Luis Paints the World

By Terry Farish and Oliver Dominguez

Luis wishes Nico wasn't leaving for the Army. To show Nico he doesn't need to go, Luis begins a mural on the alleyway wall. Their house, the river, the Parque de las Ardillas—it's the world, all right there. Won't Nico miss Mami's sweet flan? What about their baseball games in the street?

But as Luis awaits his brother's return from duty, his own world expands as well, through swooping paint and the help of their bustling Dominican neighborhood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Apr 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512406689

Terry Farish

TERRY FARISH is the author of The Good Braider (YALSA and SLJ Best Book for Young Adults), Either the Beginning or the End of the World (Maine Literary Award) and A Feast for Joseph (with OD Bonny and illustrated by Ken Daley). She lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

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Reviews for Luis Paints the World

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great story that has several messages. The story itself is about a young boy named Luis whose big brother Nico joins the armed forces and leaves home. Luis does not want his brother to leave and when he asks him why he is leaving, he tells him it is to see the world. Luis thinks if he paints the world on the wall in the alley, his brother will not have to leave. That does not work and Nico leaves the next morning. He sends messages home on the phone he gave his mother before he left. Mami tells Luis that sometimes people do not come home. Luis continues to paint and even Mami and the neighbours get in on the action. A beautiful mural is painted and eventually Nico comes home. Working together, using your gifts and talents along with the fear and acceptance of a family member or friend in the armed forces are all touched upon in the book. The illustrations are excellent.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.