I have a soft spot for books set in lush, mysterious tropical jungles, so when I saw the description for Here Where The Sunbeams Are Green, I couldn’t resist. (I also love the book’s beautifully evocative title!) Although it took me some time to get into the beginning and I found myself put off at first by the narrator’s voice, after a chapter or two I was utterly enthralled by Mad, Roo, and their strange and intriguing South American adventure. With just the right amount of mystery, mysticism, and even a dash of romance, Here Where The Sunbeams Are Green was almost impossible to put down. I particularly liked how well Helen Phillips managed to capture the spirit of being almost-thirteen, and how realistic the relationship between the siblings was. As the oldest of six kids, I’ve had plenty of experience with younger siblings, and I felt like Mad and Roo’s complicated blend of exasperation and love was very accurate.

Here Where the Sunbeams are Green would be perfect for a wide variety of middle-grade readers, and for teens and adults who love a good middle-grade adventure. But beware: You might just find yourself itching for a trip to the jungle by the time you’re done!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Random House

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  10 religious exclamations; 1 mild obscenity.

Violence/Gore:  A character is held against their will; characters make verbal threats; a girl is pursued by an adult and she is afraid that he will attack her, but he does not.

Sex/Nudity:  There are several (>10) instances of very mild flirtation or of a girl being attracted to a boy. There is one very brief kiss between two young teenagers. A character references skinny-dipping. A few references are made to an adult man having a “crush” on a married woman, but infidelity is never implied.

Mature Subject Matter:

Cruelty to animals, abduction.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Adults drink alcoholic beverages.