The Perfect Place

Starred review from February 12, 2024
When Lucas, portrayed with brown skin, receives a perfect score on his robot report, he floats “with his head held high.” But his father’s truck breaks down after school, the electricity at home is again shut off, and his mother rushes to work before he can show her the report. In his apartment bedroom, he considers the peeling paint and orange juice–stained rug. Later that night, a strange light lures Lucas down the fire escape and to a golden gate inside which “the perfect people lived” amid wide, bright streets, and where the mayor presents him with a Medal of Perfection for reciting his report. Then a boy in the crowd, who looks eerily like Lucas, causes an orange juice spill, resulting in silence and shame. The mayor speaks of healing after the incident, a uniformed crew cleanses the spot, people assure each other that “all could still be perfect in their perfect place”—and Lucas runs for his home, where authentic connection abounds. Digital illustrations by Escobar (A Plate of Hope) juxtapose the warmth of Lucas’s metropolitan neighborhood against a brightly oppressive alternate realm as Newbery Medalist de la Peña weighs perfectionism against the messiness of real-life love—“the right kind of imperfect.” Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Amy Kitcherside, Pickled Ink.

April 1, 2024
In Newbery-winning author de la Pe�a's latest, a young Latine boy learns to appreciate what he has. Lucas is ecstatic when he gets a perfect score on his report on robots, but his thrill is short lived: His classmates stare when they see Lucas and his father pushing their stalled truck through the intersection, and the boy returns home to find the electricity has been shut off again. His mom heads to her shift at the diner before he can share his paper with her. Lucas falls asleep, only to be awakened by a strange light. Following it, he arrives at a seemingly perfect place. He and his robot report fit right in, but Lucas soon discovers that this world has no room for error when a boy who mysteriously looks just like him is expelled for spilling a glass of juice. Disenchanted, Lucas flees. Back at home, his family is waiting for him with words of encouragement, and Lucas realizes that however flawed his life might seem, it's just right for him. Filled with concrete details, this charming narrative highlights the unexpected joy of imperfections and invites readers to reconsider the notion of perfection. Textured digital illustrations draw visual parallels between Lucas' posh, suburban school and the so-called perfect world; though the boy's urban neighborhood and apartment may look comparatively shabby, homey details imbue it with a warmth that's lacking from the other settings. A gentle reminder of the genuine beauty found in life's wonderfully imperfect moments. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 1, 2024
Grades K-3 This poignant picture book follows Lucas, who attends school in a seemingly "perfect" neighborhood, and his internal attempt to reconcile the two worlds he lives in: a utopian community versus his more income-challenged, noisy, and crowded family life. Escobar's vibrant landscapes and detailed scenes follow Lucas as he navigates his perfect, luxurious prep school while feeling like he belongs somewhere else. When, after an otherwise amazing day, Lucas' dad's old work truck breaks down in front of the school, Lucas begins to wonder about life for the other kids. The story teaches young readers to be grateful about their individual upbringings and proud of their roots. When Lucas realizes and acknowledges how much his family loves him, how much they unconditionally support him with the resources they have, he becomes much happier with where he is: back in his neighborhood among familiar sights, sounds, smells, and tastes, as well as [with] the people he loves. Gorgeous watercolor vignettes and bright action scenes accompany this heartwarming, uplifting narrative about valuing uniqueness and imperfection over flawless idealism.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 12, 2024

K-Gr 3-When Lucas receives a perfect grade on his robot report, he can't wait to share it with his family. But his dad's work truck keeps having trouble and his mom must rush out to her job at the local diner, so Lucas never gets the chance to share his news. At night, Lucas is woken by a light outside his window, and he decides to climb down to find the source. Lucas stumbles upon a place where everything is beautiful and perfect, and where he is recognized for his robot report. But in this perfect place, Lucas soon finds there is no room for making mistakes, and he begins to long for his imperfect home, full of its own beauty. Lovely illustrations welcome readers to Lucas's neighborhood with dark but luminous shades, illuminate the bright sunny place where everything is perfect, and convey the love Lucas and his family have for one another. VERDICT Sharing the message that things do not have to be perfect to be beautiful, this picture book is a good choice for children's collections.-Selenia Paz

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Lucas is excited to show off his school report, but his dad's truck breaks down and his mom is rushing to her job at the diner. That night Lucas follows a strange light to "the place where the perfect people lived." When a boy there is shamed for not being perfect, Lucas realizes that his real life, surrounded by chaos, family, and love is "the right kind of imperfect." Beautifully detailed digital gouache-style illustrations contrast a moonlit city with the white-bright lights of the perfect place.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)