Latino Books

In his book `Caminemos con Jesus: Toward a Hispanic/Latino Theology of Accompaniment', Roberto S. Goizueta challenges prevailing notions of theology even in the more liberal wing of the academy. Much of modern Western theology is devised by people of different creeds and colours, but primarily using Western ideology and culture as a point from which to start. In basing his theology on Hispanic/Latino culture, a growing but still far-from-dominant culture in political, social and academic terms, Goizueta invites the reader to look at theology from an underside of powerlessness, oppression and neglect. This can have long range impact on the future of the church and society in the West, and in particular North America, as the Hispanic/Latino community continues to grow in numbers, in strength and in an insistence on being heard.

Perhaps the key question Goizueta asks is this: `How can Hispanics articulate their own theology, rooted in their own experience?' Being a member of this community, Goizueta attempts what he admits is one man's attempt at devising such a theology. Beginning with the popular Catholicism that permeates much of Hispanic culture, Goizueta looks in a somewhat systematic way the various theological issues that arise: how to look at God, Jesus, Mary, the human person, human action and events, theological processes themselves, and finally what many liberation theologians focus upon, God's preferential option for the poor.

Aliens
In his chapter `Learning to Walk in an Alien Land', Goizueta looks at social location, a sociological term that essentially means 'context'. Goizueta looks at the in-between status of Hispanics in America, and draws on some of his own experience and biographical information to highlight the linguistic and analytical problems of doing an Hispanic theology.

Caminemos con Jesus
In the next chapter on `US Hispanic Popular Catholicism', Goizueta looks specifically at ritual aspects of Catholicism as practiced by the Hispanic community in North America today. With special emphasis on Holy Week and devotionals to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Goizueta shows the special regard that Hispanics have for certain aspects, and where some of the meanings can be diffferent from mainstream, non-Hispanic Catholicism. Like many Christians, the Hispanic view of the Holy Week and the Our Lady celebrations on December 12 are not mere re-enactments, but are part of the ongoing life of the miracles of God. This sets a strong stage of the idea of accompaniment.

Nosotros
In this chapter on `The Community as the Birthplace of the Self', Goizueta develops a unique view of the self from a US Hispanic perspective. The human person here is highly relational, intrinsically communal, and thus somewhat at odds with prevailing notions of individuality. Drawing on images and stories set out in the first two chapters (which is a trend that Goizueta will continue in future chapters), this sense of self is intensely personal while remaining general enough to be useful for other to draw insight from.

Beauty or Justice?
In this chapter, Goizueta looks at `The Aesthetic Character of Human Action'. Developing definitions of praxis, liberation praxis, and the idea of praxis as aesthetics, Goizueta builds an argument for empirical analysis coupled with traditional sensibilities in the US Hispanic community. He goes on in the next chapter to develop these ideas.

Beauty and Justice
What a difference one word can make! In this chapter, Goizueta considers `Popular Catholicism as Human Action'. Looking at Western models such as Aristotle, Marx, other Latin American theologians, and drawing heavily upon Jose Vasconcelos, Goizueta sets out a notion of human action that is meaningful and beautiful in a more philosophical sense -- that which is good and just for the community. The importance of ethical relationships on all levels of the socio-politico-economic spectrum to enhance the overall worshipfulness and spirit of the community is a key idea here.

Being Reasonable
In this section, Goizueta looks at the high end of theology, examining `Modernity, Postmodernity, and the US Hispanic Theologian'. One surprising aspect of this chapter is that Goizueta argues against traditional North American pluralistic attitudes, in theology and in other fields. Goizueta fears for the integrity of his theological enterprise, in that it will not be given the relevance or importance it should have.

`In North American pluralism, however, such an option can only be one among other equally valid options. That is precisely how US Hispanic theology will be treated: as one among many equally valid and 'enriching' options.'

This is surprising, though it shouldn't be. Not all ideas are equally valid for anyone. Goizueta makes an important point here, worth hearing on many levels.

Hacia Una Teologia de Acompanamiento
In this final chapter, `The Preferential Option for the Poor and the Proper Place of Theology', Goizueta finally puts forward his ideas of the theology of accompaniment referenced in the title of the text. Goizueta argues strongly for this preferential option, being a natural outgrowth of the connection between his ideas of organic anthropology and prevailing conditions and cultures in Latin America which US Hispanics carry with them. The idea of accompaniment has many implications, including a recognition of the value of human beings regardless of gender (not always a given among Catholic US Hispanics) as well as a recognition of the importance of theological themes all through life: in the home, in the workplace, in the social arena.

It is our task, regardless of our starting point, to walk with, or accompany, these people. To walk with the poor does not simply mean a geographic relocation. It means becoming intensely aware of their conditions -- body, mind, spirit, hope, future -- and how these things differ from mainstream Western culture. It also has a call to the development of interior life, as a means of strengthening the identity of those from whom culture often robs or ignores.

Goizueta's work is simply fantastic. Steeped in philosophy, theology and the context of US Hispanic culture, Goizueta thoroughly articulates a US Hispanic theology that takes seriously the unique cultural and social location of US Hispanics. Furthermore, he shows the relationship between Latin American liberation theology and US Hispanic theology. Importantly, he offers a much needed corrective to the Latin American understanding of praxis through his emphasis on the aesthetic character of human action. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in contemporary theology, US Hispanic theology and religion, liberation theology or religion and culture.

In this excellent volume on Hispanic theology, Roberto Goizueta shares with a universal audience the power and insights that originate in the Latino and Latina community in the United States. I have a great appreciation for his approach and read the book while taking a course under his tutelage at Boston College.

For me, the most powerful insight of the Hispanic approach is its emphasis on community--a reality which our postmodern culture would do well to rediscover! As much as we prefer to think of ourselves as self-determined individualists, the reality is that much of who were are is given at birth. We come from a particular culture and ethnic group and we are products of the communities in which we are raised. Given this viewpoint, Hispanic theology argues for "the intrinsically relational character of the person" and this insight offers profound repercussions for how we must relate to the poor and the marginalized (page 182).

Goizueta does not argue for determinism, but for appreciation of the role which our communities play in offering meaning and shape to our lives. In giving us this insight, he crafts a theology which is imminently pastoral in its approach and which allows us to accompany the Hispanic community as it understands itself to be "walking with Jesus."

Adopting in practice the ancient adage: lex orandi, lex credendi (the way we pray is the the way we believe) Goizueta takes the heart of Hispanic religious expression and shows how it brings us to the heart of theology, a truly existential Christology with powerful insights on the meaning of Christian community. This study will enrich the theological insight of any Western theologian and could offer a significant bridge with the developing Christian theologies of Asia.

The Chalupa Rules took me back to the days of growing up in San Antonio, TX. The book is amusing and adds a lot of situational relevance.

I use the captivating "dichos" of Mario's life as a teaching tool for young Latinos and as a guide for my own decisions. The author is one of the most astounding people I have come across in my life. I believe anybody can appreciate the lessons within The Chalupa Rules.

This is a little gem of a book that's jam-packed with wisdom and masterfully written. Easy to pick up and read but hard to put down.
The author provides over 40 carefully chosen rules for life that reflect his experiences in life. Moreover they represent timeless wisdom that all could profit from. He adds interest by showing how his own experience in life reflect the wisdom of the cahalupa rules. These vignettes are masterully written and captivating.
Ben Franklin would be jealous of the wit and wisdom this author has gathered together. If only all books on wisdom were so interesting and well written

Growing up "Chicano" in the west side of San Antonio in the 1960s and 70s, my whole life seemed to be shaped by dichos, curanderas, and public assistance.
In my barrio, inundated with brothers and sisters, friends and primos, tios y tias, and of course, Uncle Sam--representing governmental authority at the city, state and national level--I was never alone, yet I always managed to get into trouble to the delight of everyone around me.
At night, if I didn't fall asleep quickly enough, my mom would remind me that "el cucuy se lleva a los que no duermen (the bogeyman takes away those who don't sleep)" foolishly expecting me to fall asleep after filling my head with visions of a terrifying end to my life. If I had a fever or a pain I couldn't explain, the curandera (who I'm sure didn't have a license-medical, drivers, ministry, or otherwise) would be summoned. Upon arrival, she would rub a whole raw egg all over my body, crack it open, pour it in a bowl, and place it under my bed. If I felt better in the morning, it meant the magic worked; if I didn't, it was because I was a bad boy who was suffering for his sins.
Speaking of eggs, I remember that the 3rd of the month was always a holiday at my house since that was the day the mailman would bring our authorization letter for food stamps! The visit to "la oficina de estampillas" was always followed by a trip to the grocery store, where mom would give me my monthly allowance of $5 in the form of a purple food stamp note. I would buy all the junk food I could with the government-issued currency and would not eat anything else until the last crumb was gone.
All these images have flooded back into my consciousness after reading Mario Bosquez's (no relation-honest!) "The Chalupa Rules: A Latino Guide to Gringolandia." Even Mario has a place in my memories as I remember watching him live a life I longed for as he co-hosted a popular local television show with an attractive female co-star. Lucky devil! Little did I know then that he and I were living a life more similar than not.
While the TV screen always projected an image of a suave and debonair gentleman explaining the wonders of the Alamo City, the cruel reality was that he was struggling to support his family-mother and siblings--while living in a government sponsored FHA 235 home. Bosquez has taken his life experiences and has crafted what he calls "The Chalupa Rules," using dichos (proverbs) as inspiration to overcome poverty and a childhood surrounded by domestic violence and alcoholism.
For those of you unfamiliar with a "chalupa" (and no, I don't mean the tasty food concoction made with a fried corn tortilla coated on one side with refried beans and topped with grated cheese and chopped lettuce and tomatoes), it's a Mexican version of bingo, more commonly known as loteria. A caller pulls a card from a deck which contains a colorful imagery-a rooster, a hand or a man holding the world, among others-and calls the names of these items in Spanish--el gallo, la mano, el mundo. Players use pinto beans to mark the squares on their playing card and the first one to cover all the images on their card wins.
The book contains 30 homespun rules for success that still ring true in today's world of the all-knowing internet. Among other things, Bosquez will gently remind you that the devil never sleeps, that it's okay to sleep on important decisions, and that there's no harm in proudly waving the banner of your identity.
"The Chalupa Rules" is witty, entertaining and prevalent in today's world, regardless of race, creed or religion. It's written as if your favorite uncle has decided to devote a whole afternoon to you and only you, in order to tell you about the mistakes he's made so that they won't happen to you.
Bosquez is now an anchor in the number one television market in the world, no doubt by following his collection of dichos. Pick up a copy of the book and try on some dichos for size-see how they transcend cultures, and have helped others to survive and thrive in a society where everything old is new again.

George's Pond: Created in the Beloved Tradition of Charlotte's Web
West's Time Machine

Being a children's writer and educator, I often enjoy reading Charlotte's Web as a child and now I enjoy reading the book to my son and my students. I believe part of the reason this book has remained one of my favorites is because of the classic friendship between Wilbur and Charlotte. Both characters demonstrate an unselfish kind of love that is demonstrated from the time they meet. As a mother I want to teach my children the valuable life lesson of being a good friend and I think this story teaches that lesson in a non-didactic fashion. Charlotte's Web will eternally be a classic in my heart.

I have read this story several times in my adult life and, since I am studying Spanish, I wanted to read it in that language as well (with an English copy close at hand for reference.)

I am delighted to own my Spanish copy of Charlotte's Web.

T. William Waltrip, M.D.

Justo el libro que le quieres leer a tu hija por las noches.

Yo le recomiendo este libro a todos que quieren regresar a su infancia. Yo estoy muy encantada con este libro. La historia de Carlota es mejor. También intentar Los Reinos Y Los Elfos De Las Quimeras.

"Chato and the Party Animals" is a fun children's book by Gary Soto. The story is superbly complemented by Susan Guevara's illustrations. The book opens with a Spanish-English glossary. The text is in English, with Spanish words from the glossary ("comida," "el barrio," etc.) blended in.

Chato is a cat -- described as a "party animal since he was a kitten." But he's also a caring cat, and the story's plot is set into motion when Chato comes up with an idea to cheer up Novio Boy, a friend of his who is feeling sad.

"Chato" is really hilarious. In addition to the Spanish words, Soto spices up the dialogue by having the cats call each other "dude" and "Homecat." The story involves a nice mix of silliness and warmth, and ultimately celebrates friendship. Guevara's outrageous, colorful pictures are full of energy and packed with surreal details. Definitely something out of the ordinary, and something special.

Chato's back. Having learned his lesson from his encounter with the mice in "Chato's Kitchen" this kitty cat is now at peace with every animal he encounters. So much so, in fact, that he is quite the partier. While attending the birthday celebration of the dog Chorizo, Chato discovers a sad fact about his buddy Novio Boy. Originally from the pound, Novio Boy never knew his mother and never had an official birthday. That's all the info Chato needs as an excuse to throw for Novio Boy one of the biggest birthday celebrations ever. He hires a dj, buys tons of food and presents, even purchases a gigantic blow-up dog to fight with. As the guests arrive, however, one fact remains alarmingly clear. Novio Boy was never invited to his own party! After some scrambling and a mistaken death everything turns out for the best and Novio Boy has one of the best pachangas a cat could hope for.

If you've never read a book that combines the effortless writing style of Gary Soto with the eye-popping grandeur of Susan Guevara, you're in for a treat. Like "Chato's Kitchen" this book provides a useful Spanish/English glossary for quick referencing. Spanish words pop up in appropriate places, never sounding forced or out of sync with the storyline. But illustrator Guevara has truly outdone herself here. In the previous Chato book the crazy energy and color of life was remarkable but not overwhelming. Here, on the other hand, Guevara's pulled out all the stops. From the guardian angel-like imagery of Novio Boy's mother that flies, unseen, from picture to picture, to Chorizo's beret and the repetitive phrase (which I loved ) "We are not a minority" that appears in a couple scenes in the background, this book has it all. Best of all is the moment in which each character (thinking Novio Boy dead) stands and thinks of what they liked best about him. As they do, Novio Boy appears on each person's head, acting out their compliments. Guevara also has a sense of movement that allows each character to slouch, run, relax, or dance in a natural free flowing way. It's a talent most illustrators pray they'll attain in their lifetimes.

Some people might be put off by the energy and dynamics in this book. If so, I am truly sorry. My advice would be to flip through this book to make sure you're up to the challenge of reading it to your kids. After all, if your reading style is flat and colorless, this is not the book to put your children to bed with. You are, in fact, unworthy of the text. If instead, however, you have a sense of style and flair that can match this eloquent book, definitely seek it out. Honestly, you've never seen anything like this before.

This book is great on so many levels. I read it with students I tutor and they requested it again and again. At the end of the year I gave them each a copy as a gift. Both of them opened it and got wide-eyed as they saw what it was! One of them said, "This is my favorite book ever!" This was wonderful to hear from a kid who started out so reluctant to read. The story is great on so many levels; there is a message of friendship that is not sappy, but very sincere. Soto also skillfully weaves in the culture of the barrio with his use of Spanish and Mexican themes. What a lovely story.

Novio Boy is a tough kitty, but he does have one soft spot. He comes from the pound. He never knew his mami, and since he doesn't know when his birthday is, he's never had a party. When his best friend Chato realizes how sad this makes him, he decides to throw him a huge birthday party. This is a delightfully fun story of community and friendship. Soto cleverly intertwines Spanish and English, bringing in slang from both languages, creating a cool, hip atmosphere. These homecats kick back and say things like, "he was muy kind," and "the coolest carnal in all the barrio." The language gives us a true taste of barrio spanglish. When Soto's deliciously funny words marry Guevara's festively vibrant acrylic illustrations, the story truly becomes alive.

A very well-written and comprehensive step-by-step guide for anyone currently looking for work. But Latinos will find this book especially appealing because it focuses on leveraging our values and beliefs during the job search.

An exceptionally well organized and well written guide for Latinos who are entering the job search market.

It is actually a wonderful book for everyone who needs help to write resume's, and fill out job applications.

This is a resource book that should be the property of every high school and college counselor's office in this country.

Very exceptionally well done.

The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos is a groundbreaking book that addresses the specific needs of Hispanics in today's complex job market. Authoritative and user-friendly, this book will be an invaluable tool for job seekers, employers, educators, and the academic community.

Pat Kendall, NCRW, JCTC
Principal, Advanced Resume Concepts
Former President, National Resume Writers Association

I have worked to help Latinos in their careers for over 20 years. Our community has needed more user friendly job search tools and resources to be successful in today's job market. The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos delivers that and much more.

The authors clearly understand the needs of Latino job seekers and what employers look for. Their recommendations combine the needs of both worlds into practical strategies that work. They provide easy to follow step-by-step how-to checklists for each stage of the job search process, real examples of Latinos successfully using the book's recommendations, and methods that Latinos can use to open doors at employers to get the job. The list of job search resources alone is worth the price.

Blanca Vargas
National Vice President Midwest
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

"Cosmos Latinos" edited by Andrea L. Bell and Yolanda Molina Gavilán is an unusual entry in the Early Classics of Science Fiction series. Instead of focusing on early stories, this anthology looks at science fiction from Latin America and Spain. There are a couple of short stories from the 1800s, and a few from 1952 and earlier, but 22 of the stories are from 1964 and later and 8 are from 1989 and later. While this series might not be the most appropriate place for this collection, it is a very interesting collection, and the author histories do offer some insight not only into the authors themselves, but the evolution of science fiction in Latin America and Spain.

There are 27 stories in all, and if you are anything like me, you probably are not familiar with any of these author's translated works. No authors are duplicated here, so you will be introduced to 27 authors. They come from a wide variety of countries including Mexico, Spain, Chile, Cuba, Brazil, El Salvador, Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru. You will also get a good variety of science fiction stories, including such themes as future societies, space travel, time travel, alien visitation, and cyberpunk.

The editors provide a nice introduction to Latin American science fiction, along with some good introductions to the authors. They also provide a large number of the translations for the stories included in this anthology. While this book might not fit the descriptive name of the series, there is little doubt that the content is well designed for the serious study of speculative fiction, so in that way this is certainly a worthy addition to the series.

Just finished this fantastic book, and I mostly wondered why there has been so little work done in making such material available. This book really left me wanting more. These Latin American and Spanish writers of SF are able to treat many of the traditional SF themes in very original ways, without being derivative of American/European SF styles. The stories have a wonderful, unique flavor. I hope the authors continue to make such stories available in English, especially the more recent stuff. "Stuntmind" was one of my favorites.

Just finished this fantastic book, and I mostly wondered why there has been so little work done in making such material available. This book really left me wanting more. These Latin American and Spanish writers of SF are able to treat many of the traditional SF themes in very original ways, without being derivative of American/European SF styles. The stories have a wonderful, unique flavor. I hope the authors continue to make such stories available in English, especially the more recent stuff. "Stuntmind" was one of my favorites.

"Cosmos Latinos" is a long overdue, excellent survey of the history of science fiction writing in Spain and Latin America, including Brazil. The authors have done an admirable job compiling a chronological history by selecting some of the most important stories written during the period from 1862 to 2001. This is an invaluable look at science fiction as seen through the eyes of a culture other than English, infusing much recent Latin American history into the futuristic tales told by the writers represented here. There is a broad array of themes covered in this anthology, ranging from religion to mankind's use of technology, as seen through traditional technologically-oriented science fiction that is akin to the best work from the likes of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, to more recent explorations in psychology and sociology (e. g. the North American "New Wave" movement of the 1960's and 1970's as exemplified by the works of writers as diverse as Samuel Delany, Harlan Ellison, Ursula K. Le Guin and Joanna Russ) and of course, most recently, the cyperpunk movement led by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, among others. There are also echoes of work by the likes of Stanislaw Lem and J. G. Ballard represented in this anthology. I look forward to reading a subsequent volume edited by both authors.

The book Crazy Loco by David Rice is short stories about children growing up near the border of Mexico and the United States as Mexican Americans. Most of the stories are funny, but a few of them are serious and sad. I felt the serious stories, such as Her Other Son and She Flies, were much stronger than some of the funny stories, such as The California Cousins and Proud to be an American. I liked the stronger stories more because I could really feel for some of the characters and what they were going through. I also felt they were better because they had more description. My favorite story of all of them was Her Other Son. This story was about a young boy's close connection to his family's maid. I enjoyed this story the most because the reader can really understand what the character is going through and it was very descriptive and touching.
When reading this book, it reminded me of the book Crossing the Wire because in a lot of the stories the characters had to cross the border between the United States and Mexico. They also spoke a little bit of Spanish in Crazy Loco (that the readers can understand) as they also did in the book Crossing the Wire. In each story in this book, the author, David Rice, always had great description. Also at the end of every story he kind of leaves you at a cliffhanger. You are left wondering questions about what will happen next in the characters life, or why did the character do that? I like how the author did this because it really gets you to think deeper about the story. It also helps you get a better understanding of the story when you think so much about it. Even though some stories weren't as strong as the others, I still think Crazy Loco was a very good book.

I've heard David Rice read a few of the stories in this collection back in South Texas at different venues and was amazed at how much his writing had matured since his first book (Give the Pig a Chance--another fine book in its own right). A side note to anyone with an opportunity to experience Rice's presentations--take the chance, go out of your way if you have to, but do listen to him. Back to the book: I was so looking forward to Crazy Loco, and when I got my copy, I got right to it. Dropped Moby Dick, and slowed down on To the Lighthouse to finish Crazy Loco. The stories, most of which are told in the first person, the narrators varying from story to story, are humorous and fun to read. But I feel the strongest pieces are the ones in which Rice cuts out the humor, and gets down to some serious business, like in "Last Mass" and "Her Other Son." These stories are emotional without being sentimental. These stories bring to mind others of his works, namely "Tina La Tinaca" from his first collection, and they show exactly why Rice is being published today.

I just recently finished reading both of Rice's books: Give The Pig A Chance, and Crazy Loco.
I have comments on several of his short stories, but overall, I'd like to say that his writing is very inspiring to me - I didn't expect for stories this short to be full with such great symbolism.
In his short story, Papa Lalo, Henry was given a compass from his grandfather, as a gift.
A compass always faces North. The Earth has it's own magnetic polarity that magnifies the pull of a compass to face due North. The compass could have symbolized the unbearable "magnetic pull": that Harry had with his grandfather. Even though Harry didn't realize he shared any common ground, or any connection with his grandfather - He always had that "magnetic pull" a "bond" that we sometimes are unfamiliar with until we try to face another direction in life - or until life points us in a new direction.

This was a very well written, carefully thought out story.

David Rice's second book Crazy Loco is a collection of short stories that kicks off the new wave of young adult Chicano literature. As an English teacher I've sought quality Chicano literature for my kids and aside from Gary Soto, there isn't much out there. I'm glad to see that's changing. Rice's stories are hilarious and even though they're set in South Texas with mostly Chicano characters, they will appeal to all kids. I shared stories from his previous book, Give the Pig a Chance, with my students and they loved them. Since his style has improved and these stories are funnier, I know my students will love Crazy Loco even more. My favorites of the bunch were "Crazy Loco" and "Proud to be an American." They are about two things most kids are experts about: dogs and fireworks. Other stories are heartfelt. "Papa Lalo" will strike a chord with children who have lived through divorce or have lost their grandparents. "Valentine" is about the pain and power of first love. David Rice writes the Rio Grande Valley of Texas like few other authors can. He is a great new voice in Chicano fiction and one to watch in the future.

This is one of Anaya's enchanting stories reflecting the Hispanic culture of northern New Mexico, unique in all the US. This old, deep culture is rooted in high desert austerity. It is a rural life of sparseness. Beauty is found in family life and small traditions. All who read this charming story will be enriched. To see the simple "paper bags with candles" lining roads and driveways on Christmas Eve is to be transported. This story is perfect for the holidays.

The Farolitos of Christmas tells a warm story of a young girl's respect and love for her grandfather, who is too ill to keep his commitment to light fires at Christmas time. The story creates how the young girl thought of "farolitos" or "little lights" to be used to keep the promise in an acceptable way and also light the path for the carolers at Christmas time. A wonderful story that reflects the rich family traditions of the Mexican American culture. This book was one of the winners of the 1995 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, given to recognize books that authentically reflect the lives and experiences of Mexican Americans in the United States.

This book is an excellent way for children to learn about their own culture or the culture of others with whom they may be attending school. This is a meaningful story of giving the most valuable of all gifts: love and gestures of personal comitment toward those whom we love. There are numerous such stories for children, but this is from the cultural confluence of the Hispanic and Native American cultures and we need many more such stories.

This is a wonderful, warm book, and gives an insight into a culture that is different from what most in other parts of the U.S. have experienced. But the culture is not Mexican American, but the Hispanic culture of Northern New Mexico, which dates back to the late 16th Century. I can't, in a short review, list the distinctions, but they are deep and significant. For more information, see the other works by Rudolfo Anaya, Christmas in Old Santa Fe, by Pedro Ortega, and histories of the area such as Horgan's Great River. In short, New Mexico was at the end of a very long journey from Mexico, and the isolation produced its own rich and unique culture.

If you're at all interested in Latin American culture you'll love this book and he's an amazing person. He'll tal kto you forever about the subject and he's highly intelligent.

While Juan Flores is perceptive in his discussion of the Puerto Rican component of Latino culture, and discusses other major critics like Perez Firmat and Stavans, I was frankly surprised not to see any discussion of William Luis's Dance Between Two Cultures: Latino Caribbean Literature Written in the United States, which in my estimation is as important as those written by the critics Flores discusses. The value of Luis's study is that he addresses the same Puerto Rican community mentioned in Flores' book, but Luis also contextualizes this community by considering its relation to the Cuban and Dominican components of Latino culture. Anyone interested in understanding Latino literature and culture should also read Dance Between Two Cultures, which contains perceptive readings of Latino Caribbean literature unavailable in any other study.

The title of Mr. Flores' book might be a little deceiving for those who are not familiar with the subject matter. Mr. Flores uses music as a jumping off point for some very thought provoking themes that pertain (in my opinion) to all Latino's. Juan Flores goes from scholarly themes like colonialism to thoughts on the funeral of Cortijo and the history of the Boogaloo phenomena in New York City.

Mr. Flores makes you stop and think, then think again about issues you may have had preconceived notions about. I really enjoyed being challenged intellectually as I read this book.

I recently attended a lecture/performance (at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City) of "From Bomba to Hip-Hop" conducted by Mr. Flores, music historian Rene Lopez and Mike Wallace (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book, "Gotham.") True to form, it was a very unique, educational and entertaining experience.

As a beginning graduate student in Latina/o Studies, I have been asking myself a simple question over and over: "Where have I been?" I have gone through public education in the United States for 17 years of my life, and have only recently found that there have been people writing since the start of the 1900s about the issues, experiences, struggles, and passions that I have thought were uniquely mine. Piri Thomas published _Down These Mean Streets_ in 1967. I just read it this past summer, my mother--right after I gave it to her. And the thought that has wondered in is, "why wasn't I told about his book earlier?" Is Piri Thomas' experience, a bond with African American culture that Juan Flores addresses in his book, such a marginal experience in American life, that it took a suggestion by Amazon.com for a man with 4 years of university education to be aware of the book? As the population of Latino/as in the United States grows to the levels of being the largest minority group in the country, there will have to be a shifting of Latina/o literature, theory, and any cultural products from the margins of American life to the center contemporary discussion. It is these products that Juan Flores probes and analyses with keen insight that places the Puerto Rican aspect of the Latino experience into mainstream intellectual thought. From "the Madonna incident" in Puerto Rico, to the ties that Puerto Ricans have with Hip-Hop, and the current status of Puerto Rico that he sadly calls a "Lite Colony," Flores' book is one that should be read by anyone interested in the affairs of American culture.

This book offers a wonderful lesson about what is important in life-friendship and giving. It's a great story for children and adults alike.

This is an excellent book. I originally found this book in our reading basal. My students loved it! I decided to search for this book as an individual title, and when I found it, I was too excited. I used this book as a read aloud with my 3rd and 4th graders. When I finished and put the book down, my students couldn't wait to get their hands on it. I loved the illustrations as well as the reading skills that I can used to teach particular skills. Great Book!

Alma Flor Ada is an author who writes both in Spanish and English. Her work focuses on action over description. Her communication of the values and qualities of the culture in which she immerses her readers makes her books notable. The Gold Coin tells of a man who is twisted in body and spirit until he is transformed by honest hard work, and caring decent people. The reader is introduced to an inspirational character, Dona Josefa. Although the thief doesn't meet her until the end of the story, it is her model of goodness that shines throughout the story. The illustrations admirably reflect the changes the thief undergoes as his body becomes straighter and his face less pale and angry. There are many surprises seeded throughout the story and the ending is wonderfully satisfying. Although this is an original tale, the writing has the flavor of a folktale and the culture and landscape of Central America are authentically portrayed.

The Gold Coin is the story of Juan, a thief of experience, and his journey to find an old woman who gives away gold coins. In his quest to find her to steal away her assumed riches, Juan is forced to experience the helpfulness of strangers, depend on their kindness and enjoy with them the feeling of an honest day's labor. By the end of his travels, he has been transformed by the goodness of the people he has met. When he finally comes face to face with the woman he had intended to rob, he is a different person. Instead of taking her gold, Juan offers to mend her roof. He learns that giving to others allows him to feel rich. The Gold Coin is a great story to read aloud. It is warm and inspiring.