Well I wasn’t expecting that...this book kept me reading and I would never have guessed the ending. I will definitely be recommending to my pupils! A great read.p

A story about friendship, about fear and loss, and the trauma that comes along with it. I enjoyed reading about Clara's island life, about this tight-knit community that is so woven around itself that everything impacts everyone.

I liked reading about Clara. She is the vessel that the story is told through and she is a brilliant representation of the struggle of prepubescent. She lashes out, she struggles with her emotions, she believes stories told but she is outspoken and strong and isn't afraid of speaking out when its needed.

The way her relationships are displayed are very honest. The struggles with her parents, the barrier of friendship groups, the ease of make belief that brings people together. Kereen Getten shows the good and the bad of friendships and is honest about it.

I read this book in less than a day. It's a quick read that really feels tight and full of care in the type of story that is being told. And that plot twist honestly surprised me. I really couldn't have predicted it and I enjoyed that moment of not figuring out, and yet looking back and seeing the signs. It's around here where - slight spoilers I guess - that a deeper notion is displayed and I think handled really well.

When Life Gives You Mangoes is a book you can't put down. As an adult, I enjoyed it immensely and I can see the benefits that this story would bring to a young girl, looking at someone like her, whether it in appearance, in location, or personal struggle.

A poignant story of friendship, loss and the importance of family. When Life Gives You Mangoes is a cleverly written book with some unexpected surprises for the reader.

The story follows Clara, a twelve year old girl with mysterious memory loss. Living in Jamaica, we follow Clara and learn about life on the island: her daily routines, her friendships and the hardships she faces. We are left wondering about her changing friendships, her enigmatic uncle and her problematic behaviour.

It is very different from anything I’ve read in middle grade fiction before and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I can honestly say I could not predict the ending and I had to take a minute to collect myself after the unveiling of some of Kereen Getten’s twists!

I will definitely add it to my Year 5 bookshelf, although the themes and plot line may be a little too complex for some. I would recommend this book for readers aged 10 and over. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.

WOW, WOW, WOW! THE TWIST! I absolutely adored this book, I was hooked from the very first page, so much so that I devoured it in just a couple of hours.
Clara is a loveable, strong female chracater, whom you immediately champion. She is the kind of character you want to be your friend- witty, straight-talking and kind-hearted. Whilst reading, I could easily imagine myself walking around the village with Clara, so beautiful is the description.
I must admit this is the first children's fiction I have read in a while and I was unsure what to expect but this really blew adult's fiction out of the water, it has been a long time since I have been so enthralled in a book, bravo Kereen Getten.
I absolutely cannot wait to purchase this for my classroom and for my equally book-loving niece!

I wish I would have enjoyed this more. The premise surrounding Clara's life sounded promising but I wasn't a fan of the 'supernatural' element that was included and especially not how her uncle was portrayed because it felt to me very stigmatizing. Especially in middle-grade novels I'm always hesitant when mental health is portrayed with the help of supernatural elements like being able to talk to the dead because even though it wasn't the intention of the author, I didn't like how the uncle was ostracized for what he saw that no one else could see and that Clara unknowingly followed into his footsteps.
That being said, I did like the prose and the friendship between Rudy and Clara as well as Clara's parents, so I'd love to read something else by Getten in the future.

Thank you for the ARC which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Kereen’s wonderful MG debut fully immerses you into the beautiful island of Jamaica and the intriguing life of Clara and her troubled relationship with her best friend Gaynah.

Intwined within their turbulent friendship runs the slightly menacing mystery of why Clara can’t remember the events of last summer and why Gaynah has begun teasing and alienating her.

Kereen adeptly captures the frustration of how friendships change as we grow and change and masterfully twists the storyline to ultimately surprise, entice and please the reader.

I adored this book and had to read in one sitting. Fantastic.

This is a very lovely middle grade I found the story incredibly easy to read and interesting.

I think everybody was talking about this book and built the hype up for me so I went in with a bit of concern as I don't usually enjoy hyped books as much as usual... However I will admit this book was one that I found to be worthy of the hype.

The big twist that happens in this book was shocking emotional and I'm so glad that this story came into a middle grade.

The only reason it didn't hit 5-stars for me was because I felt that the revelation came a bit late and that there was a lack of build-up had it come into the story earlier and had more exploration of emotions I think it would have hit 5 Stars for me.

A beautiful story about friendship, change and moving past your fears.

A new girl has moved to town, Clara's best friend isn't speaking to her, and she can't remember what happened last summer. As the new summer's events unfold, Clara will learn about friendship, herself, and moving on from dark events of the past.

Getten explores the complexity of friendship, of arguing with those you love, but still valuing them more than anything, in a way that feels completely real and absorbing. Friends are everything when you are Clara's age, and When Life Gives You Mangoes reflects this throughout. Clara also has to learn about making new friends and opening yourself up to new people, in way that will feel real and relatable to everyone who reads.

Sycamore is a hot, vivid setting which will will add some much-needed summer to your autumn. This close knit community is almost a character in its own right. The story celebrates the importance of community, of coming together, forgiveness, and moving on.

I've struggled to write this review as I wanted to keep it spoiler free - When Life Gives You Mangoes has a really, really, really good twist that had made me want to start the entire story all over again.

It is a special, lovely story that I would recommend without hesitation.

Thank you so much Pushkin Children's Books for sending me an advanced copy to review via NetGalley.

Well this was gorgeous; I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down! It’s written so beautifully I feel like I can really see Sycamore in my mind, and all its wonderful residents - I want to go there! The twist near the end came absolutely out of the blue and was not what I was expecting at all - it blew me away! After that though I was a little confused by the timeline and timing of things but it wasn’t a major deal. I love love love Rudy! Thank you to Pushkin Press for granting me a review copy through NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC. I really enjoyed this book and found it very atmospheric and engrossing, and the underlying plot was well written and there were some definite surprises. I did not see the main twist coming at all and I wanted to go back and re-read once I'd found everything out. I loved the establishment of Sycamore as well and the details of the village; it really felt like every character had a part to play and there was a deep sense of community and family. The description was very vivid and colourful and I loved seeing the world through Clara's eyes. I don't usually read middle grade but I am trying to read more and this was a fantastic example of how engaging and thrilling middle grade novels can be for kids as well as adults. Well done Kereen Getten!

When Life Gives You Mangoes' is story about a long, hot summer on a tropical island, going on adventures, falling out, and making friends. However...all is not as it seems.

Twelve-year-old Clara lives on a Carribean island in a village called 'Sycamore'.' She spends her time playing 'Pick Leaf' and sharing stories with her best friend Gaynah in their secret hideout in the Mango trees but Gaynah hasn't been very nice to her recently.

Something has happened to Clara.something traumatic...and she can't remember anything of last summer. She struggles to put together the missing pieces, suffering terrible flashbacks.

"Sometimes things come back in drips like a tap that hasn't been turned off properly. Other times her Mama fills in the blanks...only she knows those aren't her memories and it is hard feeling like she is not like everybody else."

Right from the very first chapter, the intrigue is built when we discover Clara's uncle Eldorath, 'the man who sees ghosts' has been branded a witch doctor by the local Pastor and was driven out of the community. We are also introduced to the mysterious new girl who has just arrived on the island 'with her two Afro buns and cat's-eye sunglasses like a celebrity.'

'When Life Gives You Mangoes' is a real page turner as the suspense builds and we get closer to finding what happened to Clara. I was continuously puzzling over different possibilities and I had to resist the temptation on more than one occasion to flick ahead as I couldn't wait to find out! I'm being careful not to reveal too much but the twist at the end of Chapter 20 is utterly staggering! I did not see it coming at all. I had to then go back and re-read Chapters and then I spotted the subtle hints and everything made sense.

This book is a wonderfully exciting opportunity to share a story from another culture with Upper Primary pupils. The fact that it is written by a BAME author, based on the small Jamaican fishing village she grew up in, makes every detail completely authentic. I absolutely adored the development of the island setting; the bustling markets, fishermen landing fresh catches on golden sandy beaches and beach bars open late into the night hosting live bands. There was also inclusion of the island's colonial history; the old plantation house and Fort Charlotte, the look-out point with her cannons by the sea. Equally delightful are the details about culture; the Afro haircuts, delicious dishes of Akee and Saltfish and the strong family bonds. The strong sense of community and wanting to well-standing within it is also a theme that runs throughout.

Having married into a Gambian family, I enjoyed seeing the similarities between West African and West Indian culture, including the matriarchal mothers, countless cousins, huge family parties and how family members have travelled abroad to settle in Europe and America with gifts and money being sent 'back home.'

As well as the entirely gripping mystery and suspense, 'When Life Gives You Mangoes' allows children to experience Afro-Caribbean culture and explore some of the history of colonial Britain. This was a fantastic debut by Kereen Getten and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press publishing for giving me a digital copy to read in advance in exchange for my review.

This book!!! I am not okay. Kereen Getten has left me in absolute shambles. I know I’m going to be thinking about this book for days.

I discovered the book when it popped up in my IG stories as a promoted post, and the cover is so stunning that it stopped me in my tracks. Then the title caught me, because hello...mangoes. So then I had to learn more and got to looking up with it was about.

The main character, twelve-year-old Clara, lives in rural Jamaica, near the sea, and she loves doing typical island things, eating mangoes, running around in the rain, going to the beach and hanging out with her best friend. What’s not typical for Clara is that she’s having memory trouble, is now afraid of water and can’t remember what happened to her a year ago; but this summer things are going to change because there’s a new girl in town and she’s not like everyone else.

I got access to an eARC from Pushkin Press via Net Galley and decided to spend Jamaica’s independence day (August 6) reading a book by a Jamaican author. While the book is recommended (on Amazon) for ages 8 - 12 years old, it can definitely be enjoyed by anyone who just loves a good story.

As a Jamaican, it reads like home and if you check out @kezywrites’ IG story on Jamaica, you can tell that this book is a love letter to the place she grew up. From the summer storms and hurricanes and the sense of community as everyone comes together to help out one of their own, to the colonial relics of a nearby English fort and neighbourhood gossip, Kereen is clearly a local and she’s written this book to share her world with you.

The cover art is by Bex Glendining (@lgions on IG) whose work is absolutely exquisite, and what makes her even cooler is that she’s done a bit of embroidery work too, which I’ve been obsessed with lately.

I don’t want to give too much away, because it’s not due for release until September 15, 2020 (Delacorte) and October 1, 2020 (Pushkin Press), but take my advice and set the date in your calendar or preorder this book because you don’t want to miss it.

THE TWIST!! I rarely gasp audibly when reading books, let alone a middle grade, but this one SHOOK ME.

This follows Clara who lost her memory of a storm that happened the summer before. Because of this, she is usually teased on her island, even from her best friend, Gaynah. Something happened to her and we don't really know what or why it's changed Clara.

I don't typically read contemporary but I was sent this ARC from Pushkin Press (so thank you so much because I LOVED this) in exchange for an honest review, and honestly, I AM STILL THINKING ABOUT THE END OF CHAPTER TWENTY!

The intrigue in this was super high because I really wanted to know what happened to Clara, and I loved the unfolding of that mystery and how it plays out. It was SO well done, so major props to Kereen Getten for writing a very atmospheric middle grade. I loved the setting of the island and the feel of community in this, I found it so very sensory and it helped me to really invest in the story and characters.

When my daughter was younger, I read a lot of middle-grade books, but now that she is a teenager, I have fallen a bit out of the habit. And this book shows why it is such a shame. I loved the setting and the depiction of friendship and close village bonds and how easy it is to become an outsider and how difficult it is to find your way back in again. Having grown-up in a small village myself (although in a very different part of the world), I recognised so many of the dynamics, especially the power and sway the priest holds in a small Christian community. A lovely read about overcoming your demons and belonging.

My 9 year old daughter thoroughly enjoyed this and is looking forward to future books by Kereen Getten. Very moving, giving children an introduction to refugees, war and torn families. A lovely happy ending.

Great book and very atmospheric. I was impressed by the writing and i know that the children will really enjoy reading this book. It was descriptive yet the writing flowed beautifully. There was a quietness to it which is welcomed in this day and age. A perfect read for a reader who wants more than just crazy zany stories.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have one word to describe this book - INCREDIBLE!!

I did not see the twist coming at all, and as a middle grade book I didn’t expect the themes present.

I would definitely recommend people of all ages to read this, and I will be on the look out for more books by Kereen.

I thought this would be an excellent read for nowadays as I'm stuck in my London flat and missing the hot weather terribly. And the blurb of this book seemed so lovely. But I found myself looking for more in-depth characters and a more engaging story. I guess I'm not very familiar with middle-grade stories and it felt rather like an easy read.

Nonetheless, I like the twist, and I believe it would help many young people who lost someone.

12 Year Old Clara Dee lives on an exotic Island. She lives in a small community with her mum and dad. Shes a girl who loves to go on adventures with her best friend Gaynah but has trouble remembering what happened last summer. Her parents want to give her time to remember but she starts to 'misbehave' and they seek help. This summer Clara goes on the biggest adventure of her life...

A book filled with mystery, friendship and loss, Getten takes us on a journey of how a young girl starts to remember what happened last summer. This book is such an enjoyable read and when I tell you the plot twist had me SCREAMING! The Island and the community is the perfect setting for this mystery as we see it through Clara's eyes.

Seeing how the mystery unravels has been so fun to read through. I was so invested in the story and characters. I felt like I was there with Clara! There's definitely a few lessons to be learnt with this story.

5/5 Would recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review ✨

This was such a nice surprise! The plot, the writing, the characters, everything was so so good and enjoyable. This delved into so many deep topics and I feel they were dealt with so well. The pacing was really nice and there was never a point where I felt bored reading this.

I think the story was so well thought out and that plot twist?? Wow I was so caught of guard and I LOVE it! I love when books take an unexpected turn and I loved that sense of tension with wondering what happened to Clara.

I really enjoyed this read and will definitely be picking up a physical copy when this is released!