6. When Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay
Jul. 13th, 2009 11:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
osprey_archerI am, inexplicably given my lackluster opinion of her novels, on a “Let’s read everything Julia Alvarez ever wrote!” kick. (Actually, this is not inexplicable. She has a lot of short children’s books, like this one, that have been translated into Spanish and are readily available at public libraries.)
Fortunately this book has rewarded my patience. It’s a fluffy little children’s book that plays to Alvarez’s strengths (family drama, moderate wackiness) without the political elements that aren’t her strong suit. It isn’t very deep, but it amused me, and even in Spanish it was a quick read; I think actual children would enjoy it too.
Most of the book deals with basic childhood stuff (moving, making new friends, divorce), although there is one scene that deals with racism. One of Miguel’s classmates tells him that he’s sure to get on the baseball team, because he’s a Dominican like Sammy Sosa; and Miguel’s dad says, no, he’ll get on the baseball team because he’s good at baseball, and he’s good at baseball because he practiced.
I thought this was a simple and elegant tutorial in How Not to Be Racist 101 for eight-year-olds, and written on a level most eight-year-olds will empathize with, in a way that they might not with historical horror stories like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a very good book, but calling it a children’s book is way optimistic; back in the day most of my sixth grade bounced off it really hard.)
Fortunately this book has rewarded my patience. It’s a fluffy little children’s book that plays to Alvarez’s strengths (family drama, moderate wackiness) without the political elements that aren’t her strong suit. It isn’t very deep, but it amused me, and even in Spanish it was a quick read; I think actual children would enjoy it too.
Most of the book deals with basic childhood stuff (moving, making new friends, divorce), although there is one scene that deals with racism. One of Miguel’s classmates tells him that he’s sure to get on the baseball team, because he’s a Dominican like Sammy Sosa; and Miguel’s dad says, no, he’ll get on the baseball team because he’s good at baseball, and he’s good at baseball because he practiced.
I thought this was a simple and elegant tutorial in How Not to Be Racist 101 for eight-year-olds, and written on a level most eight-year-olds will empathize with, in a way that they might not with historical horror stories like Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a very good book, but calling it a children’s book is way optimistic; back in the day most of my sixth grade bounced off it really hard.)
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Date: 2009-07-21 11:36 pm (UTC)I read Junot Diaz's book about Dominican history and politics in the Trujillo era, and I don't think that after that I would want to read Alvarez, based on your reviews. The Diaz was really good.
I was intrigued by your review of Amy Tan's book. I don't know if I would like it or not. I think my reaction would be very similar to yours, since I also read for well-drawn, sympathetic characters, and would be frustrated by the lack of ground covered in a 400-page novel. I'll see. I have a lot of books I'm really looking forward to trying first.
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Date: 2009-07-22 03:03 am (UTC)