretty contrived in an effort to explain his mental state, but the book is still easy to breeze through and the sweet ending makes up for most of it.

[Ris Sasaki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I truly appreciate the message that this book is portraying, I had such a hard time connecting with Jaden that the story overall just felt flat for me 😶

[Hannah]

I feel uncomfortable about this one. On the one hand, you really feel the ache, and I love when children's literature presents "bad kids" who aren't caricatures or sociopaths, just kids who genuinely can't manage themselves all the time--you know, like actual, real, live kids. On the other hand, I really worry about a kid reading this and thinking that adoption is this terrible, horrible thing that makes all kids weird? Though on the other hand, it exposes the abusive care situations some children waiting to be adopted are in, so that's good? But then it makes people think that ALL foster and group home situations are like that? I hate having to explain to people that my journey to my family did not include time in a 20/20 Primetime special post-Soviet orphanage. I dunno. I just....this book hurts, and part of that is literary achievement and the other part I can't decide whether it's good or bad.

[Gisbelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provided by the Publisher via Edelweiss

I adored this book. It was my first time reading a book written by Cynthia Kadohata and I was blown away by how magnificent her writing was. I was sucked in from page one and couldn't put it down. For lack of a better word, this book was amazing.

I was in love with the characters as well as the well-written storyline. Jaden was such a great, but sort of also a troubled kid. He had been through a lot at a very young age which messed him up. Penni and Steve, Jaden's adoptive parents, were wonderful characters too. I loved Penni for being so sweet and caring. The other characters were just as delightful, especially the adorable Dimash.

As for the storyline, I enjoyed the flow and the transition from one scene to the next. The wording made reading this book a fun and emotional experience. The ending made me cry because it was so beautiful.

All in all, this was a very pleasant book.

Thanks Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the eGalley.

Blog: YA Obsession

[heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A.m.a.z.i.n.g. story.

One of the reasons why I like to read YA is to remind me how children think. The main character, Jaden, is a very mature but very broken little boy. He goes on an incredible journey with his adopted parents and learns more than he thought he could ever know--what love is and what it feels like.

[Kath (kath_reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jaden was adopted at the age of 8. Now at 12, his adoptive parents decides to adopt a new baby. He and his parents are travelling to Kazakhstan to meet the new member of their family. The problem is the baby is already adoptive by other family when they arrived. They end up choosing another baby. Meanwhile, Jaden meets a 3-year old boy and he starts to bond with him.

The book is written in Jaden’s perspective. He is not an easy kid. He steals and there were times where he set things on fire. He has a hard time accepting his adoptive parents. He also thinks that they’re not anymore happy with him that’s why they’re adopting a new baby. Luckily, they’re very understanding and they love him so much. His emotional struggles and fears of being an adoptee was heartbreaking to read at times. The side characters are also great especially Sam. I liked his bond with Jaden and how his words affects him. I also liked that we get to see glimpses of Kazakhstan culture. The whole international adoption process was interesting to read though I couldn’t comment about the accuracy. Just one thing. I wasn’t sure if Jaden’s parents are ready to adopt a new baby. Jaden is quite a handful. On the other hand, there’s a chance that having new members in the family can help him. But what will happen to Jaden if there’s a problem with the adoption process again? Anyway, this has a happy and beautiful ending so I’ll leave it at that. Middle grade readers are the target audience of this book but I think parental supervision is highly recommended.

[Kathy Mathey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative and heart-wrenching story about the international adoption process...

[Shaghayegh.l3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

داستان درباره‌ی پسریه که به فرزندخوندگی می‌گیرنش و اختلال رفتاری داره و خانوادگی میرن که یه بچه‌ی دیگه رو هم به سرپرستی قبول کنن. موضوع جدیدی بود برام و خوندنی. یه داستان ساده می‌خواستم واسه روزای آخر نمایشگاه و انتظارمو در همون حد برآورده کرد.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a gorgeous little story about international adoption and the emotional challenges that children face when adopted later in childhood. You can't help but love Jaden, even as he struggles to form attachments and exhibits destructive behavior (playing with fire, stealing, lying, etc.) Watching him bond with little Dimash when they travel overseas to adopt a baby is the sweetest thing, and watching Jaden figure out what love feels like and means is emotional and heartbreaking.

[Heenee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd feel more feelz then I did, but still a good read.😅

[Liz Friend · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story: Jaden's family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt another baby, and Jaden knows why: it's because he's such a failure as a son. He's got a whole bunch of terrible habits, but the worst of them is that he can't bring himself to love his adoptive parents, even after all these years. It's only after he meets toddler Dimash at the orphanage, and realizes he's the only one who cares enough to ever make a difference in the boy's life, that Jaden suddenly learns what it's like to care about someone else. Problem is, it doesn't look like it's going to make any difference, which is the worst feeling of all.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G: GLBT content G: adult themes (parental abandonment, disability, third-world conditions) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's a story that will give kids a look into several different worlds: what's it like in a crummy third-world country; what it's like to be adopted from a country like that, and what it's like to be a mystery to yourself and others. This is the kind of story that adults tend to like better than the target audience of kids, but given to the right readers, it will resonate.

[Chloe Quattro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half A World Away is a outstanding book. How you ask well it touches your heart with the simplest story. Jaden, a 12 year old boy adopted from Kazakhstan by Penni and Steve. Jaden has had a rough life from being given up from his mom, because she was bored of him. To being adopted and going to therapist to therapists. Jaden soon discovers that his parents are wanting another kid, Are they bored of me? Am I not good enough? He asks himself, what will Jaden do next?


I believe the book started off slow but I stuck with it through its “boring” beginning but halfway through I didn't want to book down! Cynthia Kadohata, the Author did a marvelous job expressing how Jaden feels through the book. Cynthia Kadohata created a heartwarming character, Sam, who was a role model for Jaden.


If you are leaning towards reading this book do it I promise you if you like sad, cliff hangers, happy ending books your love this one! At times the book made me feel almost like a friend of Jaden’s. Go for it take a look in your school or public library and see if they have it!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half A World Away is a moving portrait of international adoption for middle grade readers.

The story follows Jaden, who was adopted internationally from Romania at the age of eight. Because of the complexity and trauma of his situation he has a lot of emotional and behavioural issues that we follow him through. His parents have decided to adopt a baby from Kazakhstan, and he is sure it's because he has been a disappointment. Most of the novel is set in Kazakhstan as they go through the complicated process of international adoption, with it set specifically around Kazakh law in that regard, meaning they have to spend many weeks there. Jaden makes friends with their driver, who takes him hunting with an eagle. Jaden also bonds with a toddler, not the baby they are adopting, and tries to convince his parents to adopt the toddler instead. It's a story that deals with a lot of subjects, from the difficulties of international adoption, the trauma of a child who was adopted internationally while older, Kazakh culture, and learning to love people when you have deep abandonment issues. It's genuinely quite moving, and it deals with a complicated protagonist that I think many kids that are really struggling will identify with.

I will say, the parents kind of irritated me. I feel like they really were not doing enough to prepare Jaden for the adoption, and while I understand why he wasn't in therapy, this kind of thing should really only have been happening during a time where he was under the guidance of a psychiatrist/therapist/professional of some kind. Doing another international adoption of a baby while your twelve year old struggles in day to day life is probably not the best way to go about things. I do definitely think this was me getting into my own head as an adult reader though.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kirby Heybourne, which I think was really solid. I was a touch worried about the accents, but they avoided feeling weird and stereotypical. His voice did a solid job of bringing the emotional weight to the story while also providing enjoyable voices for the characters.

Overall, this was a moving and compelling story that I flew through, and I think I probably would have enjoyed it when I was at the target age group. I would recommend this in particular for kids who like stories about the real world and real struggles, and it could certainly fit together as part of a collection of books for middle graders on the adoption experience (it's only one viewpoint there, but it definitely represents the experience of some adopters/adoptees).

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful story! It really gives you a perspective on what it's like to be adopted from another country and how the adoption process goes in some countries. It follows a young boy getting used to his adoptive parents as he struggles to accept his real mother abandoning him. When he and his adoptive parents goes to Kazakhstan to adopt his baby brother, he finds himself befriending a wise older man and finds connection with a cute 4 year kid. He starts to realize his life meaning and overcomes his loneliness and becomes the big brother that he was meant to be.

I found this book really meaningful and sad at the same time with all the abandon babies and children. How the adoption agencies have to be quick and make no promises as they are probably overwhelmed with babies and children. Each country has their own adoption laws so they may make no sense to America ways. How different life is between America and countries that are poor and just live with the basic needs.

I hope to find her other books because her writing is really amazing!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful, gut-wrenching book that thankfully left me with some hope. 12 year old Jaden was adopted as a toddler from Romania. He tells the story of the “trouble” he has put his adoptive parents through as he struggled to understand who he was and if he could love. His parents decide to adopt another child from Kazakhstan, and this experience throws Jaden into a tailspin. This book gave me such insight into the pain and love of such adoptions. I had a student a few years ago who reminds me of Jaden, and Jaden’s conversations with himself broke my heart. There is hope in the book, and I kind of wish there were a sequel to see how everything turns out.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts off sad and continues to have sad moments throughout the book. I listened to this book on audio, and I enjoyed the narrator. I also learned a little bit about international adoption, and the hardships one could have when trying to adopt. The story had funny moments, and characters that I did like (like Sam). However there were some things and statements that I didn't agree with. I think all in all it was a nice read. I don't think I would recommend it for a middle grader though. (3.5 star)

[Frederike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realizing I am not the target audience, I wholeheartedly encourage you to read this book if you are interested in adoption, especially reading about it from the child's perspective, and to be more precise adoption from a foreign country, because you learn something about Kazachstan along the way

[Nurhayati Ramlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.8 stars

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly captures many of the feelings and complexities of that can be associated with adoption. The central theme of love as a choice is beautiful. Might need some tissues.

[Sherry Guice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the main character and his story as well as his family's. I thought the book ended abruptly--I would have liked to have a couple more chapters...