As I go to write this review, I'm reminded of [b:Out of My Mind|6609765|Out of My Mind|Sharon M. Draper|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347602096s/6609765.jpg|6803732] by Sharon Draper, which I reviewed pretty negatively because I was distracted by its literary shortcomings as I was reading it. A lot of other goodreads reviewers told me I completely missed the point of [b:Out of My Mind|6609765|Out of My Mind|Sharon M. Draper|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347602096s/6609765.jpg|6803732]. They told me that it was such an important book for throwing light on a kind of life most kids don't know much about it. How could I criticize it so harshly?!

Well, that's kind of how I feel about this book. I've read some negative reviews, and I know it's not perfect, but it was a very beautiful story to me. I didn't see its shortcomings as I read. I thought Katherine Applegate was able to convey a lot of meaning in short, simple poems. ( )

This book is written in prose. It flows easily. Enlightening look into immigration. ( )

I love Kek, with his love of cows and his ability to find the sun through clouds. Powerful story, wonderful language. ( )

Kek, an African refugee, is confronted by many strange things at the Minneapolis home of his aunt and cousin, as well as in his fifth grade classroom, and longs for his missing mother, but finds comfort in the company of a cow and her owner.

A sweet first-person juvenile about a Lost Boy from Sudan learning to find his place in Minnesota, with too much winter and too few cows. The book is laid out in free verse form, which works surprisingly well with the simplified sentences and introspective ruminations of Kek, the main character.

Highly recommended. ( )