Becoming Naomi Leon

Ryan, Pam Munoz. 2004. Becoming Naomi Leon. New York: Scholastic. 0439269695.

Plot Summary
Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw lives with her great-grandmother and brother in Lemon Tree, California. Her estranged mother shows up at their trailer home after seven years without word or support. Gram and the mother, Terri Lynn now renamed Skyla, struggle to understand each other's place in the children's lives and futures. When Skyla's ill-intentions become clear, Gram brings the children and friends down to Oaxaca, Mexico in search of the only other living relative, their father. The story unfolds through Naomi's perspective as she learns how much of her life is influenced by the two parents she has never known.

Critical Analysis
This is a story of a strong, creative young girl who is at the stage in her life discovering who she is and why. Ryan creates a vivid tale, rich with supporting characters of substance and relationships that influence and support Naomi's struggle. It is clear that she is close to her Gram and brother, Owen as well as her Gram's friends and neighbors. The family structure, although less than ordinary, reads natural and significant to the story and Ryan's desire to create an alternative view of family and identity.

The mother is abusive, confused and weak and although she has done little to show her love to her children, they love her with the longing of children who want to know her. The father is a Mexican fisherman who Ryan illustrates as a loving and kind wood carver, wise and fatherly to the children when he finally gets to reconnect. The great-grandmother is a strong mother/father role in their lives and yet is described in a fluid, loving way. Despite poverty and unusual situations, Gram clearly does what is best for the children with all her heart and tough love. Both children develop quirky but important daily habits of coping with their slightly abnormal circumstances: Owen sticks tape to his shirts to keep himself together, Naomi makes lists in her notebook. Both are highly probable and clever.

The story evolves well. The location and identities of the characters are significant and yet, universal. The author shares the children's understanding of themselves through Naomi's voice that is both wiser than her years, and yet struggling like a child her age might do. The descriptions of the Mexican celebrations and daily life are rich, colorful and true to form. She creates a wonderful tale that celebrates a situation that would be quite true and yet difficult to develop realistically. Ryan never falls into the trap of describing relationships in a superficial or ethnically stereotypical way. Naomi's voice is ripe with observations from the eyes of a child sometimes and from the eyes of one who understands so much.

The author does a beautiful job of laying the plot out. Divided into chapters by the names of clever animal's characteristics, the author subtly incorporates Naomi's interests and identity into her interactions with others. The Mexican-American connection is apparent and important to the characters but does not outweigh the other factors. Well done.

Review Excerpts

"Characterization is excellent and listeners will be happy that Naomi finds confidence, love, and security. A good choice for most collections."–B. Allison Gray, School Library Journal

"In true mythic tradition, Ryan, the author of the award-winning Esperanza Rising (2000), makes Naomi's search for her dad a search for identity, and both are exciting. Mom is demonized, but the other characters are more complex, and the quest is heartbreaking." - Hazel Rochman, Booklist (both reviews from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0439269970/sr=8-2/qid=1183428404/ref=dp_proddesc_0/105-0937988-9058008?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&qid=1183428404&sr=8-2)

Connections

• Meyer, Carolyn. Jubilee Journey. 1997. 0152013776. - Another story about a young girl with a mixed race identity that is learning how all of the pieces of her family make up who she is.
• Conly, Jane Leslie. Trout Summer. 1995. 0805039333 . - Also a story about a brother and sister who learn from an elder about how they can better understand themselves by knowing the family they came from.
• Ibbotson, Eva. The Star of Kazan. 2004. 0525473475 . A juvenile fiction story about a young abandoned girl who struggles for her own identity that is challenged by an estranged mother who resurfaces.