When Life Gives You Mangoes: ‘[A] dreamy evocation of a Caribbean childhood - with a surprise twist' The Times

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Clara lives on an island where everybody knows everybody, and the summer consists of eating mangoes in hideouts and hanging out with your friends. The only downside to Clara's life is that ever since the storm last summer she can't remember anything that happened, not even when prompted by her mother or best friend Gaynah. Can anything stir up her forgotten summer memories? Or are some memories best left in the dark? But what surprised me the most, was the supernatural element in this book. I thought that it was a contemporary but apparently it also has people who can see ghosts? I think at some points the story lulled a little bit and slowed down. But all I can say on that is this book is worth holding out for. There is a plot twist moment I didn’t see coming, and it surprised me. It blew my mind, and it also made everything move along faster afterward again. I loved the plot twist and what themes it explored with it… I can’t say much more, but the ending of this book was incredibly satisfying and perfect for the book overall.

The character developments, were in my opinion a bit rushed but I enjoyed them nonetheless. It’s better to have a rushed character development than to have no character development at all!

I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere for this story. Set on a tropical island, it's filled with descriptions of lush vegetation and heat waves which really added to the colourful vibes of the story. There's also a really strong sense of community scattered throughout which I loved. Everyone helps each other, they all see each other as an extended family (and a lot of the time they actually are family anyway) with the whole village turning up for everyone's life events. It feels safe and loving, making the reader feel safe and cared for too.

I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I felt absolutely immersed and right there with Clara as the story went on. The writing was vivid but simple, without being choppy. I loved the middle-grade aspects of this book, specifically the imaginary/role-play adventures that Clara went on with her friends. While the plot may have lulled in some areas, the writing kept me invested in the story, and had me feeling something akin to nostalgia with the almost-childlike wonder and magic that was incorporated into the story so well. I did really enjoy Kereen Getten's writing. She doesn't talk down to you like you sometimes find in children's books and I enjoyed my time reading this one. Getten lures readers in. Readers occupy pretty much the same position as the island kids, puzzling over clues and gossip but unable to pry out the truth.”— The Bulletin, Starred Review The story about a young girl who can't remember anything from her previous summer after a hurricane.

Kereen Getten Press Reviews

Clara lives on a small, island village, where she loves the people and the memories she's made there. Except, she can't remember anything of what happened last summer, and lately, her best friend, Gaynah, hasn't been treating her like a friend. This summer, however, fate has something different in store for Clara, starting with a new girl coming to the village. Twelve-year-old Clara lives on an island that visitors call exotic. But there's nothing exotic about it to Clara. She loves eating ripe mangos off the ground, running outside in the rain with her Papa during rainy season, and going to her secret hideout with Gaynah--even though lately she's not acting like a best friend. Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Getten’s handling of potentially tough topics like family, disability, and religion is spot-on, weaving important discussions into an adventurous, summery plot that just keeps going.”— SLJ, starred review The plot is nice too. It meanders at the start, as we see Clara going about her daily summer life and seeing the trials and tribulations of a typical 12 year old girl. Her family has some problems, there's tension with the Pastor, but generally it seems a gentle life with a little undercurrent of mystery about last summer and Clara's uncle who lives a solitary outcast life in a big house on the hill. Then that twist comes out of left field and punches you in the gut. Honestly, did not see it coming. At all. It's very well written into the story, almost as though you should have expected it all along and weaves the explanation into the plot quite organically. I just wish it had been explored a bit more, and in great depth.

It's a slow starter but it's a well written book about friendship with a bit of mystery mixed in. Clara is suffering from memory loss and has trouble recalling the events of last summer which have left her shaken. She once loved the water but now has a fear of it. Clara's whole neighborhood seems to be judging her until one day a new girl comes to visit from NY. The new girl Rudy doesn't judge her for her behavior or make her feel inferior. I love that the book was told from Clara’s perspective, it brought to life her inner thinking and personality. I loved how perceptive Clara was in talking us on this journey. Okay, can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is? It’s one the most beautiful books that I’ve ever laid my eyes on.

I loved this book, there's something just so unique and special about it, and Clara's voice is quiet, but powerful. I loved the small town girl / big city girl dynamic as Rudy moves to town and becomes friends with Clara, and neither girl shuns the other's culture, happy to learn from the other. The story is mysterious and has a powerful twist, while also conjuring up moving family relationships' Sunday Times, Children's Book of the Week

I was BLOWN away by the twist at the end. I felt the author did a great job of having more than one thing to keep us interested to the very end. The twist at the end was the absolute best! This follows Clara, a 12 year old girl who lives in a small island village. Clara has no memories of the previous summer and is teased a lot about this, especially by her best friend Gaynah. Something happened last summer – something big – but Clara cannot remember what. She’s fallen out with her best friend Gaynah because of it, and Clara feels like she’s a problem that everyone is trying to fix.When a quirky girl called Rudy arrives from England, everything starts to change. Gaynah stops acting like a best friend, while Rudy and Clara roam across the island and uncover an old family secret.