 “Ambitiously conceived and sharply observed, this debut novel points to a promising new talent.”-Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Lane: Lane has a very nervous and jittery nature. It is said that she looks like a mouse. She has dark hair and brown eyes, a small frame and is very short. Her skin is not very tan because she doesn’t spend that much time outside preferring to stay indoors reading. She is approximately 4’7” and is 13 years old. Lane is usually dressed in lightweight clothing such as dresses to survive the humidity of Panama. She usually wears sandals to keep her feet cool. As part of her nervousness, she has a habit of biting her nails. Although she tends to be very quiet and shy, she does have a knack for telling stories. Her stories are usually about Emily, her “babysitter” in Virginia. Emily was Lane’s best friend and from reading the book, you realize how lonely Lane is without her. Later is the story you discover that Emily w

Language: Regular English dialog and Spanish

The author chose an interesting subject to study, exploring the topic well, and describing what life might be like in the Canal Zone. She also wrote about the racism and prejudice directed towards the Panamanian people. I like the way the author wrote the story from first person.

The book takes place in the “Canal Zone” of Panama where Lane and her family are living because her father is in the military and stationed there. The Canal Zone is a small community that consists of modest houses, a school, a hospital and everything else that is a necessity to survive. It also is divided into two parts, in which the kids are tough rivals. This book also takes place during the Seventies and when the Canal was in heat with both the president’s new decision about the future of the Canal and the Panamanian’s restlessness and resentment towards “gringos”.

Lane worries about everything; she can’t help it. She worries about her younger brother, Charlie, who always seems to be acting crazy, even looking for danger. And lately with the unrest in the Panama Canal Zone - the area around the army base where Lane lives - is making her more anxious than ever. Most troubling of all, though, are the painful secrets her family has been keeping. As tensions mount and Charli

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