August 1, 2020
Preschool-G In this sentimental tale of a beloved friendship that spans years and distance, Evelyn is Daniela's best friend, her n�mero uno, and when she moves away, Daniela is heartbroken and fearful of the inevitable change. When this dynamic duo gets a chance to play their usual games of pretend and imagination in Evelyn's new home, Daniela realizes that their treasured bond supersedes any barriers to friendship. Medina's earnest, poignant words are accompanied by S�nchez's vivid, earth-toned illustrations that depict Evelyn and Daniela playing, their families' affection for one another, and the energetic, youthful spirit that both girls possess. The story line is honest and genuine, encompassing the emotional roller coaster of a best friend moving away, and as readers watch the friends grapple with the new reality and cope with temporary grief, they'll also witness both girls embracing a relationship that time and space cannot tear apart.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
Starred review from September 1, 2020
Daniela knows she's going to have to say goodbye to Evelyn, her next-door neighbor and "numero uno best friend." But first, the two girls share a last day of play in this bittersweet story by Newbery winner Medina (Merci Suarez Changes Gears, rev. 9/18). Together Daniela and Evelyn, "almost twins" despite looking nothing alike, race up the steps, down the hall, and into Evelyn's apartment, as familiar to Daniela as her own. An empty cardboard box becomes a bus to steer around the city until, in what seems like no time, everything else has been packed into the moving van parked downstairs. Even as the girls make plans to talk every day after school and visit over the summer, Daniela must face the truth that "tomorrow everything will be different." After a photo (say "!Patata!"), secret handshake, and hug, it's time to say goodbye. Evelyn Del Rey is really moving away. Daniela's first-person, present-tense narration balances action and introspection, while in the illustrations the small, expressive figures of the two girls seem barely able to contain the deeply felt emotions, familiar to many children, that accompany loss and change. Sanchez's illustrations layer colorful patterns and textures with filigreed lines and corrugated cardboard collage; bright yellow beech leaves litter the girls' urban neighborhood, suggesting a season of transition. The final image of an older Daniela, seated on the floor of her room surrounded by letters from Evelyn, assures readers that, no matter what, you never forget your first "mejor amiga." Concurrently published in Spanish as Evelyn Del Rey se muda. Anamaria Anderson
(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)