Soledad13 reviews Angie Cruz Simon & Schuster, 2001 Latina's determination + If I could give it more stars I would! + Amazing Book! + Soledad + EXCELENT!!!             When I Was Puerto Rican: A Memoir4 reviews Esmeralda Santiago Da Capo Press, 2006 THE AMERICAN DREAM... + Wonderfully Honest Memoir + Honest Portrait of Growing Up In Puerto Rico This is a rich and evocative memoir of the author's chaotic childhood. Growing up in rural Puerto Rico, while often living in primitive conditions, the author's lush and lyrical prose paints a vivid picture her early life. The flavor and rythms of her island home come alive under her expert hand, ...             Woman Hollering Creek: And Other Stories27 reviews Sandra Cisneros Vintage, 1992 True Writing + Unique and beautiful collection of stories + Will stay with you forever + Joyful Noise + 4.5 Stars             Song of the Water Saints: A Novel8 reviews Nelly Rosario Pantheon, 2002 Resonates With Elegance + Beautifully written + Beautiful Story + Song of the Water Saints             Pocho7 reviews Jose Antonio Villarreal Anchor, 1994 Good Book + An Authentic Read + A Latino coming of age + An important book in the genre + Story full of adventures one after another.             "With His Pistol In His Hand": A Border Ballad and Its Hero4 reviews Américo Paredes University of Texas Press, 1970 Excellent Folklore Research + Cortez + Terrific Study of Border Folklore + With his pistol in his hand             How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (Essential Edition): (Plume Essential Edition)152 reviews Julia Alvarez Plume, 2005 Great Novel + LOVED THIS BOOK! + good for immigrants + How the Garcia Girls Lost Thier Accent             Bless Me, Ultima193 reviews Rudolfo Anaya Grand Central Publishing, 1999 Bless You Anaya + A Delightful Tale of a Boy Growing Up on the Llano + The Ultimate Read In this beautifully written coming of age tale, Anaya delivers part of the Mexican/American experience. The loss of innocence in the story refers to a religious quandry for Toni, a six year old boy. Should he adopt his mother's culture and become a priest or should he become like his father's ...             Bodega Dreams: A Novel111 reviews Ernesto Quinonez Vintage, 2000 very efficient + Bodega dreams. + Outstanding + The best Latino novel             The Revolt of the Cockroach People7 reviews Oscar Zeta Acosta Vintage, 1989 First Impressions + Kansas + Correction + Sex, Drugs, and Politics + An awareness that should be taught to todays young Chicanos             Down These Mean Streets53 reviews Piri Thomas Vintage, 1997 One of the best memoirs ever written + Perfect Condition! + This my personal favorite + Forever a classic + an exciting nonfiction book!             Loving in the War Years: Lo Que Nunca Paso por Sus Labios (South End Press Classics Series)2 reviews Cherrie L. Moraga South End Press, 2000 Loving in the Way Years: Lo Que Nunca Paso Por Sus Labios This is a classic text in Chicana Feminist literature and in Gender Studies. In the early 1980's, Moraga was at the forefront of feminist theory by U.S. Women of Color which attempted to put issues of racial and ethnic identity in dialogue with issues of feminism and sexuality. Moraga not only ...             Borderlands/La Frontera, The New Mestiza: Third Edition14 reviews Gloria Anzalda Aunt Lute Books, 2007 Classic + One of the best books about chicano identity Not much can be said to some of the postings I see here--to those that suggest the third tier prose, those that call this work "racist," those that implore statements like "I hated it." These are the same people that vote for their own oppression, these are the very people that fancy their success ...             So Far from God: A Novel37 reviews Ana Castillo W. W. Norton & Company, 2005 The Poetry of Life and the World Beyond..... + Untroubled + Delightful "Magical Realism" Novel Ana Castillo truly takes us for an unforgettable trip as we take a glimpse into the lives of Sofi, a Chicana woman, and her four daughters, Esperanza (Hope), Caridad (Charity), Fe (Faith), and La Loca (The Crazy One). The story reads like an epic parable about life, death, sexuality and the bridge ...             Dreaming in Cuban40 reviews Cristina Garcia Ballantine Books, 1993 Tastes of Perfection.... + Ilove it. While it may sound like an overstatement, this book really does taste of perfection. The fact that Garcia began it as a poem which blossomed into a novel is apparent. The language is simply beautiful. Garcia tracks the del Pino women through their different experiences with exile, showing us ...             Drown79 reviews Junot Díaz Riverhead Trade, 1997 If you grew up on the streets, you might find some of these stories redundant + Diaz Writes With Memorable Voice + Quick easy read... Junot Diaz is a good writer. Reading these stories is better than watching some dumb TV show depicting growing up the hard way. But for those of us who did grow up poor or with single mothers or with a bunch of deliquent friends, I just don't see this book as something to celebrate. Could it be ...             The Line of the Sun3 reviews Judith Ortiz Cofer University of Georgia Press, 1991 One of My Favorite in Puerto Rican Literature. + A Good Read + A beautiful book that unfortunately turns into a cliche This has to be one of my favorite books by Mrs. Cofer; I loved it so much I read it three times in a row. The story of the lives of Mama Cielo, her son Guazman and so forth takes you on a journey to Puerto Rico in the earlier part of the 20th century. The Characters are all interweaved into a ...             The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love: A Novel44 reviews Oscar Hijuelos Harper Perennial, 2000 Love, lust, and exuberant music from two lives cut short by tragedy Sensual, sensuous, sensitive--Hijuelos's elegy to Cuba, its people, and especially its music is charming, wicked, uneven, humorous and ultimately sad, much like the 78 RPM recordings the fictional Mambo Kings made in their heyday. The novel opens with the apex of the band's career: an ephemeral ...             Days of Awe (Ballantine Reader's Circle)11 reviews Achy Obejas Ballantine Books, 2002 Superb. + Gorgeous, lovely prose + Brilliant book This book is lyrically written, emotionally wrenching, and an excellent guide into the mysterious ways of both the Cuban Jewish community and its history as well as the Cuban Revolution. It's a challenging novel, full of poetry and questions about life and how we maneuver our way through it. It's ...             ...y no se lo tragó la tierra / ...And the Earth Did Not Devour Him13 reviews Tomás Rivera Arte Publico Press, 1987 A interesting book + Struggle to Survive + Honest Coming of Age Stories. + A Review with a Claim