Module 7: My Name is Mina

Module 7: My Name is Mina

Summary: This book follows the life and learnings of a young girl named Mina. Mina does not fit in at school, so she gets home schooled by her mom. Along with dealing with her father’s death Mina must look inside herself to better understand the world and people around her.

Citation: Almond, D. (2010). My Name is Mina. New York: Random House Inc.

Impression: Mina’s thoughts are beautifully messy. When she thinks of a words she likes she endearingly repeats and bolds it. Every realization and wandering thought is a joy to read because her strong spirit and bright mind keep the reader guessing as to what will happen next. The book covers some deep thoughts like death and other less intense concepts such as animal watching. I enjoyed this book, but I think certain “type A” people would be frustrated by the piece by piece thought process that Mina has and the lack of a strong plot and traditional storytelling. 

Review: This is an incredible book. It isn't a story; it is a collection of thoughts and words. Most of the time I was reading it I forgot it was written by David Almond; I read it like it was Mina writing it as she was thinking it.

I would usually give an insight to the book at this point, but there is no story to this book. It is almost more like a set of thoughts and guides to get more out of life, and for that reason I love it. This is a book about Mina that what happens to her. Mina is a girl who most people think is a weirdo. But she looks at life in completely different way to everyone else – she loves words and thinks that every word has a life of its own.

(2014). My name is Mina [Review of the book My Name is Mina].The Guardian.

Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/feb/22/review-david-almond-my-name-is-mina

Suggestion: This book would be good for a book talk to teenage girls or students that exhibit interest in diaries or realistic fiction. Since the thoughts and feelings are all straight from Mina, I feel that girls would enjoy it more. However, I'm sure there are some boys that would enjoy reading Mina's sprawling thoughts.