4 stars
A passionate athlete, a mysterious elephant, a prolonged drought, and a new interest that may divide friendships.
When Jordan can no longer compete on the basketball team, she tries out water polo. But doing so means Jordan has to choose between getting better at water polo or keeping up with her friends on the basketball team.
A nice story of perseverance in the face of doing something new. The illustrations are gorgeous. Soft and detailed. I especially loved the beautiful scenery shots. The artwork provides a nice pacing, showing the passing of time and allowing the reader to get lost in the world. Sweet themes of friendship, teamwork, perseverance, supporting others, and not being afraid to try new things (even if you aren’t good at them right away).
It was refreshing to read a story that didn’t focus on the trauma of the accident that disables someone or having to overcome adversity because of paralysis. Jordan is a full character not defined solely by her disability. She is kind, hard working, talented, confident, and a good friend. She struggles to learn new rules and techniques of a game she’s unfamiliar with, but with her impressive athleticism, drive, and support from those around her, she finds a sport she really enjoys.
The story focuses on Jordan exploring new interests and how she balances her expanding friend groups. It brings up unfairness because of her disability, such as not being allowed to play on the basketball team despite not having wheelchair-specific alternatives, and people treating her poorly because of their perceptions of what she’s capable of. The story focuses on Jordan’s character and her working to achieve something rather than her trauma.
At the end of the book is a dictionary of terms used in the story including words in Indonesian and Japanese as well as foods. There are also sections on the character’s favorite foods with gorgeous and mouthwatering illustrations, facts about Indonesia, and a bit about how climate change has affected Indonesia specifically.
A heartwarming story of friendship, perseverance, and trying new things, with a touch of magic. It brings up environmental issues, especially in places where agriculture in an important part of the economy. The resolution is so sweet and ties everything together nicely.