Half A World Away

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Synopsis

A kid who considers himself an epic fail discovers the transformative power of love when he deals with adoption in this novel from Cynthia Kadohata, winner of the Newbery Medal (Kira-Kira) and the National Book Award (The Thing About Luck).

Eleven-year-old Jaden is adopted, and he knows he’s an “epic fail.” That’s why his family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt a new baby—to replace him, he’s sure. And he gets it. He is incapable of stopping his stealing, hoarding, lighting fires, aggressive running, and obsession with electricity. He knows his parents love him, but he feels...nothing.

When they get to Kazakhstan, it turns out the infant they’ve traveled for has already been adopted, and literally within minutes are faced with having to choose from six other babies. While his parents agonize, Jaden is more interested in the toddlers. One, a little guy named Dimash, spies Jaden and barrels over to him every time he sees him. Jaden finds himself increasingly intrigued by and worried about Dimash. Already three years old and barely able to speak, Dimash will soon age out of the orphanage, and then his life will be as hopeless as Jaden feels now. For the first time in his life, Jaden actually feels something that isn’t pure blinding fury, and there’s no way to control it, or its power.

From camels rooting through garbage like raccoons, to eagles being trained like hunting dogs, to streets that are more pothole than pavement, the vivid depictions in Half a World Away create “an inspiring story that celebrates hope and second chances” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Chapters

  • HalfAWorldAway 01 Title

    Duration: 30s
  • HalfAWorldAway 02 Ch1

    Duration: 11min
  • HalfAWorldAway 03 Ch2

    Duration: 16min
  • HalfAWorldAway 04 Ch3

    Duration: 08min
  • HalfAWorldAway 05 Ch4

    Duration: 07min
  • HalfAWorldAway 06 Ch5

    Duration: 11min
  • HalfAWorldAway 07 Ch6

    Duration: 07min
  • HalfAWorldAway 08 Ch7

    Duration: 06min
  • HalfAWorldAway 09 Ch8

    Duration: 15min
  • HalfAWorldAway 10 Ch9

    Duration: 13min
  • HalfAWorldAway 11 Ch10

    Duration: 09min
  • HalfAWorldAway 12 Ch11

    Duration: 14min
  • HalfAWorldAway 13 Ch12

    Duration: 22min
  • HalfAWorldAway 14 Ch13

    Duration: 03min
  • HalfAWorldAway 15 Ch14

    Duration: 13min
  • HalfAWorldAway 16 Ch15

    Duration: 16min
  • HalfAWorldAway 17 Ch16

    Duration: 15min
  • HalfAWorldAway 18 Ch17

    Duration: 05min
  • HalfAWorldAway 19 Ch18

    Duration: 24min
  • HalfAWorldAway 20 Ch19

    Duration: 13min
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