Summary: Lost Kites And Other Treasures
12-year-old Franny Petroski loves art, not just drawing and painting but finding stuff and making something out of what others may call trash — a practice her grandmother tolerates but doesn’t understand. Nana also is very stoic and won’t say much about her daughter and Franny’s mother, Mia, who left Franny when she was a baby. One evening, Nana breaks her tibia in an accident, leading to a lot of changes. First, they have to move out of their 2nd-floor apartment temporarily to an accessible house, and eventually, Franny’s uncle Gabe, who’s a software developer, has to come, reluctantly, to help out. As Franny gets to know Gabe and Carlton, one of her mother’s best friends, she also starts to discover some of what Nana was hesitant to share about Mia and why Gabe has a weird relationship with his sister.
The Good
I loved this book and couldn’t stop flipping the pages. Franny’s voice is bright, real, and relatable as she pieces together the secrets of her small family. Carr really does a phenomenal job of not telling a lot but showing so much with the perfect balance of introspection, dialogue, and narration that some books lack.
Franny’s Nana is an interesting character. She’s gruff and protective of her family (and its secrets) but it’s obvious she loves Franny, even if she and her own son can’t seem to get along. It’s been Franny and Nana since then and although she doesn’t say so, Franny aches for more, more life, more novelty, something outside their safe but now boring routines. The mystery about why there’s so much tension in the family will keep young readers curious.
Friendship is a major theme in this story and we get a peek into Franny’s relationships with her friends Lucy and Ruben. Lucy moves briefly to London, and the two maintain a sweet friendship despite the distance. I also liked seeing the difference between Franny’s family and that of her best friend, Ruben’s. Ruben has a large, welcoming family — something Franny yearns for, and he’s not always sensitive to her issues. The two develop a rift in their friendship that the author resolves realistically.
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: None on page
- Violence: None
- Alcohol/substance abuse: Franny’s mother has a history of substance abuse (marijuana mentioned in negative light)
Diversity
- Ethnic: Franny’s family is of Polish and Italian descent, Ruben is Filipino-American
- Sexual orientation: None
Recommended for ages: 9+
Good for Kids Who Like
- Stories about family secrets
- Books about kids who like arts and crafts
- Stories about friendship issues
- Books with grandparent relationships
- Funny, touching books
Publisher Details
Publisher details | Harry N. Abrams |
Author: | Cathy Carr |
Illustrator: | N/A |
Publication date: | February 6, 2024 |
Audiobook? | Yes, Libro.fm |
Page count: | 272 |
Cover artists | Designer: | Maeve Norton |
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Joanne Rossmassler Fritz says
Glad you loved this book as much as I did! That gorgeous cover is by Maeve Norton, who also illustrated the cover of Ruptured.
afomaumesi says
Oh thank you for sharing the cover illustrator!