num_pages: 64
description: "Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother, Juan lives with his grandmother and shines shoes. He passionately wants to attend school, but fears Grandmother will say no. Finally gathering his courage, he is surprised when she not only agrees to send him to school but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan tells this bittersweet story, which reads smoothly and powerfully on several levels, with warmth and dignity."-- Booklist.  
language: English
title: The Most Beautiful Place in the World
titlecomplete: The Most Beautiful Place in the World
genres: Education, Childrens, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Spanish Literature, Family, School, Read For School, Fiction, Realistic Fiction
ratings_count: 1066
places: Central America, Guatemala
awards: awardedAt: 599644800000
name: Jane Addams Children's Book Award, awardedAt: 568022400000
name: Best Children's Books of the Year (Bank Street College of Education)
publisher: Yearling