The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti - ESSENTIAL

The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti, 215 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2018. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Mafalda, 10yo, in Italy, is losing her eyesight rapidly. Mafalda keeps a list of things she likes to do, and that she will not be able to do once she can no longer see. Mafalda notices as her eyesight gets worse, her other senses seem to sharpen. Her sense of smell and hearing become very sharp. Mafalda's best friend at school is the janitor, Estella. Estella helps Mafalda when things are tough and helps her deal with all kinds of things, from losing her eyesight, to the death of her grandmother, and everything in between. Mafalda also meets a boy that is not worried about her losing her eyesight, and he does not treat her differently. Mafalda has amazing parents that do whatever they can to help their daughter.   

I will recommend Mafalda's story to everybody. You feel Mafalda's heartache and the heartache of her parents. It is a great read aloud and has a lot of good discussion points. I found it extra interesting that the author suffers from the same genetic illness; Stargardt Disease. A powerful story for any age. I read this book in one sitting because I could not tear myself away.

Ellen-Anita, Librarian