By the novel’s end, Naomi has grown from a worried, soft-spoken girl to a reserved, confident, child with a healthy sense of self and a powerful voice.

He does that and much more during his happy reunion with the children. Gram hopes that Santiago will help them win the court case by writing a letter of support. Gram plans to search for Naomi and Owen’s father, Santiago León, while they celebrate the Christmas holidays in Mexico. Then, Gram and the children’s extended family and neighbors travel to Oaxaca, Mexico.

To keep her safe, Gram requests a hearing in court. Their announcement catalyzes Gram and the children’s extended family to take drastic action because Skyla’s taking custody of the children would inevitably put them in harm’s way.ĭuring a drunken meltdown, Skyla attempts to kidnap Naomi. At Thanksgiving dinner, Skyla and her boyfriend Clive reveal a scheme to take Naomi away to Las Vegas. She struggles with alcoholism, treats Naomi like a pet, and regards Owen as an embarrassment. Gram and the children try to give Skyla the benefit of the doubt, but she quickly reveals that she’s still not able or willing to be a good mother. Her return throws their lives into chaos. One day, the children’s mother, Skyla, drops in to visit and allegedly reconnect with the children after a seven-year absence. Naomi León, her brother Owen, and their great-grandmother, Gram, who raises them, live in Lemon Tree in a trailer. Naomi Soledad Leon Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Told in first-person from Naomi’s perspective, Becoming Naomi León traces Naomi’s path of living up to her name, which means “Naomi the Lion.” The novel takes place in contemporary suburban San Diego, California, and Oaxaca City, Mexico. Becoming Naomi Leon View larger image By: Pam Muoz Ryan Synopsis A reissue of Pam Munoz Ryan's bestselling backlist with a distinctive author treatment and new cover art by Raul Colon. This study guide refers to the Scholastic library-bound edition, published in 2004. She attended the 100th anniversary of La Noche de los Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) in 1997, which is a real carving festival held every year. Her experience was so unforgettable that it inspired the novel’s setting.

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.In her biography, Ryan describes her first trip to Oaxaca and the magic she found in the city. And with Gram and her little brother, Owen, Naomi's life at Avocado Acres Trailer Rancho in California is happy and peaceful.until their mother reappears after seven years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover and proclaim who she really is.Ĭopyright: 2004 Book Details Book Quality: Publisher Quality Book Size: 254 Pages ISBN-13: 9780545532327 Related ISBNs: Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, and her status at school as 'nobody special.'īut according to Gram, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking.

A reissue of Pam Munoz Ryan's bestselling backlist with a distinctive author treatment and new cover art by Raul Colon.

Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan