Review: Latasha and the Little Red Tornado by Michael Scotto (ARC)

Latasha and the Little Red Tornado 

2011 | 133 pages | Middle Grade
*I received an ARC of this book from the author.

This forthcoming middle grade novel from Michael Scotto takes place in Pittsburgh, and tells the story of a fourth third grader named Latasha, who lives with her single mother and a dog named Ella Fitzgerald. Latasha loves Ella, but she also feels a certain amount of shame about her, because she isn't a very well-behaved dog. Not only does she eat food that isn't intended for her, she also destroys the landlady, Mrs. Okocho's flowers, and has daily attacks of something called "the zoomies," which cause her to run wild around the apartment, letting off extra steam. Latasha's mom and Mrs. Okocho are both as understanding as they can be about Ella, but Latasha can't help but wonder if she will ever mature from a puppy into a dog.

Throughout the book, Latasha also deals with her mother's new job as a nursing aide at nearby Children's Hospital, which forces her to spend every afternoon after school with Mrs. Okocho, and a new, somewhat rocky friendship with a boy in her class named Ricky.

While I'll admit that I had trouble getting into this book at first, I'm glad I stuck with it, because from the halfway point all the way to the end, I truly enjoyed reading it. I've read several books about girls and their dogs - most notably, the Julia Gillian trilogy, and Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo - and I think Latasha's story easily holds its own with them. Like Opal in Winn Dixie, Latasha finds comfort in her dog in a new and unfamiliar situation, and must contend with the dog's occasional bad behavior. And like Julia Gillian, whose dog Bigfoot is her best friend, Latasha worries about her dog's feelings and well-being in a way that is really touching and sweet.

This book is more character-driven than plot-driven. There is a story arc involving the evolution of Latasha's relationships with her mother, Mrs. Okocho, Ricky, and Ella, but the chapters read like episodes, and what the book really provides is a window into the life of one interesting little girl. As I read, I kept finding myself comparing Latasha's story to Sunny Holiday and Sweet and Sunny, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore. This is partly because both girls are African-American, with single mothers, but it was also the tone, voice, and attitude of both Sunny and Latasha that made the comparison feel so natural. Neither girl is in an ideal situation, but a positive and hopeful attitude make everything turn out okay in the end.

Latasha and  the Little Red Tornado is definitely worth reading, and worth sharing with girls in grades 3 and up. The writing is solid, the characters well-crafted and diverse, and the illustrations by Evette Gabriel add a rich visual layer to the story that I really enjoyed. I especially liked the drawing of Latasha's teacher, Mr. Harvey. I also enjoyed the sub-plot in the latter half of the book involving the reading contest at Latasha's school. Latasha's interest in reading and vocabulary makes her an especially appealing heroine for kids who are already book lovers and ready to learn some new words themselves.

Latasha and the Little Red Tornado will be released on November 15th, 2011. Visit the publisher online at midlandiapress.com and follow the author on Twitter here.