Less Than Half, More Than Whole

Book Review:

Less Than Half, More Than Whole is a refreshing story about discovering the truth of who we really are. The text and the illustrations grab the reader into the feelings that Tony, like many other children, often experience. This is a great story for anyone who has ever felt "different."

One afternoon when Tony was playing at the lake with his friends, he realizes that he's not the same as them. While peering into their reflections in the water, the other boys point out Tony¹s differences. His skin is lighter than theirs. The boys tell Tony that he is "less than half." Although Tony does not know what the boys mean, he is determined to find out. Finally through painful search, Tony's grandfather tells him that the boys said he was "less than half" because he is not full-blooded Indian. The grandfather shares his wisdom with Tony. Grandfather helps the boy look past the outside and shows him that he is "more than whole." This story was born from the mixed heritage of the Lacapa family: Hopi, Tewa, Apache, Mohawk, Irish, and English.

 

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