Culture
3 – Hispanic Latino (a) Literature
Bibliography
Medina, M. (1993). Yaqui
delgado wants to kick your ass. [EBook] Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.
ISBN: 9780763663544
Plot
Summary
Yaqui
Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass is about a newly
transferred Latin sophomore student named Piddy Sanchez. Piddy encounters
bullying at her new school for reasons she can’t explain. Piddy prides herself
on academics and wants nothing to do with Yaqui and her torments. The bullying
reaches new heights as Yaqui jumps Piddy outside of her apartment. This
situation causes Piddy to skip class and as a result, her grades are effected.
With the help of her friends the bullying is brought to light and Yaqui is
faced with consequences. Piddy in return is given the opportunity to transfer
back to her old high school and is accepted to a specialized school in the
fall.
Critical
Analysis
The story takes place in
the Queens a borough of New York City. Piddy Sanchez is the daughter of Clara
who are of Cuban descent. As a single mother Clara expresses how she only wants
the best for her daughter as she works long hard hours to provide for both of
them. Piddy has grown up without a father and demands answers as to why this is
so.
As the story is told
through Piddy, the language used throughout the story such as hija, por Dios, gracias mi vida,
etc.…adds cultural authenticity to the story. If these words were written in
English the impact of the story may not be as meaningful or strong. There are
also small cultural markers included in the story such as lighting the Virgen
candle and a garden statue of la Virgen.
Music
plays a big role in Cuba and is transparent in this story. The music is what
contributes to the plot of the story as Piddy is threatened the first time for
“shaking your ass the way you do”. Her mother’s best friend taught her how to
dance merengue and thinks it’s her fault she shakes her butt. The association
with music throughout the story is played and danced along to in happy
occasions. For example, when Lila is selling Avon at one of her events, while
celebrating Piddy’s 16th birthday, and then at the end of the story
when Piddy has been accepted to McCleary.
With bullying being the
theme of the story, we see both effects of bullying transpire within the book.
On one side we see the bully, Yaqui Delgado and the consequences she must face.
On the other hand, we have Piddy Sanchez the individual who endures the
bullying. Readers are exposed to the very real repercussions of being bullied.
Bullied individuals tend to be afraid to go to school, grades are effected, and
home life is impacted.
Review
Excerpts
School
Library Journal - “The Latino cultural milieu adds a
richness and texture that lifts this up above many problem novels. The plot
points are dexterously intertwined, and the characters are distinct. A real
bonus for those looking for a bullying book for older readers that is not
simplistic.”
The
Horn Book – “Yaqui may think she’s tough, but it’s
Piddy and some of the other female characters, namely Piddy’s mother and her
mother’s flamboyant best friend Lila, who make more lasting impressions.
Medina’s setting stands out as well…Teens will identify with Piddy’s struggle.”
Booklist (April
15, 2013 (Vol. 109, No. 16)) - Grades 8-11. When Piedad
“Piddy” Sanchez hears that Yaqui Delgado is going to crush her, she has no idea
why she has become a target of one of the roughest girls in her new Queens
school. But Yaqui tells everyone Piddy is a skank who shakes her ass when she
walks, and as the bullying escalates from threats to physical attacks, Piddy
finds herself living in constant fear. A strong student with a bright future at
her old school, Piddy starts skipping school, and her grades nosedive. After a
truly upsetting attack on Piddy is uploaded to YouTube, she realizes this isn’t
a problem she can solve on her own. Medina authentically portrays the emotional
rigors of bullying through Piddy’s growing sense of claustrophobic dread, and
even with no shortage of loving, supportive adults on her side, there’s no easy
solution. With issues of ethnic identity, class conflict, body image, and
domestic violence, this could have been an overstuffed problem novel; instead,
it transcends with heartfelt, truthful writing that treats the complicated
roots of bullying with respect.
Connections
Other reads with bullying being the forefront theme of
the stories are:
Cormier, Robert. The
Chocolate War. ISBN 9781518163753
Heneghan, James. Payback.
ISBN 9780329666538
Shulman, Mark. Scrawl:
A Novel. ISBN 9780329961701
Willians-Garcia, Rita. Jumped. ISBN 9780329813826
Bibliography
Sánchez, E. L. (2017). I am not your perfect Mexican daughter. (K. Garcia, Narr.) [Audiobook]. New York, NY: Penguin Random House. ISBN 9781524782252
Plot
Summary
“Traditional” Mexican daughters are supposed to live a
certain way, according to Mexican parents. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican
Daughter takes place in Chicago where Julia Reyes a 15 year old girl will do
whatever it takes to attend college far away from Chicago as possible. Olga was
the prime example on how Mexican daughters should live, according to her
parents, undocumented immigrants from Mexico. She worked as a secretary,
attended a local college, lived at home, and tended to her parents. After a
tragic accident involving the death of her older sister Olga, her parents
become more involved in Julia’s life. Julia on the other hand is everything
opposite of how Olga lives, or was Olga living a double life? Julia begins to
discover items in her room that eventually unfolds the truth about her sister’s
life.
Critical
Analysis
This book conveys many hardships immigrants endure and
issues teenagers experience throughout school.
Immigration plays a role in this story. We are
introduced to the mother of Julia, Amá,
a cleaning lady and Apá, who works at a
candy factory, as they work hard to earn a living for their
family. Apa decided to move to the United States for a better life. Julia
eventually learns about the story of their harrowing journey of what they
endured to get to Chicago. The idea of a better life according to Julia’s
parents is to stay home, attend a local college, and find a job indoors. This
is what is told to Julia by her relatives. The thought of leaving the house to
attend school and live away from your Mexican family is almost a “betrayal”.
Julia tries hard to explain those are not her intentions throughout the story.
She expresses she has a mind of her own and has other expectations for herself.
Fortunately, her parents come to terms and finally accept their daughter’s
decision to attend NYU.
The language provides an authentic cultural experience
for the reader “esta cabada”, “aye mija que delicada”, “naco”, “Dona Ramona”, “comadre”, etc.
Julia is considered overweight in the United States, but when she is sent to
Mexico and reconnects with her roots her aunts tell her that is too thin and
needs to eat up. Weight for Mexican women in the Mexican culture signifies they
are taken care of (wealth) and the ability to care for their children.
Julia goes through a period of mental illness as she doesn’t
feel worthy of living with all of the problems she causes and is going through.
Teenagers experience many problems and deal with them their own ways.
Unfortunately, mental illness is a very real issue and should be discussed with
students.
In the end, Julia discovers her sister’s darkest
secret. Olga was having an affair with a married man and was pregnant. The
thought of revealing this secret to Olga’s parents would be the death of them.
In the end, Julia realizes there are some secrets that should stay buried.
Review
Excerpts
School Library
Journal (September 1, 2017) –
“Gr 10 Up-Fifteen-year-old outcast Julia Reyes longs to attend college in New
York, in order to get away from the suffocating watch of her undocumented
Mexican parents in Chicago. The unusual death of Julia's older sister
Olga-considered the perfect child by her family-only bolsters this desire, as
her parents focus their attention even more strongly on their now only child.
When Julia stumbles across unexpected items in Olga's bedroom after the funeral,
she sets off on a course to discover her sister's secrets while trying to find
some escape from her strict parents. Sánchez makes Julia's unflinching
candidness very clear from the start, with the opening sentence providing her
stark description of Olga's corpse. This attitude intermittently brings levity
to heavy moments, but also heartbreak when the weight of it all comes crashing
down. That honesty and heartbreak is skillfully woven throughout, from the
authentic portrayal of sacrifices made and challenges faced by immigrants to
the clash of traditional versus contemporary practices, and the struggle of
first-generation Americans to balance their two cultures. The importance of
language, a lens through which Latinxs are often viewed and sharply judged, is
brilliantly highlighted through an ample but measured use of Spanish that is
often defined in context without feeling forced or awkward. The author
interweaves threads related to depression/anxiety, body image, sexuality, rape,
suicide, abuse, and gang violence in both the U.S. and Mexico with nuance,
while remaining true to the realities of those issues.”
Horn Book Magazine – “But the depiction of Julia as she processes her
losses is hauntingly memorable and noteworthy in its authentic representation
of culture and experience too rarely written.”
Kirkus Reviews (August 15, 2017) – “This gritty contemporary novel about an unlikable
first-generation Mexican-American teen fails to deliver as a coming-of-age
journey.”
Connections
Other reads on death, grief, immigration and family
expectations are as follows:
Kemp, Laekan Z. Somewhere
Between Bitter and Sweet. ISBN 9780316460279
Zarr, Sara. How
to Save a Life. ISBN 9780316193016
Acevedo, Elizabeth. The Poet X. ISBN 9780062662811
Bibliography
Mora, P. (2007). Yum! ¡mmm! ¡qué rico!:America's sproutings. Ill. Rafael Lopez. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781600608926
Plot
Summary
Yum! ¡mmm! ¡qué rico!:America's sproutings, is a nonfiction Haiku written by Pat Mora. Throughout
the book, she writes about the different “indigenous foods of the Americas such
as blueberries, corn, pineapple, pecans and so many more. Each food is paired
with its own information of history, facts, and a haiku.
Critical
Analysis
As stated by author Pat Mora at the end of this book,
“Haiku invites us to leap from image to image.” And that is exactly what the
reader sees upon reading the book! Author Mora provides history and facts about
these different foods. The choice of words, “brown magic melts on your tongue,”
creates an imaginable feeling in the readers mind. Her choice of including
their original names of foods (most in Spanish) helps Spanish speakers/readers
make a connection with the English version of the word.
Illustrator Rafael Lopez creates vibrant artistic representations
of Pat Mora’s words. Each page showcases large illustrations that showcases the
food being discussed. For example, readers can relate to the image of the
father eating the chile. We have either been in that position or have seen
someone experience that heat. There are images throughout the story that
showcase the Hispanic family. For example, when corn is discussed you can see
the family sitting together eating corn tortillas. Corn tortillas are a
traditional food staple in the Hispanic community. The importance of family
sharing stories with the elders (grandmother) is also seen when pecans are
introduced to the readers.
Review
Excerpts
Horn Book Guide (Spring 2008) – “Fourteen haiku celebrate blueberries, chiles,
chocolate, corn, pineapples, and other foods from North and South America. The
language is light and kid-friendly: "Round roly-poly / squirts seedy,
juicy splatter. / Red bursts in your mouth." Sidebars provide notes on
each food. Acrylic on wood-panel illustrations dance with color and whimsy,
complementing the high-spirited, playful descriptions of food in all its
delicious diversity.”
Kirkus Reviews (September 15,
2007) – “Haiku celebrating the
diversity of edible plants native to the Americas--blueberries, chocolate,
prickly pears, pecans and more. Each spread includes an informative paragraph
explaining the probable origin, history and some trivia for the plant described
in the poem. (The word pecan, for example, comes from a French word meaning,
"nut to be cracked on a rock.") L-pez's vibrant, folklorish
illustrations make the book a visual feast, but the haikus are uneven. Some
(Chiles: "Dad bites green mouth-fire / laughs when tears fill his eyes,
sighs / 'Mmmm! This heat tastes good' ") evoke the essence of their subject;
others (Potato: Underground magic. / Peel brown bundle, mash, pile high. / Salt
and pepper clouds) are just confusing. More interesting as social science than
as poetry, but visually gorgeous.”
School Library
Journal (September 1, 2007) – “PreS-Gr
3-This concept book serves as a delicious introduction to 14 types of food, all
of which have their origins in the Americas. Snippets of information and a
haiku poem accompany each one, ranging from blueberry and chili pepper through
papaya, prickly pear, and vanilla. Using English and a smattering of Spanish
words, Mora crafts a playful introduction to each one, as in
"Pumpkin": "Under round luna,/scattered tumblings down the
rows,/autumn's orange face." The sense of whimsy is further underscored in
L-pez's colorful acrylic on wood-panel illustrations. Artful compositions and
brilliant complementary colors bear out the book's multicultural themes. The
art conveys an infectious sense of fun, as smiling suns and moons beam down
upon happy children and animals, along with a trumpet-wielding peanut-butter
sandwich and a dancing pineapple. Teachers will find this a welcome addition to
their social-studies units, but it should also win a broad general audience for
its inventive, fun-filled approach to an ever-popular topic: food.-Marilyn
Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright 2007 Reed Business
Information.”
Connections
Other books on poetry with illustrations are found
below:
Aylesworth, Jim.
This Book is called the Burger and
the Hot Dog. ISBN 9780689838972
Muth, Jon J. Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons. ISBN
9781489861696
Prelutsky, Jack. If Not for the Cat. ISBN
9780060596774
Scalon, Elizabeth G. All the World. ISBN 9781416985808
Bibliography
Morales, Y. (2018). Dreamers.
Ill. Yuyi Morales. [EBook] New York, NY: Holiday House. ISBN 97808823441259
Plot
Summary
Dreamers is the story of Yuyi Morales and her son on
how she came to the United States of America. As she says goodbye to her family
in Mexico, she can only imagine what her new life has in store for her. Making
her way into the United States, she soon realizes it is nothing like home. The
language is different amongst everything else. She comes across a public
library where she learns how to read, write, and speak English. The public
library was their sanctuary.
Critical
Analysis
The simplicity of Yuyi Morales word choice can be
easily understood by children alike, but they hold deeper meanings for example,
“Where we didn’t need to speak, we only needed to trust.” She also includes Spanish words which provide culture authenticity
to her story. Words such as “amor”, “sonadores”, “caminanates”, and “migrantes”
would not have the same impact if they were written in English.
The illustrations provide readers detailed descriptive images. The story could easily be told without the words. When Yuyi sets on her journey to the United States, there is an illustration of a backpack filled with gifts from home. One can see the items such as the calavera and guitar showcases Mexico. Words on the other pages are illustrated in English and backgrounds, showing how disconnected she felt at arrival in the States. As she continues her journey readers can see the history taking place as illustrations of protesters are present. The library images are realistic and show all walks of life using the library. Even though Yuyi learned how to read, write and speak English the images of gifts make an appearance in almost every page throughout the story. This can possibly show even though she learned the language, she still stays true to her heritage.
Review
Excerpts
Horn Book Guide starred (Spring
2019) - “Two
"migrantes," a mother and her infant son, arrive on "the other
side." Here they meet cultural challenges (customs, language) that are
resolved at the San Francisco Public Library, with its "unimaginable"
wealth of books that offer paths to literacy, community, even a career.
Occasional Spanish words enrich the succinct, gently poetic text, illustrated
with rich and vibrant pen-and-ink, acrylic, and collage art. Back matter sets
the narrative in personal and historical context. Concurrently published in Spanish
as Soqadores.”
School Library Journal (September
1, 2018) - “PreS-Gr 3-The
acclaimed creator ofáNiño Wrestles the WorldáandáViva Fridaáhas crafted another
masterpiece in this autobiographical picture book. From her son's birth to
their move to the United States from Mexico in the mid-1990s to their often
fraught- and barrier-filled life, the tale highlights the many obstacles
immigrants face while trying to survive in a new country that doesn't readily
welcome non-English-speaking people of color. The pair encounters respite at
the library where, with the help of librarians, they find a home in the
children's section. The dreamlike, lyrical text captures the wonder of
childhood, learning, and discovery through books. The magical art marries the
succinct and powerful narrative in a resplendent celebration of literacy,
language, and the transformative power of the picture book form. Readers will
delight in finding Morales's tributes to kid lit classics, new and old,
throughout the spreads. The majestic illustrations often incorporate Mexican
traditions and mythology and they resound with mythic imagery, speaking volumes
about the love and dreams shared between mother and child. Morales explains in
an author's note that she and her son are not "Dreamers" in the
modern sense-"young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S.
as children"-but dreamers in the sense of all immigrants who come to a new
country.”
Booklist starred (September 1, 2018 (Vol. 115, No. 1)) - “Preschool-Grade 2. Yuyi Morales and her son are dreamers—the books they read allow them to imagine a new life in a new country that doesn’t always welcome them. Based on her own immigration tale, the multi-award-winning Morales’ newest picture book recounts the challenges and wonders of living in a new country. She and her son experience discrimination because they don’t always know the rules and customs of their new home. English becomes a barrier that makes it difficult for them to fully comprehend the world around them. Despite it all, Morales and her son find hope in the books of their local library, and their voracious reading leads them to create their own books."
Other great biographies with illustrations for
children are as follows:
Golio, Gary. Carlos
Santana: sound of the heart, song of the world. ISBN 9781627795128
Hanel, Rachael. When
Cesar Chavez climbed the umbrella tree. ISBN 9781515830429
Winter, Jonah. Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx. ISBN 9781442403031
