--- title: "Reading Everywhere" url: https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/book-review-displacement-by-thalia description: "Read the latest information and articles from Reading Everywhere." --- # Reading Everywhere Children's and YA book reviews. Library stuff. Possible overuse of the word AWESOME! ## Monday, June 20, 2011 ### Book Review: Displacement, by Thalia Chaltas Chaltas, Thalia. Displacement . 364 p. Viking Childrens Books. 2011. Hardcover $16.99. ISBN 9780670011995. Novels in verse aren't always my cup of tea. In fact, to be completely honest, more often than not, I'll pass them by. A lot of the time I just don't understand Why The prose needs to be Broken up On different lines Like this. ...oooh, actually, now that I did that? It was kind of fun! Anyway, novels in verse may not exactly be my thing, but at the same time, I don't harbor an automatic prejudice against them. I can be swayed by one that's well done, and I found myself really getting into Displacement . It's a quick yet thought-provoking read about a girl who's grieving the loss of her younger sister. She decides to get away from her life and her family for a while by escaping to an isolated town in the desert. Chaltas uses evocative language to set the scene and illuminate the main character's struggle with grief and her journey to healing. Chaltas' writing works especially well to bring the setting to life-- the desert is a strong presence in the book, almost a character in itself. Word choices are deliberate and powerful, and the reader can really sense why this author writes in poetry rather than prose. Sometimes, too, Chaltas' language is rather... shall I say blunt? Like, you know how in some books and TV shows, characters never have to go to the bathroom? Well, um, this book doesn't have that issue. Your mileage may vary as to whether that's a positive or a negative! I think this book will have an appreciative audience in teens because of its themes of self-discovery and healing, so I'll be buying it for my library's collection. Displacement was published earlier this month; ARC for review snagged at ALA Midwinter. Posted by [Allison](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) at [7:30 AM](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/book-review-displacement-by-thalia.html) Labels: [contemporary](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/contemporary) , [realistic](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/realistic) , [review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/review) , [verse](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/verse) [Newer Post](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/customer-service-101.html) [Older Post](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) [Home](https://readingeverywhere.com/) Subscribe to: [Post Comments (Atom)](https://readingeverywhere.com/feeds/7566038921683818340/comments/default) ## About Me **[Allison](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832)**: I'm a teen services librarian and mom of two, reading anywhere and everywhere when I can grab a spare moment! I love connecting kids and teens to awesome books, and enjoy keeping up with the latest titles so I can pass along my favorite recommendations to young readers. I also review books and apps for School Library Journal. Contact me at alli.librarian @ gmail (dot) com [View my complete profile](http://www.blogger.com/profile/06628530227439660832) ## Blog Archive - ► [2012](https://readingeverywhere.com/search?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=8) (8) - ► [January](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012_01_01_archive.html) (8) - [Book Review: Martha Doesn't Say Sorry, by Samantha...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-martha-doesnt-say-sorry-by.html) - [Graphic Novel Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender -...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/graphic-novel-review-avatar-last.html) - [Book Review: The Dead of Winter, by Chris Priestle...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-dead-of-winter-by-chris.html) - [Adventures in Butterbeer](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/adventures-in-butterbeer.html) - [Book Review: Across the Universe Series, by Beth R...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-across-universe-series-by.html) - [Challenge Accepted!](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/challenge-accepted.html) - [Book Review: Under the Never Sky, by Veronica Ross...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/book-review-under-never-sky-by-veronica.html) - [New Year's Resolutions: Bookish Goals](https://readingeverywhere.com/2012/01/new-years-resolutions-bookish-goals.html) - ▼ [2011](https://readingeverywhere.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50) (93) - ► [December](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_12_01_archive.html) (10) - [Book Review: Dumpling Days, by Grace Lin](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-dumpling-days-by-grace-lin.html) - [Book Review: Ditched: A Love Story, by Robin Mello...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-ditched-love-story-by-robin.html) - [2011: Bookish Highlights of My Year](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/2011-bookish-highlights-of-my-year.html) - [Cozy Christmas Reads](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/cozy-christmas-reads.html) - [Audiobook Review: Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Van...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/audiobook-review-moon-over-manifest-by.html) - [Book bloggers: What to do with those old ARCs?](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-bloggers-what-to-do-with-those-old.html) - [Librarians: How to get ARCs](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/librarians-how-to-get-arcs.html) - [Book Review: Stars, by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Fraz...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-stars-by-mary-lyn-ray-and.html) - [Book Review: Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-inside-out-and-back-again.html) - [Book Review: Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Bla...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/12/book-review-anna-dressed-in-blood-by.html) - ► [November](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_11_01_archive.html) (7) - [Waiting on Wednesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/waiting-on-wednesday.html) - [Librarian's night out: Breaking Dawn](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/librarians-night-out-breaking-dawn.html) - [Book Review: Audition, by Stasia Ward Kehoe](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/book-review-audition-by-stasia-ward.html) - [Book Review: Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/book-review-shatter-me-by-tahereh-mafi.html) - [Audiobook Review: Turtle in Paradise, by Jennfer L...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/book-review-turtle-in-paradise-by.html) - [Book Recommendation: A Monster Calls, by Patrick N...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/book-recommendation-monster-calls-by.html) - [Book Review: Between the Sea and Sky, by Jaclyn Do...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/11/book-review-between-sea-and-sky-by.html) - ► [October](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_10_01_archive.html) (9) - [A wee rant for Halloween: I see dead people.](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/wee-rant-for-halloween-i-see-dead.html) - [Book Review: The Kingdom of Xia series, by Cindy P...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/book-review-kingdom-of-xia-series-by.html) - [Event report: Brian Selznick](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/event-report-brian-selznick.html) - [Book Review: Gimme a Call, by Sarah Mlynowski](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/book-review-gimme-call-by-sarah.html) - [Not-so-nice news](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/not-so-nice-news.html) - [Audiobook Review: One Day and One Amazing Morning ...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/book-review-one-day-and-one-amazing.html) - [Book Review: The Name of the Star, by Maureen John...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/book-review-name-of-star-by-maureen.html) - [Book Review: Bunheads, by Sophie Flack](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/book-review-bunheads-by-sophie-flack.html) - [Around the Web](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/10/around-web.html) - ► [September](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_09_01_archive.html) (6) - [Book Review: Pie, by Sarah Weeks](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/book-review-pie-by-sarah-weeks.html) - [Conference Recap: KidLitCon 2011](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/conference-recap-kidlitcon-2011.html) - [Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Community](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/book-blogger-appreciation-week.html) - [Book Review: Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/wonderstruck-by-brian-selznick.html) - [Oh, by the way...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/oh-by-way.html) - [Waiting on Wednesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/09/waiting-on-wednesday.html) - ► [August](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_08_01_archive.html) (5) - [Audiobook Review: Sisterhood Everlasting, by Ann B...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/08/book-review-sisterhood-everlasting-by.html) - [Top Ten Tuesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/08/top-ten-tuesday.html) - [Book Review: I'll Be There, by Holly Goldberg Sloa...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/08/book-review-ill-be-there-by-holly.html) - [Book Review: Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephani...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/08/book-review-anna-and-french-kiss-by.html) - [Book Review: Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/08/book-review-paranormalcy-by-kiersten.html) - ► [July](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_07_01_archive.html) (6) - [Drumroll, please!](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/drumroll-please.html) - [Book Review: The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, by ...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/book-review-penderwicks-at-point.html) - [Book Review: The Near Witch, by Victoria Schwab](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/book-review-near-witch-by-victoria.html) - [Book Review and Giveaway: The Goddess Test, by Aim...](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/book-review-and-giveaway-goddess-test.html) - [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 3](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/07/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-3.html) - ▼ [June](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_06_01_archive.html) (7) - [Customer Service 101](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/customer-service-101.html) - [Book Review: Displacement, by Thalia Chaltas](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/book-review-displacement-by-thalia.html) - [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 2](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-2.html) - [Book Review: Hourglass, by Myra McEntire](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/book-review-hourglass-by-myra-mcentire.html) - [How to Run a Tween Book Group, Part 1](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/how-to-run-tween-book-group-part-1.html) - [Book Review: Hereafter, by Tara Hudson](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/hereafter-by-tara-hudson.html) - [Summer Reading Craft: Matchbox Louvre](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011/06/summer-reading-craft-matchbox-louvre.html) - ► [May](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_05_01_archive.html) (9) - ► [April](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_04_01_archive.html) (8) - ► [March](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_03_01_archive.html) (9) - ► [February](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_02_01_archive.html) (14) - ► [January](https://readingeverywhere.com/2011_01_01_archive.html) (3) ## Followers What I'm reading [More of Allison's books »](http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/318251-allison) ## Labels - [announcement](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/announcement) (1) - [arcs](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/arcs) (2) - [armchair bea](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/armchair%20bea) (5) - [audiobook](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/audiobook) (7) - [bbaw](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/bbaw) (2) - [book group](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/book%20group) (3) - [children's](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/children%27s) (6) - [conference](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/conference) (1) - [contemporary](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/contemporary) (19) - [crafts](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/crafts) (2) - [debut author challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/debut%20author%20challenge) (1) - [event report](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/event%20report) (1) - [fairy tale](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/fairy%20tale) (1) - [fantasy](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/fantasy) (10) - [fictional food](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/fictional%20food) (1) - [giveaway](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/giveaway) (2) - [graphic novel](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/graphic%20novel) (2) - [historical fiction](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/historical%20fiction) (9) - [illustrated](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/illustrated) (2) - [kidlitcon](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/kidlitcon) (1) - [librarianship](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/librarianship) (13) - [links](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/links) (2) - [memoir](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/memoir) (1) - [middle grade](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/middle%20grade) (6) - [movie review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/movie%20review) (1) - [mystery](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/mystery) (5) - [mythology](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/mythology) (2) - [newbery medal reading challenge](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/newbery%20medal%20reading%20challenge) (1) - [news](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/news) (1) - [nonfiction](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/nonfiction) (1) - [paranormal](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/paranormal) (8) - [picture book](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/picture%20book) (2) - [podcast](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/podcast) (2) - [realistic](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/realistic) (16) - [review](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/review) (48) - [sci-fi](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/sci-fi) (4) - [summer reading](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/summer%20reading) (2) - [time travel](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/time%20travel) (2) - [top ten tuesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/top%20ten%20tuesday) (2) - [urban fantasy](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/urban%20fantasy) (1) - [verse](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/verse) (3) - [waiting on wednesday](https://readingeverywhere.com/search/label/waiting%20on%20wednesday) (6)