≫ Download Where the Watermelons Grow Cindy Baldwin 9780062665867 Books

Where the Watermelons Grow Cindy Baldwin 9780062665867 Books

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Where the Watermelons Grow Cindy Baldwin 9780062665867 Books

I was really fortunate to receive an e-arc of this book through Netgalley, and it was so good, I had to order a copy of my own that I can read whenever I want.

This book. This book felt so different to almost any middle grade book I've ever read. Fearlessly, Cindy Baldwin takes on the struggles a person, and especially a kid, goes through when someone they love has mental health issues. In this story, Della begins to get worried when her Mama starts showing signs of schizophrenia again. They've been through it before--when Della was 8--but this time, everything is worse. And Della is just certain that there is something she can do to help her Mama get healed up permanently.

I don't want to get too personal in this review, but I have seen this first hand. Mental health issues can be scary. And for some reason, they carry a stigma. Instead of offering real help, we often judge. We think 'if they just try harder they wouldn't be sick.' We tell them 'it's all in your head.' And when one parent is ill, and the other is overwhelmed trying to deal with life and everything, sometimes kids get forgotten. Sometimes, we don't acknowledge their struggles as well.

Where the Watermelons Grow was hard to read, because I knew the situation all too well. But at the same time, it was a beautiful portrayal of how we must all band together. How we can support each other in extended community families. How being open and willing to share both the good and bad ties us together in ways we can't imagine.

The writing is gorgeous and the use of the summer heat and drought made me hot in the middle of winter. All the characters are so real. Well-rounded, and each with their own struggles, even if they weren't at the center of the story. I wished I could visit Maryville, North Carolina for myself (though maybe not in the middle of summer), and get to know them all. :)

I highly recommend it


Tags : Where the Watermelons Grow [Cindy Baldwin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <strong>Fans of <em>The Thing About Jellyfish</em> and <em>A Snicker of Magic</em> will be swept away by Cindy Baldwin’s debut middle grade about a girl coming to terms with her mother’s mental illness.</strong> When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren't there,Cindy Baldwin,Where the Watermelons Grow,HarperCollins,0062665863,Family - General,Lifestyles - Farm & Ranch Life,Social Themes - Depression & Mental Illness,Droughts,Family crises,Family problems,Farm life,Farm life - North Carolina,Farm life;North Carolina;Fiction.,Mental illness,Mental illness;Fiction.,North Carolina,Schizophrenia,Schizophrenia;Fiction.,CHILDREN'S FICTION COMING OF AGE,Children: Grades 3-4,Fiction-Coming of Age,JUVENILE,JUVENILE FICTION Family Parents,JUVENILE FICTION Lifestyles Farm & Ranch Life,JUVENILE FICTION Social Themes Depression & Mental Illness,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile FictionFamily - Parents,Juvenile FictionLifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life,Juvenile Grades 4-6 Ages 9-11,United States

Where the Watermelons Grow Cindy Baldwin 9780062665867 Books Reviews

I couldn’t put this book down, from the 1st chapter I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Della and her mama. Many can relate to the feelings of a pre-teen struggling as they begin to understand the big, unsolvable adult problems of the world. Namely, in this story, mental illness—which is an important topic and was handled carefully and respectfully. I loved how the author beautifully wove in aspects of nature into the story to illustrate Della’s complex emotions. It was a story that tugged at my heart, but in a good way as I followed Della’s journey towards hope, love, family and community. I would recommend this book for adults, but also for preteens and teens because I think they could definitely relate to the story. I’m passing this book along to my pre-teen daughter. This book made me wish to be transported to a hot summer evening in North Carolina, catching lightning bugs and eating sweet watermelon with those I love most. ❤️🍉
Beautifully written prose! I was transported to rural North Carolina during a hot summer. In this debut novel, Baldwin captured the sights, sounds, smells and even the taste of summer. Amidst this masterfully crafted setting, Baldwin realistically and respectfully explored mental illness and it's far reaching effect on families. The central issue being not the patient's experience but 12 year old daughter Della's life and the impact her mother's illness had on it. It was refreshing to read a story describing empathy, friendship and the power of love.

This was an uncomfortable read for me in many ways as my children grew up watching me struggle with my own mental illness. I wish I had this story to read and discuss with my sons when they were the age of Della.

I wish I could eat some juicy watermelon while watching fireflies with my friends right now!

Bravo Baldwin!
Okay, this book wrecked me. I can say that the representation of a disorder that includes delusions and voice feels very accurate to me, the daughter of a mother with delusional disorder. Middle-grade readers will experience this along with Della and her family, and while it might hurt for a while, Dell'a experience brings readers to a place of understanding and does this through love. While the Bee Lady's honey is involved, this book is less about the possibility of magic fixing our ills, and more about how we come to terms with what hurts us, and come to terms with being different, with loss, and with change.

Baldwin is a writer whose prose is beautiful. You can taste the watermelons, when they're sweet and when they sting, in this novel.
I just finished this book a few minutes ago and it's stunning. I smiled, I cried and I loved it. It's really beautiful. The message of empathy and compassion is greatly needed in this world and I can't wait to share this book with my friends and children so they can absorb this message, too.

I run a support group for people with chronic and mental illness and I am going to share this book far and wide there as well. I hope it gives others as much hope and light as it bright to my life.

This book is beautifully written and a quick read. It sucks you in and flows so smoothly you'll finish it quickly. I love the author's writing style and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I was really fortunate to receive an e-arc of this book through Netgalley, and it was so good, I had to order a copy of my own that I can read whenever I want.

This book. This book felt so different to almost any middle grade book I've ever read. Fearlessly, Cindy Baldwin takes on the struggles a person, and especially a kid, goes through when someone they love has mental health issues. In this story, Della begins to get worried when her Mama starts showing signs of schizophrenia again. They've been through it before--when Della was 8--but this time, everything is worse. And Della is just certain that there is something she can do to help her Mama get healed up permanently.

I don't want to get too personal in this review, but I have seen this first hand. Mental health issues can be scary. And for some reason, they carry a stigma. Instead of offering real help, we often judge. We think 'if they just try harder they wouldn't be sick.' We tell them 'it's all in your head.' And when one parent is ill, and the other is overwhelmed trying to deal with life and everything, sometimes kids get forgotten. Sometimes, we don't acknowledge their struggles as well.

Where the Watermelons Grow was hard to read, because I knew the situation all too well. But at the same time, it was a beautiful portrayal of how we must all band together. How we can support each other in extended community families. How being open and willing to share both the good and bad ties us together in ways we can't imagine.

The writing is gorgeous and the use of the summer heat and drought made me hot in the middle of winter. All the characters are so real. Well-rounded, and each with their own struggles, even if they weren't at the center of the story. I wished I could visit Maryville, North Carolina for myself (though maybe not in the middle of summer), and get to know them all. )

I highly recommend it