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Atheneum Books for Young Readers

The Distance between Me and the Cherry Tree

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Arrives Friday, Aug 29
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Description

Ten-year-old Mafalda hides the fact that she is going blind from her family and friends in this lyrical, bittersweet debut novel from Italian author Paola Peretti that shows you how to overcome the darkness—even when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. There are a lot of things ten-year-old Mafalda cares a lot about. Like, counting the stars in the night sky, playing soccer, and climbing the cherry tree outside her school. Mafalda even goes so far as to keep a list of all these things, because soon she won’t be able to do them anymore—because she’s going blind. Even with her bad eyesight Mafalda can see that people are already treating her differently—and that’s the last thing she wants. So, she hides the fact that her vision is deteriorating faster than anyone predicted, and she makes a plan: When the time is right, she’ll go live in the cherry tree, just like her favorite book character. But as Mafalda loses her sight, surprising things come in to focus. With the help of her family and friends both old and new, Mafalda discovers the things that matter most. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atheneum Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 1, 2020)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 224 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534439633


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 34


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years


Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 740L


Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.13 x 0.7 x 7.63 inches


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Very good book!
This book is very good. As a parent of a child recently diagnosed with Stargardt’s it has helped me explain to my daughter what will happen to my son. It has also helped me mentally prepare for the doctor’s appointments. Thank you to the author for writing this book!
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2022 by D. Lemmon
    • The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree
Close your eyes. When you do this, do you see all the darkness around you? It is black. It is empty, and there is nothing there. Now open your eyes again. This time, take in everything around you. The light, the colors, the shapes, and details. Could you imagine losing these sights forever? How would you feel if your life was becoming a world of black? In the book, The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree by Paola Peretti, ten-year-old Mafalda’s life is turning into an endless tunnel of blurs and darkness. Due to degenerative eye disease, Mafalda’s eyesight is slipping away. She is noticing the decay of her eyesight more and more each day. It won't be long before Mafalda's life will be surrounded by darkness. She needs to make a plan for her future, and fast. Mafalda decides that the best solution for her loss of eyesight is for her to run away. She has a plan. Mafalda will move into her favorite cherry tree. There she can live alone, just like her favorite character in a story. All Mafalda needs now is to make her preparations, gather her needed supplies, and pick the right time to make her getaway. Through the love of Mafalda’s parents, an encouraging school janitor, and unlikely new friend, Mafalda’s plan for running away starts to fall apart. None-the-less, she fears for her future as she looks into the unknown of the darkness just ahead of her. The last thing she wants is to be a burden to those around her, and she knows her blindness will change the lives of those around her just as much as it will change her own life. Not only that, Mafalda's fears are constantly resounded by the noticeable decay of her eyesight that she recognizes. It doesn't take much for Mafalda to know that the distance between her and her beloved tree is dimmer and dimmer. Soon, her tree will only be a memory, as well as all other things Mafalda has grown to love. The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree is a powerful story of a young girl's fears. She is scared for what lies before her, and my heart aches for her rightful worries. I cannot imagine what would go through my mind if I knew I was about to lose my eyesight forever. As you read this story, you will ache right along Mafalda as her worst fear comes closer and closer to being her forever reality. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2019 by Openbookreviews
    • Sad but sweet
I have a blind son and love to read books, written by people who are blind or visually impaired. This book specifically is written for preteens and teens. However, as an adult, I found it very sweet and well written, but also extremely sad. It covers some very heavy topics including blindness, cancer and death. I loved the overall message about the one essential thing. I won't give it away... But I wish there had been a focus on tools and training for future Independence. Thanks! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023 by The Owens Fam
    • Mesmerizing
LOVED this book! It drew me in and held me tight to the very end. We get to meet a very strong (although she certainly doesn't feel it) girl dealing with a condition that causes her to go blind. Step by step she goes down the path that will leave her in the darkness - the scary place where monsters are after you. She feels alone, so very much alone and so scared. Mafalda has to figure out things that are essential for her - things she cannot live without, things that she will still have in her heart once darkness surrounds her. I could tell that the book was translated, it does set it apart from books written by English speaking authors. However, in no way do I think that it is a disadvantage, on the contrary, it allows the reader to compare what is typical for them with another take on the world. And that's how we learn the best. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2019 by Placeholder
    • Excellent Storytelling.
Warm, intimate, lovely, thought-provoking, inspiring. A story of learning and accepting personal loss, as experienced through the heart of an eleven-year old girl facing blindness.
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2019 by Suzzz

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