Disclosure: I received this complimentary product (Neverforgotten) through Raincoast Books. Affiliate Links will be used, thank you for your support of my blog, costs you nothing to do so, and is so much appreciated. 
Debut novelist Alejandra Algorta has come out with a bilingual story entitled Neverforgotten. This dual book tells the story in English on one side, and in Spanish on the flip side. Illustrations provide division. Let me walk you through it.
The basic information about Neverforgotten
This 288-page poetic novel is produced by Levine Querido with a target audience of 8-12 year olds. Ivan Rickenmann does a fabulous job as illustrator. Alejandra Algorta is the author, she comes from Columbia, and had her words translated into English by Aida Salazar.
I received an ARC copy from Raincoast Books for my review.
From the Press Release:
Fabio flies through the streets of Bogota on his bicycle, the children of his neighborhood trailing behind him. It is there that life feels right-where the world of adults, and their lies, fades away. But then one day, he simply forgets. Forgets how to ride his bicycle. And Fabio will never be the same again.
Learning more!
I have to say that I did like the illustrations that Ivan Rickenmann did. These greyscale images told the story all on their own without all the depression! They do a wonderful job of helping us see the world that Fabio sees every day.
I absolutely adore the loving people Fabio has in his life. From a dad who doesn’t understand what is going on with his boy, but keeps trying to encourage him along. From a “second mama” who tried to always be honest with him, but tells him the lies she’s been told. To his own mama, who keeps encouraging him to go out and do things, and talks with him. He has family who cares so much. It was hard to see them watching him struggle and not really knowing how to help.
The text is lyrical/poetic in nature, but reads like a story and is written like one as well. Poetry is included throughout.
The text wasn’t hard to read, and was quite quickly finished as each half of the book, without illustrations is about 100 pages. Occasionally illustrations would dot the pages.
So what did I think?
Well, when I finished Neverforgotten, hubby asked what I thought, I said “wow, that was a depressing read that seemed to have no point. I have a hard time imagining any child liking it.”
Just not my style.
What did I like?
I loved his parents and his “second mama”, and his friends that didn’t give up on him. Even while he struggled people truly and deeply cared for him.
The illustrations were excellent (as you know already). Really appreciated them. I could have happily had this story as a wordless book!
It was fantastic that Fabio found his way through. He chose to take hard steps and look beyond himself to the needs of others. He took that care received and put it back into people important to him. So utterly fantastic.
But how the story was told… I just felt too sunk into the depths of despair throughout, and then there wasn’t a clearly happy beginning. I was left wondering if Fabio rode off and committed suicide. It just felt so bleak. Maybe the questionable ending was purposeful? I don’t know. Just doesn’t sit well.
So, decide for yourselves if you want to risk it. I would DEFINITELY read it before handing it over to your youngsters though. You as mom/dad know them best and most likely how they would respond.
