What do you think?
Rate this book
Into the Tall, Tall Grass
A girl journeys across her family’s land to save her grandmother’s life.
Yolanda Rodríguez-O’Connell has a secret. All the members of her family have a magical gift—all, that is, except for Yolanda. Still, it’s something she can never talk about, or the townsfolk will call her family brujas—witches. When her grandmother, Wela, falls into an unexplained sleep, Yolanda is scared. Her father is off fighting in a faraway war, her mother died long ago, and Yolanda has isolated herself from her best friend and twin sister. If she loses her grandmother, who will she have left?
When a strange grass emerges in the desert behind their house, Wela miraculously wakes, begging Yolanda to take her to the lone pecan tree left on their land. Determined not to lose her, Yolanda sets out on this journey with her sister, her ex-best friend, and a boy who has a crush on her. But what is the mysterious box that her grandmother needs to find? And how will going to the pecan tree make everything all right?
Yolanda Rodríguez-O’Connell has a secret. All the members of her family have a magical gift—all, that is, except for Yolanda. Still, it’s something she can never talk about, or the townsfolk will call her family brujas—witches. When her grandmother, Wela, falls into an unexplained sleep, Yolanda is scared. Her father is off fighting in a faraway war, her mother died long ago, and Yolanda has isolated herself from her best friend and twin sister. If she loses her grandmother, who will she have left?
When a strange grass emerges in the desert behind their house, Wela miraculously wakes, begging Yolanda to take her to the lone pecan tree left on their land. Determined not to lose her, Yolanda sets out on this journey with her sister, her ex-best friend, and a boy who has a crush on her. But what is the mysterious box that her grandmother needs to find? And how will going to the pecan tree make everything all right?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2020
15 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 7, 2019
Well, this is my book and I've put my heart and and soul into it. So of course I'm rating it a 5! :)
August 3, 2019
I got to read Ryon's book prepublication, and I am so happy I did. In this middle grade full of magical realism, Yolanda must take her abuela to the pecan tree at the edge of their property to set things right. This book has it all: magical butterflies, girls in STEM, family secrets, LGBT characters, naughty little dogs, and machetes. Along their journey (teamed with her sister, her ex best friend, and a cinnamon roll boy) Wela tells the story of the pecan tree and finding one's magical gifts.
This is a beautiful debut!!! Read it! Read it! Read it!
This is a beautiful debut!!! Read it! Read it! Read it!
May 31, 2020
Lovely and imaginative.
April 8, 2020
What I Liked:
Yolanda – I found so many things about Into the Tall, Tall Grass‘s MC relatable. This twelve year old is bright, opinionated, and struggles to express her feelings. Life hasn’t felt right ever since Yolanda’s grandfather past away. Her grandmother has fallen ill, her best friend dumped her for her twin sister, Sonja, and she’s still waiting for her family gift to appear. Yolanda is prone to jealousy, is desperate for someone to truly understand her, and just wants everything to go back to the way it was before.
Friendships tested – Yolanda and her best friend, Ghita, had a falling out and the former isn’t sure she wants to be mend this friendship. There is so much heartache on both sides of this relationship. I loved that both girls are allowed to feel resentful and angry, but also must learn where the other person is coming from before their friendship can be restored.
Grandparent-grandchild relationships – These were my favorite relationships in the novel to read about. From Yolanda’s special bond with her grandfather, who has been the only one to truly understand her, to Sonja’s relationship with her grandmother that has taken on a mentor-mentee dynamic, these bonds run so deep and have so many different layers.
Sister relationship – Yolanda and Sonja are at odds for much of the story, but it was so touching to see them find each other again. Much like Yolanda’s relationship with Ghita, this bond has been severed for all the wrong reasons, but at the end of the day, these two sisters will need each other going forward.
First crushes – Yolanda has an incredibly sweet first crush on Ghita’s brother Hasik. He’s very sweet and sees Yolanda as remarkable even when she doesn’t always see it herself. I was so happy to see a sapphic first crush explored in this middle grade. Sonja and Ghita have become more than friends, but there are still plenty of issues they have to work though.
Discussions on grief – This middle grade novel is hard hitting in the grief department. Yolanda is still grieving over her grandfather’s death and now her grandmother’s illness.
Multi-generational story – I really appreciated that this wasn’t just Yolanda’s story, but hers was just one piece of a very long, wearsome and yet hopeful story of the entire Rodríguez clan. Also appreciated that the adult characters were not perfect and that the author did not shy away from revealing their flaws to the younger characters.
The writing – The story felt magical from the very beginning. Not only does Ryon capture the tumulteous feelings of adolescence, but her descriptions of the pecan orchard of the past and the mysterious grassland that springs forth and which Yolander and her friends must journey through were so well illustrated that it was easy to fall both into the story.
Final Verdict: Weaving together stories of the past and the present, Loriel Ryon’s Into the Tall, Tall Grass is an unforgettable tale of a young girl faced with the reality of loss and grief; bittersweet at its center but written with honesty and compassion.
Yolanda – I found so many things about Into the Tall, Tall Grass‘s MC relatable. This twelve year old is bright, opinionated, and struggles to express her feelings. Life hasn’t felt right ever since Yolanda’s grandfather past away. Her grandmother has fallen ill, her best friend dumped her for her twin sister, Sonja, and she’s still waiting for her family gift to appear. Yolanda is prone to jealousy, is desperate for someone to truly understand her, and just wants everything to go back to the way it was before.
Friendships tested – Yolanda and her best friend, Ghita, had a falling out and the former isn’t sure she wants to be mend this friendship. There is so much heartache on both sides of this relationship. I loved that both girls are allowed to feel resentful and angry, but also must learn where the other person is coming from before their friendship can be restored.
Grandparent-grandchild relationships – These were my favorite relationships in the novel to read about. From Yolanda’s special bond with her grandfather, who has been the only one to truly understand her, to Sonja’s relationship with her grandmother that has taken on a mentor-mentee dynamic, these bonds run so deep and have so many different layers.
Sister relationship – Yolanda and Sonja are at odds for much of the story, but it was so touching to see them find each other again. Much like Yolanda’s relationship with Ghita, this bond has been severed for all the wrong reasons, but at the end of the day, these two sisters will need each other going forward.
First crushes – Yolanda has an incredibly sweet first crush on Ghita’s brother Hasik. He’s very sweet and sees Yolanda as remarkable even when she doesn’t always see it herself. I was so happy to see a sapphic first crush explored in this middle grade. Sonja and Ghita have become more than friends, but there are still plenty of issues they have to work though.
Discussions on grief – This middle grade novel is hard hitting in the grief department. Yolanda is still grieving over her grandfather’s death and now her grandmother’s illness.
Multi-generational story – I really appreciated that this wasn’t just Yolanda’s story, but hers was just one piece of a very long, wearsome and yet hopeful story of the entire Rodríguez clan. Also appreciated that the adult characters were not perfect and that the author did not shy away from revealing their flaws to the younger characters.
The writing – The story felt magical from the very beginning. Not only does Ryon capture the tumulteous feelings of adolescence, but her descriptions of the pecan orchard of the past and the mysterious grassland that springs forth and which Yolander and her friends must journey through were so well illustrated that it was easy to fall both into the story.
Final Verdict: Weaving together stories of the past and the present, Loriel Ryon’s Into the Tall, Tall Grass is an unforgettable tale of a young girl faced with the reality of loss and grief; bittersweet at its center but written with honesty and compassion.
August 14, 2019
I gave myself a week to read Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon. And I finished it in two days. It would’ve been just one day, if it weren’t for hosting company, because I did. not. want. to put this book down. This story casts its own magic on the reader, enchanting you from the very first page.
Yolanda’s abuela, Wela, is asleep and she can’t awaken. We’re introduced to the family gift through the butterflies who’ve made a home of Wela’s hair. You see, there’s a genetic trait that goes along the Rodriguez-line—one that can make bees and butterflies follow someone for all their lives, or one that can make someone put their hands on a cactus and make its fruit ripen, tender and sweet, or heal serious wounds in minutes.
Everyone has a gift except for Yolanda. And that doesn’t bother her one little bit, she swears. And even if it did, she’s got better things to worry about—because Wela is dying, and the only thing that can help is if Yolanda takes her to the last standing pecan tree in their long-gone pecan farm. Joining her are her sister, Sonja, her ex-best friend, Ghita, and last but not least, Hasik, a boy she maybe likes back.
This is a strange land, Wela says, and the land is getting stranger by the minute, with grass growing so quickly, you can hear it, a house disappearing for no reason at all, and how it seems you can walk for miles and get basically nowhere. Yolanda needs time if she’s going to save her grandmother—but it seems like time is the one thing she doesn’t have enough of.
It’s difficult to categorize this book because it contains such multitudes. Yes, it's got wild magical realism—but the characters adore science, studying DNA and cures for illnesses and how to logically explain their experience in the world. The story captures the thrill of a first crush, but also the heartbreak of grief and loss. The tale Wela tells of her life is just as enrapturing as Yolanda’s story, both woven together to make this book un-put-downable.
Yolanda doesn’t realize it yet, but by taking her Wela to the pecan tree, she’s healing her broken heart and all the relationships in her life. And, perhaps, that’s what this book is about most: healing, by discovering and accepting who you are. And instead of running from life, learning to welcome it and everything it brings: the magic and the science, the heartbreak and the love.
I already plan on recommending Into the Tall, Tall Grass to everyone I’ve ever met. I know this book and its magnificent prose will stay with me for a long time, having woven its magic on me like the inexplicable appearance of crackling, magic grass.
Yolanda’s abuela, Wela, is asleep and she can’t awaken. We’re introduced to the family gift through the butterflies who’ve made a home of Wela’s hair. You see, there’s a genetic trait that goes along the Rodriguez-line—one that can make bees and butterflies follow someone for all their lives, or one that can make someone put their hands on a cactus and make its fruit ripen, tender and sweet, or heal serious wounds in minutes.
Everyone has a gift except for Yolanda. And that doesn’t bother her one little bit, she swears. And even if it did, she’s got better things to worry about—because Wela is dying, and the only thing that can help is if Yolanda takes her to the last standing pecan tree in their long-gone pecan farm. Joining her are her sister, Sonja, her ex-best friend, Ghita, and last but not least, Hasik, a boy she maybe likes back.
This is a strange land, Wela says, and the land is getting stranger by the minute, with grass growing so quickly, you can hear it, a house disappearing for no reason at all, and how it seems you can walk for miles and get basically nowhere. Yolanda needs time if she’s going to save her grandmother—but it seems like time is the one thing she doesn’t have enough of.
It’s difficult to categorize this book because it contains such multitudes. Yes, it's got wild magical realism—but the characters adore science, studying DNA and cures for illnesses and how to logically explain their experience in the world. The story captures the thrill of a first crush, but also the heartbreak of grief and loss. The tale Wela tells of her life is just as enrapturing as Yolanda’s story, both woven together to make this book un-put-downable.
Yolanda doesn’t realize it yet, but by taking her Wela to the pecan tree, she’s healing her broken heart and all the relationships in her life. And, perhaps, that’s what this book is about most: healing, by discovering and accepting who you are. And instead of running from life, learning to welcome it and everything it brings: the magic and the science, the heartbreak and the love.
I already plan on recommending Into the Tall, Tall Grass to everyone I’ve ever met. I know this book and its magnificent prose will stay with me for a long time, having woven its magic on me like the inexplicable appearance of crackling, magic grass.
November 3, 2019
A joy to read, this family story uses a sprinkle of magic to keep the reader guessing what mysteries the strange, desert land holds! Twelve-year-old Yolanda seems ordinary, especially in a family whose women have a reputation for mysterious powers. But soon, the girl without a gift will be making a journey that could save her friends, her grandmother, and the whole drought-stricken region. Though many troubles could distract her -- such as a dad who has been deployed, a sister who is distancing herself, and the threat of foster case -- her only thought is to take her dear, dying Wela (abuela/grandma) to the lone pecan tree on so-called Bruja Butte. Yolanda rejects the word bruja, partly because she's scientifically-minded and partly because she knows her grandmother's way with plants is harmless. Her sister's gift is more inconvenient, but Yolanda keeps to her goal of reaching the pecan tree. The tree is special; it's the site of family graves, the remnant of a vast orchard, and the marker of a historic turning point. If Yolanda can bring Wela to the tree, she may discover inner powers she never guessed. With complex relationships, strong story-telling, and emotional honesty, Ryon has built a world that readers will enjoy experiencing!
July 12, 2019
Got to read it early! And I really enjoyed it! I’m ready for the next adventure. Great Job!
November 9, 2021
This book really pulled me in, I could not put it down. Into the Tall, Tall Grass has so much effect on the way you think about people and life. It shows a few important life lessons, such as thinking things through before you do them. As you get to know Yolanda better and Wela's story, I guarantee you, you'll be intrigued by what you find out. Please, read this book!!
February 13, 2022
This book was amazing, I couldn’t put it down! My favorite part was when Wela told stories. It also had a really good ending. I would recommend this book to anyone!
November 4, 2019
Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC of this book.
I was drawn to this book because I love to read intergenerational stories, especially those from cultures with which I'm not familiar. The women in the Rodriguez family all have special gifts, including Yolanda's twin sister, Sonja, who has a special ability with plants and insects like their grandmother, Wela.
But Wela has been unconscious for a couple of weeks, and the neighbor who's been caring for the girls while trying to contact their father (who is deployed overseas) decides its time to call a social worker. Mysteriously one night, just before the girls and Wela are set to relocate, Wela awakes and tells Yolanda that all will be right if she can just get to the pecan tree on the far end of their property. The result is a journey through a land that becomes strange and unfamiliar, with unexpected company, secret revelations, and unanticipated discoveries that will affect everyone along the way.
The journey is such an awakening for Yolanda, and I loved watching her slowly let go and develop in her own way as the story progresses. The healing that comes from the family stories, as well as growth from confronting secrets and misunderstandings, is heartwarming. I loved the magical elements, especially the story behind the pecan tree. I also like that there is a same sex relationship and that it played an important role in the story but was not the central focus of it.
INTO THE TALL, TALL GRASS is recommended for fans of THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH, and I would definitely recommend this story for middle grade collections.
I was drawn to this book because I love to read intergenerational stories, especially those from cultures with which I'm not familiar. The women in the Rodriguez family all have special gifts, including Yolanda's twin sister, Sonja, who has a special ability with plants and insects like their grandmother, Wela.
But Wela has been unconscious for a couple of weeks, and the neighbor who's been caring for the girls while trying to contact their father (who is deployed overseas) decides its time to call a social worker. Mysteriously one night, just before the girls and Wela are set to relocate, Wela awakes and tells Yolanda that all will be right if she can just get to the pecan tree on the far end of their property. The result is a journey through a land that becomes strange and unfamiliar, with unexpected company, secret revelations, and unanticipated discoveries that will affect everyone along the way.
The journey is such an awakening for Yolanda, and I loved watching her slowly let go and develop in her own way as the story progresses. The healing that comes from the family stories, as well as growth from confronting secrets and misunderstandings, is heartwarming. I loved the magical elements, especially the story behind the pecan tree. I also like that there is a same sex relationship and that it played an important role in the story but was not the central focus of it.
INTO THE TALL, TALL GRASS is recommended for fans of THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH, and I would definitely recommend this story for middle grade collections.
July 27, 2020
This will work for so many people, but I think I expected less fantastical/magical realism elements. That’s on me, but I couldn’t get past many of those parts. The bits of story from the main character’s Wela were the best parts. I wanted to like and care about the main group of kids more.
April 10, 2020
A beautiful story about heartbreak, grief, loss, sisterhood, and friendship. All wrapped up in some magical realism! <3
October 10, 2020
Full review and photo can be found on TOMES AND TEXTILES.
MINI REVIEW: Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon is a delightful middle grade novel focused on Yolanda Rodríguez-O’Connell, who is a STEM girl all the way. When her grandmother (Wela) falls ill, she delves into her magical world when she must take her to the pecan tree at the edge of their property. Things are not what they seem and Yolando, her sister Sonja, and their two best friends end up on a journey that you simply must read to believe. This story of intergenerational family history, irreparable grief, family and friendship. It's sweet and wonderful and like reading a hug. Bonus points for including a sweet, sapphic storyline as well.
Follow me on bookstagram TOMES AND TEXTILES.
MINI REVIEW: Into the Tall, Tall Grass by Loriel Ryon is a delightful middle grade novel focused on Yolanda Rodríguez-O’Connell, who is a STEM girl all the way. When her grandmother (Wela) falls ill, she delves into her magical world when she must take her to the pecan tree at the edge of their property. Things are not what they seem and Yolando, her sister Sonja, and their two best friends end up on a journey that you simply must read to believe. This story of intergenerational family history, irreparable grief, family and friendship. It's sweet and wonderful and like reading a hug. Bonus points for including a sweet, sapphic storyline as well.
Follow me on bookstagram TOMES AND TEXTILES.
November 19, 2020
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Into the Tall, Tall Grass is magical realism at its best. Yolanda struggles with so many real-life issues: the death of her abuelo and her abuela's serious illness, the loss of a friendship, sibling rivalry, budding romance, her military father's absence, and so much more. Add to that a touch of magic---all of Yolanda's family members except for her have magical gifts---and you have a recipe for a story filled with wonder. This is definitely a quiet tale---the plot revolves around Yolanda's desire to save her Wela by bringing her out to the lone remaining pecan tree past the strange tall, tall grass on their property, and there are certainly some obstacles along the way, but the true story is Yolanda learning about her family's mysterious past and coming to terms with the emotional ramifications of her broken relationships. The secrets of the past (both Yolanda's recent past and her abuela's past) unravel slowly throughout the book, which keeps you turning the pages. And the bittersweet emotional payoff in the end is utterly wonderful!
Into the Tall, Tall Grass is magical realism at its best. Yolanda struggles with so many real-life issues: the death of her abuelo and her abuela's serious illness, the loss of a friendship, sibling rivalry, budding romance, her military father's absence, and so much more. Add to that a touch of magic---all of Yolanda's family members except for her have magical gifts---and you have a recipe for a story filled with wonder. This is definitely a quiet tale---the plot revolves around Yolanda's desire to save her Wela by bringing her out to the lone remaining pecan tree past the strange tall, tall grass on their property, and there are certainly some obstacles along the way, but the true story is Yolanda learning about her family's mysterious past and coming to terms with the emotional ramifications of her broken relationships. The secrets of the past (both Yolanda's recent past and her abuela's past) unravel slowly throughout the book, which keeps you turning the pages. And the bittersweet emotional payoff in the end is utterly wonderful!
February 9, 2022
AMAZING book. I would recommend it to people who like adventure.
February 25, 2020
A magical journey overflowing with love, unfaltering hope, and agonizing heartbreak, INTO THE TALL, TALL GRASS (releasing April 7th) by Loriel Ryon is a beautiful debut that’s impossible to forget. Yolanda and her twin sister, Sonja, have already experienced enormous loss in their young lives. When Yolanda is presented with an opportunity to save her Wela and make everything “all right” at home, she sets out to bring her grandmother to the last pecan tree standing on their vast property...but curious, rampant tall grass begins to grow. Much to her chagrin, Yolanda is joined by her sister and two neighbors (an ex-best friend and their brother), on this incredibly daunting journey, but she soon realizes she would never succeed on her own. Loriel Ryon tells an intriguing story of family, history, and science through magical realism and Wela’s previously secret accounts of her family’s emotional past. I enjoyed reading of each of the characters unique relationships with one another in their distinct voices, their relatable interactions, and appreciated how they grew together and as individuals through the venture. They learned a lot about each other and their gifts, or lack thereof, which allowed them to begin the healing process with honesty and understanding. INTO THE TALL, TALL GRASS is a heartfelt story about life experiences, sisterhood, reflection, and moving on—as difficult as it may be—together.
Read
August 2, 2023Oh wow. Grief, grandmothers, sisterhood, magic, world war 2 love stories, family secrets, and healing. The imagery was gorgeous- I would love to see this in movie form. Beautiful and evocative. The characters were complex and real. I can't believe this is a debut novel. And I'm usually not a fan of magical realism! But it felt so perfect. The middle school girls were treated with dignity and depth.
Elements reminded me of the Wishing Tree trilogy, Savvy, and Evangeline of the Bayou.
Update 2023: read it in four days while traveling. Cried on the plane!<3
Would rec for kids 10+, Encanto fans, people who don’t mind stories about grief/death, and magical realism.
Elements reminded me of the Wishing Tree trilogy, Savvy, and Evangeline of the Bayou.
Update 2023: read it in four days while traveling. Cried on the plane!<3
Would rec for kids 10+, Encanto fans, people who don’t mind stories about grief/death, and magical realism.
March 9, 2020
Yolanda’s family has a strange history of magic. The women have all had special gifts that led the townspeople to call them brujas-witches. Her sister and grandmother, Wela, can control insects and plants, her mother was a healer, but Yolanda so far seems ordinary. This unique and intriguing book is a story within a story as Yolanda’s dying Wela reveals secrets about her own past. When Wela’s dying wish is to be taken to the old pecan tree, four friends set out on a journey of self-discovery and love.
April 7, 2020
Magical realism at its best, Into The Tall Tall Grass is the story of friendship, frenemies, first love and family. It's about trust, love, and learning to find the magic inside yourself. An intergenerational tale the book explores the rich terrain of what it means to inherit abilities from your family.
This upper middle grade novel explores the rich terrain of finding your own truth while looking to the past to understand who you are.
A wonderful read for upper middle grade readers who are ready for more mature themes of love, death and exploring your own truth.
This upper middle grade novel explores the rich terrain of finding your own truth while looking to the past to understand who you are.
A wonderful read for upper middle grade readers who are ready for more mature themes of love, death and exploring your own truth.
November 20, 2019
This book is awesome! I read it to my class and they loved it! This is a great review
Read
January 6, 2020ouch my heart
May 23, 2020
I am not usually one for fiction that includes magical realism but this middle grade novel was amazing. It had other elements that I do enjoy; friendship, romance, sadness, and a satisfying ending. It's about two sisters who come from a long line of family with special abilities. Yolanda hasn't received hers yet. Along with this, the death of her Welo, and her father being gone, she has put up a wall between her twin sister Sonja and her best friend Ghita. In order to save her Wela, Yolanda must venture across their land to the last pecan tree. Along with her sister and friends (Hasik, Ghita's brother), Yolanda is determined to save her family. This book was well-written, full of heart, and was hard to put down. I was rooting for Yolanda the entire time. #Netgalley
July 3, 2020
3.5/5 stars.
Overall a cute story, but nothing too memorable or new. It was a bit predictable at times, and I also felt like it dragged sometimes too.
I liked how the characters were from different races/nationalities. It added diversity. There was also a nice LGBT twist, which my bi heart can always appreciate.
Overall a cute story, but nothing too memorable or new. It was a bit predictable at times, and I also felt like it dragged sometimes too.
I liked how the characters were from different races/nationalities. It added diversity. There was also a nice LGBT twist, which my bi heart can always appreciate.
July 15, 2020
Omg, y’all, READ THIS BOOK. Give it all of the awards! Assign it for all of the assignments! Why isn’t this book getting more attention?? This is a gorgeous story. Also, there is a dog. 🐕
August 14, 2020
Wonderful, magical story of Yolanda, who decides to carry out her grandmother's dying wish set in the striking landscape of New Mexico. Her family has gifts that make people whisper they are witches. Told from Yolanda's perspective with interspersed stories from Wela. And I love a middle-grade novel that addresses the first feelings of love, both for Yolanda and her twin sister, Sonja, who falls for Ghita, Yolanda's best friend.
July 3, 2021
2,5/10
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately it was not what I expected. The story doesn't have a lot of content, it's just not that interesting. The main characters are supposed to be twelve but act and speak as if they were 17. The idea being everything is interesting.
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately it was not what I expected. The story doesn't have a lot of content, it's just not that interesting. The main characters are supposed to be twelve but act and speak as if they were 17. The idea being everything is interesting.
January 28, 2025
The book was truly amazing! It had so many unexpected twists. I loved it!
October 18, 2023
Loriel Ryon's J-fiction magical realism debut is an uncut diamond in the rough. Although she approaches her plot with a bludgeon rather than a scalpel, the depth of her characters-even the side characters-add believable emotion to a story that peels back layer after layer of family, sisterhood, magic, science and the sad tale of the Rodriguez Brujas.
A good book takes a life in your mind and this book is memorable beyond a doubt.
Into the Tall, Tall Grass deserves a spot on your to-read shelf for sure.
A good book takes a life in your mind and this book is memorable beyond a doubt.
Into the Tall, Tall Grass deserves a spot on your to-read shelf for sure.
February 9, 2021
Ooh. I don't know how to feel about this one. I enjoyed the science aspect even though it wasn't my favorite subject. I like it when books get me interested in something I previously wasn't. This centered heavily on grief and healing. I like books that made me cry so this was up my alley. But was it too much grief? I don't know. I have to think about this more. I didn't expect to have a f/f relationship in this middle grade. I thought it was done really well. Overall, I enjoyed this although there is something about this that I'm not sure about.
July 12, 2020
Yolanda’s family has lived on the pecan farm for generations, but they aren’t accepted by the townsfolks who call the brujas, or witches. Yolanda herself seems to have not gotten a magical gift though. Her younger sister has hers, with bees flying around her head and the ability to make plants grow and flower. It’s similar to her Wela’s gift with butterflies. Now though, Yolanda’s family is dwindling with only her sister and grandmother left. As her grandmother falls into a strange sleep, Yolanda sets out on a journey across their property. Joining her is her ex-best friend, her sister whom she also isn’t really speaking to, and a boy who may have a big crush on Yolanda. The grass has magically grown over the last few days, obstructing the view across their land, lengthening the journey to several days rather than hours, and putting real dangers in their path. They must all work together, Wela included, to complete the journey and find the answers to their family puzzle.
Impossible to summarize in any way that makes sense, this novel is a marvel of natural magic, connection to a place, and an in-depth exploration of a family. The connection to nature is evident throughout the novel both in the way that characters can work their magic with insects and plants but also through the grass that grows and the way the land stretches to create a world to explore. Throughout the book there is an intensity, a focus that allows the strange world to become solid and real.
A large part of that intensity is Yolanda herself, a character who holds grudges and demands to walk her own path, even if it’s foolish. She has lost contact with the people she had been closest to in the world, her best friend and sister, and had also lost connection with her grandfather before his death. The journey is just as much about her finding a way back to these people as it is about solving the larger family puzzle.
Strange and unique, this magical realism novel is an enticing summer read. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
Impossible to summarize in any way that makes sense, this novel is a marvel of natural magic, connection to a place, and an in-depth exploration of a family. The connection to nature is evident throughout the novel both in the way that characters can work their magic with insects and plants but also through the grass that grows and the way the land stretches to create a world to explore. Throughout the book there is an intensity, a focus that allows the strange world to become solid and real.
A large part of that intensity is Yolanda herself, a character who holds grudges and demands to walk her own path, even if it’s foolish. She has lost contact with the people she had been closest to in the world, her best friend and sister, and had also lost connection with her grandfather before his death. The journey is just as much about her finding a way back to these people as it is about solving the larger family puzzle.
Strange and unique, this magical realism novel is an enticing summer read. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews