THE PERFECT PLACE

In Newbery-winning author de la Peña’s latest, a young Latine boy learns to appreciate what he has.

Lucas is ecstatic when he gets a perfect score on his report on robots, but his thrill is short lived: His classmates stare when they see Lucas and his father pushing their stalled truck through the intersection, and the boy returns home to find the electricity has been shut off again. His mom heads to her shift at the diner before he can share his paper with her. Lucas falls asleep, only to be awakened by a strange light. Following it, he arrives at a seemingly perfect place. He and his robot report fit right in, but Lucas soon discovers that this world has no room for error when a boy who mysteriously looks just like him is expelled for spilling a glass of juice. Disenchanted, Lucas flees. Back at home, his family is waiting for him with words of encouragement, and Lucas realizes that however flawed his life might seem, it’s just right for him. Filled with concrete details, this charming narrative highlights the unexpected joy of imperfections and invites readers to reconsider the notion of perfection. Textured digital illustrations draw visual parallels between Lucas’ posh, suburban school and the so-called perfect world; though the boy’s urban neighborhood and apartment may look comparatively shabby, homey details imbue it with a warmth that’s lacking from the other settings.

A gentle reminder of the genuine beauty found in life’s wonderfully imperfect moments.