Set in 1981 Guatemala, a lyrical debut novel tells the powerful tale of a boy who must decide what it means to be a man during a time of war. Carlos knows that when the soldiers arrive with warnings about the Communist rebels, it is time to be a man and defend the village, keep everyone safe. But Mama tells him not yet — he’s still her quiet moonfaced boy. The soldiers laugh at the villagers, and before they move on, a neighbor is found dangling from a tree, a sign on his neck: Communist . Mama tells Carlos to run and hide, then try to find her. . . . Numb and alone, he must join a band of guerillas as they trek to the top of the mountain where Carlos’s abuela lives. Will he be in time, and brave enough, to warn them about the soldiers? What will he do then? A novel in verse inspired by actual events during Guatemala’s civil war, Caminar is the moving story of a boy who loses nearly everything before discovering who he really is. Gr 6 Up—Unlike many novels in verse, which can read like conventional narratives with line breaks, Caminarcontributes poetry that elevates the genre. In this story of a decimated Guatemalan village in 1981, readers will encounter a range of imagery, repetition, rhythms, and visual effects that bring to life the psychological experience of Carlos, a young boy caught in the violent clash between the government's army and the people's rebels. Like most small villagers, Carlos feels far removed from the conflict and is unsure which side to trust. Still, the army emerges as the clear villain after publicly hanging an innocent man and, weeks later, massacring the village while Carlos collects mushrooms in the forest. Now the boy attempts to survive on his own, stay ahead of the army, and warn his grandmother's mountaintop community of the coming threat. Only when he meets a band of rebels does he realize the extent of the carnage he has escaped. Caminar is a good classroom choice for either social studies or English units. Unfortunately, Brown's introductory note lacks clarity, so educators should provide some brief historical context for students. This is a much-needed addition to Latin American-themed middle grade fiction.—Denise Ryan, Middlesex Middle School, Darien, CT The Guatemalan Civil War is powerfully fictionalized through the eyes of a young boy on the verge of becoming a man in this debut novel. Carlos wants to defend his village from the Communist rebels—the group that government soldiers warn everyone away from—but his mother tells him now is not the time. But when the village is then overrun by those same soldiers, Carlos escapes and is the only one who can run to the top of the mountain to warn his grandmother’s village about what is coming. The horrors of war force the boy to grow up quickly and discern who exactly is to be trusted. Basing her story on true events, Brown infuses the novel with facts that will teach readers plenty about this piece of history. Written in verse, the book takes advantage of a variety of formats and styles. This is a welcome way to increase the diversity of any collection while providing a glimpse into a period of history unknown to most American kids. A glossary of Spanish words is included. Grades 5-8. --Sarah Bean Thompson Exquisitely crafted poems are the basis of an unusually fine verse novel set in 1981, in the middle of the Guatemalan Civil War. ... The poems, all written from Carlos’s point of view, are emotional, visceral, and lyrical. Layered and varied, some are shape poems; some can be read in more than one way, as if written from two perspectives; and all are accessible to young readers. ... All combine to give us a chillingly memorable portrait of one child surviving violence and loss in a time of war. —The Horn Book (starred review) 'Caminar' contributes poetry that elevates the genre. ... Readers will encounter a range of imagery, repetition, rhythms, and visual effects that bring to life the psychological experience of Carlos, a young boy caught in the violent clash between the government’s army and the people’s rebels. ... This is a much-needed addition to Latin American-themed middle grade fiction. —School Library Journal (starred review) The Guatemalan Civil War is powerfully fictionalized through the eyes of a young boy on the verge of becoming a man in this debut novel. ... This is a welcome way to increase the diversity of any collection while providing a glimpse into a period of history unknown to most American kids. A glossary of Spanish words is included. —Booklist Brown uses concrete poetry to excellent effect, skillfully playing with spacing, structure, and repetition. ... Brown offers some historical context in an opening note and a Q&A (a glossary of Spanish words is also included), but the ambiguities and uncertainties within the story itself help align readers with Carlos and his fellow villagers, caught in a conflict they don’t understand. —Publishers Weekly The free-verse poetry in this verse nove