Written by Pablo Cartaya
A Social Studies assignment ignites a spark in a Middle School classroom. As students work on their projects they find themselves in a heated real-life debate over a school district plan to merge students from two different schools. Students start to discover their history, their beliefs, their community, their opinions, and themselves, especially Emilia, a special needs student with ADHD. When Emilia’s mother, who had her school life well organized and functioning, leaves on vacation while her father who had been deployed in the armed forces, returns home she finds herself out of sorts at home, at school, and among her friends. Can Emilia muster her way through school assignments without her mother’s lead, build a relationship with her father, gain independence from her grandmother, smooth out issues with her peers, and come to a better understanding of herself? Like welding, it will take a bunch of tiny sparks!
Reviewed by Tammy Atwood, Media Clerk, Lake Ridge Elementary
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 4-8
Discussion Guide
Author’s Website: http://www.pablocartaya.com/
Each Tiny Spark
Written by Pablo Cartaya
Kokila
315 pages
Release Date: August 6, 2019
ISBN: 9780451479723
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
