Islandborn

Photo credit Penguin Random House

“Ms. Obi hung the drawings on the wall. ‘Now our classroom has windows,’ she said. ‘Anytime you want to look at one another’s first home all you have to do is look out the windows” (Diaz). This is just the book we need right now to see windows into others’ lives that are different from our own. Islandborn by Junot Diaz, illustrated by Leo Espinosa is a gorgeous story about being proud of where you came from and knowing that even if you leave, your home will always be a part of you.

The writing by Junot Diaz stands out with its beautiful descriptions and meaningful dialogue between the characters that Lola encounters. We can feel the connection that each person has to the island based on the way they describe it to her. The composition between the descriptions are also magically intertwined with the illustrations giving the reader a visual of what they are telling Lola about the island and how she is imagining it. Each character talks about something different about the island giving Lola a well rounded idea of not only the island but also who each person is that she is meeting.

The illustrations done by Leo Espinosa are incredibly colorful and really bring the story to life. The colors stand out and become brighter as she learns more and more about the island where she was born but knows nothing about. As the mood of the story changes, the illustrations gradually change on each page. In happiness and wonder, the colors are wonderfully bright and cheerful, yet when the story becomes not quite as cheerful, the colors turn dark and subtle. These color changes really enhance how the reader feels alongside the feelings of the main character throughout the story.

While the colors demonstrate the moods, the details within the illustrations add so much complexity and depth to the storyline and create an engaging story within just the illustrations themself, yet also enhancing the text. Readers can see the thoughts of the character and the stories being told by the elders who knew the island before her. The details from the description of the island that each person Lola encounters, shares about the island, the illustrations become those descriptions and take the reader to the island along with Lola as she’s learning. The window to the island is shared throughout the wonderfully descriptive illustration.

Islandborn really connected to my teaching background and this assignment and how meaningful it was to the students was really wonderful to see. I think it is important to know your background and history of where you are from or what your ancestors have been through. It really is a part of you and learning about brings together a community, like in Islandborn, or a family. This book is beautifully written, and I think it’s an important book about diversity that I would recommend not only for children, but for all readers. I give Islandborn 5 out of 5 stars.

Islanborn is definitely a must read in today’s multicultural society, to promote love and acceptance of both where we come from and where others come from. Each part of us includes different background experiences, cultures and ancestry that we can all be proud of. With it’s wonderfully engaging dialogue, it’s moving illustrations that allow us to become immersed in color while gathering extensive details, make this an engaging book right from the start. I highly recommend not only reading Islandborn, but also making it a part of any library or classroom!

Diaz, J. (2018). Islandborn. New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers.