Latino Books

The author is to be congratulated for this scholarly yet readable account of the involvement of the American Catholic Church with the struggle of farm workers for social justice. Based upon solid archival research, including access to the records of the Bishops' Ad hoc Committee on Farm Labor and the papers of Msgr. George Higgins, this is a condensed version of Dr. Prouty's doctoral dissertation from The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, DC. Unlike many re-worked dissertations for publication, this account is a coherent and well written study that also tells a compelling story. His sympathy for Cesar Chavez, a hero of almost saintly proportions to many Hispanic-Americans, is not blind to Chavez's shortcomings in building a strong farm workers union that could sustain itself beyond the heady days of boycotts and hunger strikes of the 1960s and 1970s. Dr. Prouty also discusses the roles of the three churchmen who, as members of the Bishops' Ad hoc Committee on Farm Labor in the 1970s, were crucial to the accomplishments of the nascent United Farm Workers (UFM) union in receiving labor contracts from growers, many of them Catholic, as well as the passage of significant legislation by the State of California. These men, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, the Bishop Joseph Donnelly of Connecticut, and the aforementioned Msgr. Higgins, strongly supported the farm workers when many of their clerical colleagues were indecisive or even hostile.

CESAR CHAVEZ: FIGHTING FOR FAIRNESS joins others in the 'Famous Latinos' series for grades 3-4, offering a little over thirty pages of basic biographical facts about Chavez' life, achievements, and the politics surrounding migrant worker issues. As an introduction for the young it holds a good blend of visuals and text suitable for reports.

From Back Cover:

"How does our white/black binary thinking about race obscure our understanding of changing race relations in the United States? 'Challenging Fronteras' addresses this question by offering a comprehensive introduction to the diversity of Latino cultures and experiences in America, moving beyond superficial treatments of Latinos as a monolithic group.

These essays, which employ social science and ethnic studies perspectives, cover topics such as immigration, theories of ethnicity, identity, work and family life, and politically and economic restructuring. Tracing the intersection of race, class, gender, ethnicity, and citizenship, the contributors expose the constraints that inform the lives of Latinas and Latinos and explore the possibilities ahead.

Contributors include: Max J. Castro, Norma Stoltz Chinchilla, Scott Coltrane, Debbie Draznin, M. Patricia Fernandez-Kelly, Juan Flores, Anna M. Garcia, Guillermo Grenier, Luis E. Guarnizo, Jacqueline Maria Hagan, Nora Hamilton, Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo, J. Jorg eKlor de Alva, Steve Morris, Suzanne Oboler, Vilma Ortiz, Candace Nelson, Alejandro Portes, Terry A. Repack, Clara E. Rodriguez, Nestor P. Rodriguez, Mary Romero, Alex Stepick, Marta Tienda, Elsa O. Valdez, Patrcia Zavella

Partial list of essays:
* The structuring of Hispanic Ethnicity * the Roots of Hispanic Homogenization * The Invention of Ethnic Origins and Negotiation of Latino Identity, 1969-1981 * Central American Migration, Summary of Puerto Rican Migration to the U.S. * History of Mexican Undocumented Settlement in the United States * The Nicaraguan Exodus * Los Dominicanyorks: The Making of a Binational Society * The Structuring of Puerto Rican Identity in the U.S. * Reflections on Diversity Among Chicanas*The Politics of Work and Family Among Hispanic Garment Workers in California & Florida.

This story is the story of a little gril named Fern who loves a little pig named Wilbur- and of Wilbur's dear friend Charlotte, a beautiful large grey spider who lives with wilbur in the life of Wilbur. Who is some pig.Atimeless tale of friendsship. i recimmend this book to kids who like animals and like to take care of them.

"The Chat Room and Other Latino Plays" explores the complexities of Latino gay life through characters and events that challenge our expectations in both funny and disturbing ways. Several closeted men meet in a public space to flirt with each other, but end up discussing the joys and pains of fatherhood. A bisexual man surprises his gay partner with an unusual birthday gift: a Puerto Rican. A Latino-Rican decides to pursue a chat room date with a mysterious man that slowly takes over his apartment and even brings a woman in. All three plays are an invitation to revise our values and to experiment with new identities. Writers like Leo Cabranes, whose plays Floricanto is putting out, in effect, leading the way. Leo addresses the issue: what does it mean to be a Latino-American in the U.S? How does the color of your skin, or your accent, or any of a dozen of perceived differences affect not only how you may be treated-demonized, vilified, adored, iconized-but also how you come to perceive yourself?

Cheech Marin was part of the comedy duo Cheech and Chong. He is Latino and is writing children's books now. This one is cute. A group of kids want to compete in the Battle of the Bands at school, Cheech as the school bus driver, encourages them not to be a rock n' roll band like the others but learn to play Mariachi. The kids practice and learn, will they win? Kids will like this. I only wish an Audio CD accompanied the book.

This book takes Chicana feminist thought to the next level--you will be sure to enjoy!

In their introduction to Chicano Sketches, the editors assert that the late short-story writer Mario Suarez "represents a unique case of an early Chicano author who remained faithful to his original purpose of creating a distinctively Chicano literary space." How early? The first eight of the 19 stories included in this collection were first published by the Arizona Quarterly between 1947 and 1950. The "distinctively Chicano literary space" Suarez created was grounded in the harsh realities of a barrio in Tucson called El Hoyo (literally "The Hole") which the editors term "an urban wasteland." Suarez, who was also a journalist, social activist and educator who relocated his family to Southern California in 1958, possessed a sharp eye for quotidian human experience. He populated his "sketches" (his term) with preening pachucos, avuncular barbers, unrepentant womanizers, chisme-loving comadres, clever swindlers and many other examples of humanity.

Suarez did not romanticize the Chicano experience; indeed, he acknowledged such social dysfunctions as alcohol abuse ("Cuco Goes to a Party" and "Loco-Chu"), indolence ("Kid Zopilote") and economic struggle ("The Migrant" and "Los Coyotes") while celebrating the beauty of Chicano culture ("Mexican Heaven"), human kindness ("Dona Clara" and "Senor Garza") and the work ethic ("Something Useful, Even Tailoring"). Quite often, Suarez relied on biting irony and comedic juxtapositions to illustrate his characters' vices and virtues. No collection of Chicano literature will be complete without this volume. [The full version of this review first appeared in Southwest BookViews.]

Life goes on - it always goes on, and one has to keep up with it to survive. "Chicken Foot Farm" is the story of a Mexican American family, set just after World War II has begun in Europe. They deal with random events that life throws at them - consuming fires, the senility of old age, sibling rivalry, approval of one's parents, and the omnipresent influence of a world war. Though all these things are horrible, it is heartwarming to see how the family copes with each of them. "Chicken Foot Farm" is a deftly written literary novel, highly recommended for community library collections.

This book is very entertaining. I am a teacher and a boxing fan. Chuca is excellent reading that youngsters can relate to and learn from. I like the way David Olivas accurately describes the Hispanic culture. It brings back fond memories. There is good advice for both youth and adult in this story. I believe the author was a boxer once. His discrption of the main character finding his talent in the ring is first rate. I recommend this to anyone of any age who likes a good story. I hope to see more from this author.