The Americas...
Cuba...
Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba
Alma Flor Ada
Based on the author's experiences in Cuba in the 1940's, this book offers a look into a traditional Cuban upbringing, from a young girl's perspective. A glimpse into Cuban life, this book is also about lives of all girls, wherever they live.
From School Library Journal: "Ada presents stories about growing up in Cuba in the 1940s that would not otherwise be available to readers living in the U.S. This collection offers a close look at an active and loving extended family, and it provides information on a prolific author. An accessible resource for students studying Latino writers."
For more information about Under the Royal Palms, go to:
Under the Royal Palms Link
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Peru...
Go and Come Back
Joan Abelove
Go and Come Back is told from an Isabo girl's perspective when two anthropologists from the US live amongst the fictional tribe. Alicia and her family find much of the women's behavior peculiar, which makes for a fun read. With so many cultural and social differences, with the women ever really understand the Isabos?
Here is some of what VOYA has to say: "This familiar yet fresh story describes what happens when two well-meaning but thoughtless anthropologists from New York travel to the Peruvian jungle to study the fictitious Isabos tribe. The narrator, a young member of the tribe named Alicia, offers many interesting and often humorous observations of the "two old white ladies," who are actually only in their twenties."
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From Mexico to the US...
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Children's Literature has a terrific description of this wonderful story:
"This exciting, well-written historical novel is based on the true-life experiences of the author's grandmother, Esperanza Ortega. Thirteen-year-old Esperanza and her newly widowed mother are forced to leave their fairytale existence at beautiful Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico, to live and work in a migrant worker camp in the San Joaquin Valley during the Great Depression. Adjustments to her new life are difficult for Esperanza�the harsh living conditions and hard labor are so different from her earlier life of privilege and wealth, especially after Mama becomes seriously ill with valley fever. But like the phoenix in her beloved grandma's story, Esperanza endures, "Rising again, with a new life ahead..."
For more information about this book, go to:
Esperanza Rising Link
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From the U.S. to Mexico...
Becoming Naomi Leon
Pam Munoz Ryan
When Naomi's absent mother returns to claim her after seven years, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother to find her father. With rich Oaxacan culture, this story shows the author's connection to the history of this romantic and flavorful area.
For more information about this book, go to:
Becoming Naomi Leon Link
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Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba
Alma Flor Ada
Based on the author's experiences in Cuba in the 1940's, this book offers a look into a traditional Cuban upbringing, from a young girl's perspective. A glimpse into Cuban life, this book is also about lives of all girls, wherever they live.
From School Library Journal: "Ada presents stories about growing up in Cuba in the 1940s that would not otherwise be available to readers living in the U.S. This collection offers a close look at an active and loving extended family, and it provides information on a prolific author. An accessible resource for students studying Latino writers."
For more information about Under the Royal Palms, go to:
Under the Royal Palms Link
****************************************
Peru...
Go and Come Back
Joan Abelove
Go and Come Back is told from an Isabo girl's perspective when two anthropologists from the US live amongst the fictional tribe. Alicia and her family find much of the women's behavior peculiar, which makes for a fun read. With so many cultural and social differences, with the women ever really understand the Isabos?
Here is some of what VOYA has to say: "This familiar yet fresh story describes what happens when two well-meaning but thoughtless anthropologists from New York travel to the Peruvian jungle to study the fictitious Isabos tribe. The narrator, a young member of the tribe named Alicia, offers many interesting and often humorous observations of the "two old white ladies," who are actually only in their twenties."
From Mexico to the US...
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza and her mother are forced to leave their life of wealth and privilege in Mexico to go work in the labor camps of Southern California, where they must adapt to the harsh circumstances facing Mexican farm workers on the eve of the Great Depression.
Children's Literature has a terrific description of this wonderful story:
"This exciting, well-written historical novel is based on the true-life experiences of the author's grandmother, Esperanza Ortega. Thirteen-year-old Esperanza and her newly widowed mother are forced to leave their fairytale existence at beautiful Rancho de las Rosas in Mexico, to live and work in a migrant worker camp in the San Joaquin Valley during the Great Depression. Adjustments to her new life are difficult for Esperanza�the harsh living conditions and hard labor are so different from her earlier life of privilege and wealth, especially after Mama becomes seriously ill with valley fever. But like the phoenix in her beloved grandma's story, Esperanza endures, "Rising again, with a new life ahead..."
For more information about this book, go to:
Esperanza Rising Link
************************************************
From the U.S. to Mexico...
Becoming Naomi Leon
Pam Munoz Ryan
When Naomi's absent mother returns to claim her after seven years, Naomi runs away to Mexico with her great-grandmother and younger brother to find her father. With rich Oaxacan culture, this story shows the author's connection to the history of this romantic and flavorful area.
For more information about this book, go to:
Becoming Naomi Leon Link
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posted by Janet @ 10:06 AM
1 Comments:
At 12:08 PM,
Unknown said…
It was a very pleasant surprise to find my book Under the Royal Palms listed in your blog. Thanks so much for including it.
I wonder if you have come across my other book of childhood memories Where the Flame Trees Bloom.
Because I wrote it earlier it has received less exposure, yet I have always believed its evocative quality is equal to that Under the Royal Palms (as an author I consider that its literary merit may even be more significant) and for me it is very important since I write there of two women who were very influential in my life, and extraordinary human being in their own right: my grandmother, the educator (in the vignette The Teacher) and my illetarem but so wise, great grandmother (in the vignettes Rag Dolls and Mathematics). Again, thanks for letting your readers know about Under the Royal Palms.
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