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The World in Half

by: Cristina Henriquez

2009; 320 pages

Rating: 4

"The World in Half" is Cristina Henriquez's debut novel. I found it rather well done, especially for a first book. In it, Mira decides that she needs to know her father, whom she's never known. She knows he's Panamanian, so she travels to Panama to complete her quest.

This is pretty much a "coming of age" tale in that Mira learns more about herself than she does about anyone else. But, I really love all the history and the portrayal of Panama in this book.

If nothing else, it's a good book to read if you're going to be going to Panama anytime soon (or ever really). It's also nice to read just as a leisurely read on some snowy day with a cup of hot chocolate - which is what I did last February.

I also really liked the way Henriquez tied in human behavior with geology. It was certainly a new idea for me, and I rather enjoyed the parallels she draws.