It Doesn't Have to Be This Way/No tiene que ser asi: A Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Must have for any teacher
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way/No tiene que ser asi: A Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Children's Book Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0892392037

Book Description

Monchi likes to write poems, hang out with his cousin, and tell stories to his uncle. Then one day, a member of the local gang tells him it's time to join up. Monchi is scared but excited. The older boys give him the handshake, girls talk to him, and even teachers are afraid of him. But when a tragic event changes everything, Monchi must make an important decision. There is no easy answer to his dilemma, but the love and respect of his uncle help him find a way out. Written in both English and Spanish, It Doesn't Have to Be This Way is a compelling tale of a young boy's encounter with the world of gangs.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Must have for any teacher.......2000-06-05

This book is the best book I have read dealing with the pressures and dangers of joining a gang. The author gives you a realistic view of what it means to be a part of a gang. The story follows a young boys quest to belong. You get to watch this young boy slowly drift away from his family and friends into the gang lifestyle, until something tragic makes him realize that it doesn't have to be this way. This book does an incredible job of making you realize all that kids go through when faced with pressure to join gangs. This is a book that I am going to use in my classroom to open the eyes of my students. I believe this book is informing and empowering kids to not join gangs.
Finding Our Way
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Finding Our Way
  • Finding Our Way
  • Straight from the border
  • Finding Our Way Review
  • Finding Our Way feeds Teenage Pessimism
Finding Our Way
Rene Jr Saldana
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440237904
Release Date: 2004-12-14

Book Description

THESE STORIES TAKE the reader to meet mochos; cholos; Mr. and Mrs. Special; Manny with his mysterious phone calls; Melly, who dreams of being the first girl to take the Dive; Andy and Ruthie, who find that being “boyfriend-girlfriend” takes on new meaning the night of the prom; and Chuy, who seems determined to get kicked out of school. Each distinct voice shares secret thoughts that draw the reader into daily dramas of love, danger, loyalty, and pride. In the final story, a shocking tragedy reverberates through the barrio.

“With this collection, Saldaña makes a significant contribution to the field of Latino short stories for young readers.”—VOYA, Starred

“These powerfully written, provocative selections have universal appeal and subtle, thoughtful themes.”—School Library Journal

“While much is revealed, just as much is implied, making the stories layered and rich while still rendering them accessible.”—The Bulletin


From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Finding Our Way.......2004-07-27

Whether they take place in a Georgia town or in Texas on the Mexican border, the short stories in FINDING OUR WAY will introduce readers to some very interesting people. Among them are Chuy, who is determined to get kicked out of school; Melly, who is determined to be the first girl to take the Dive; and Andy and Ruthie, who find that being a couple takes on different meaning on the night of their school prom. The last story involves a shocking and unfortunate tragedy that will bring everyone in the community closer together.

These educational and bold stories take twisting turns, and they always seem to have a lesson. You should read this book because some of the lessons you will learn could be very useful later in your life.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

5 out of 5 stars Finding Our Way.......2004-04-16

Saldana's Finding Our Way is a collection of short stories that relate to young adults having to mature quickly and live life as it comes. Each character develops in their own unique way when dealing with daily dramas regarding love, death, pride and ethics. Through these short stories the reader can appreciate the importance of parents and family figures. In "Chuy's Beginnins" Chuy is a young boy who constantly gets in trouble at school to draw the attention he does not get at home. Being so used to always getting his way;he is strongly disturbed and becomes a different person when he creates a confrontation he cannot solve between his principal and teacher. Having to prove something to oneself by doing something dangerous is most common when young. The tricky part is how you manage the situation. "The Dive" is a great example of what many young adults go through in life. In this story Melly is a young girl who speaks her mind out loud and feels like she must prove her self to be a grown woman by jumping off a bridge. With the help of Mama Tochi and her cuentos, "stories that somehow served as life lessons", Melly finds her way through her troubles. most characters in the collection have positive outcomes; Saldana adds a twist to the collection in the story "Manny Calls". Manny is ayoung adult who is portrayed as a mysterious, isolated person who is away from home and loses his one and only confidant. The dath of his grandfather and the lack of attention and moral support from others keep him from wanting to face reality. After two years of calling his grandfather's old phone number it finally gets reassigned and Manny finds himself trying to figure out a new way to communicate with his dead grandfather. Saldana's collecion of short stories obtain a significant message within that allow young and mature readers to discover, reminisce and appreciate the imprtance of role models and moral support.

4 out of 5 stars Straight from the border.......2004-03-30

"Finding Our Way" exemplifies the true meaning of living as true Latino/Hispanics in America. The author, Rene Saldana sets the stage by talking about true stories that actually makes the reader feel at home especially in Chapter 4, "Los Twelve Days of Christmas." The true minority groups still remains with these "Latino students" who find themselves surrounded by the upper scale of minority teachers, who themselves segregate themselves from teaching these teenagers about "chances" in life. Instead, these two teachers decide that it is best "not to give these teenagers a chance" at the end.
"Inspiring" and "Worth Reading"....

5 out of 5 stars Finding Our Way Review.......2004-03-26

Finding Our Way, a collection of short stories, written by Rene Saldana, Jr., presents a variety of themes and life lessons for adolescents who face many obstacles while growing up. For some teens the problems may entail misbehavior, low self esteem or lack of courage. For others it may be losing a loved one or a peer. Some may even have to confront fighting and gangs. All of these scenarios are addressed in Finding Our Way.
The book begins with "The Good Samaritan," where Rey is forced to decide between what is the right thing to do, and what is the just thing to do. He is constantly doing favors for Mr. Sanchez and has yet to receive any compensation. Rey swears he will never do any more favors for the local politico because he never comes through with his promises of payback. However, when Rey discovers Mr. Sanchez in yet another predicament he finds himself in a mental dilemma. In the end he has to decide between being a good samaritan by helping Mr. Sanchez despite his harsh feelings toward him, or leaving him stranded.
"Alternative" and "Un Faite" are impressive stories that set a worthy example for young readers. In "Alternative" Arturo is a student that was sent to an alternative school for repeated misbehavior. He blames Mr. Sifuentes for sending him to the alternative program, even though he was the one who overreacted and caused the scene in class. Even though Arturo seems to have unpleasant feelings for Mr. Sifuentes, towards the end it becomes clear that he actually likes and respects him. Arturo is obviously not an ideal student and even after the big scene he causes in class, Mr. Sifuentes still sent him the stories to finish, proving that he has not given up and is dedicated to being a good teacher. In "Un Faite" Kiko is a teenager who wants very badly to start over and reinvent himself at a new school. He has faced numerous problems and had been involved with his cousin in a gang. This is an excellent story of a teen deciding to change his life around before it is too late.
The stories "Manny Calls" and "Finding Our Way" deal with the reality of losing people in our lives. Manny has lost his grandfather whom he loved and respected greatly. Throughout "Finding Our Way" several friends have to deal with losing their classmate Danny. Death can be a very harsh reality for young adults to accept.
Those are several of the eleven short stories in Saldana's Finding Our Way, all of which teach valuable life lessons and serve as encouragement to the young readers. The book contains a wide variety of situations that young adults face on a daily basis. Finding Our Way serves a meaning full purpose that can set a great example for a young audience.

2 out of 5 stars Finding Our Way feeds Teenage Pessimism.......2004-03-17

I was surprised with the level of pessimism in René Saldana's collection of stories, Finding Our Way. After all, the title of this book is optimistic: characters are finding their ways, not just looking. Yet the stories themselves reek of the melodrama we so often see in teenagers. Saldana may have intended to teach young adults to look into themselves and find their inner strengths, but instead he makes readers feel as if any emotional connection to peers and family members would only be a hindrance in this path to self-discovery.
Parents, filtered through the narrators' points of view, are portrayed as only a teenager could view them. Parents are mean, unfair, and incapable of serving their children's needs. In "Alternative," Arturo writes bitterly, "...he ain't my mother/But neither is my mother/Who turned me over to the cops" (p. 58) He never mentioned the anguish she must have gone through each time he got in trouble, or how huge the decision to send him to Alternative must have been. We only see his side of the story, so we want to side with him and believe his mother was a traitor.
This refusal to connect and empathize with others does not only apply with parents, but with their peers. Many of Saldana's characters are antisocial; others become so focused on themselves they forget their friends and significant others. In "Un Faite," only the thought of moving to Mission keeps Kiko's behavior in check. His friends not coming to his aid does not bother him, because soon he will be gone and they will not have him around to mistreat. Also to be disposed of is Kiko's girlfriend, Janie. She already thinks she is in love, but he is counting down the days until he can say goodbye. After all, "...if things went the way he wanted, she'd soon be part of his past..." (p. 72) He does not give a second thought to whether she will hurt, only about what his new life will be like.
As I read Finding Our Way, I was reminded of my difficult teenage years-a time when I felt nobody understood me. The bigger problem was, upon finishing the book, I still felt the same. At the end of each story, each character may no longer have been lost, but they were still alone. For this pessimism, I cannot recommend Finding Our Way. Parents looking for literature for their own teenager should beware that this book may very well fuel their rebellion. Perhaps in a classroom setting, where each individual story can be discussed at length, may its optimistic messages be uncovered.
The Hispanic Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes and Customs in the Spanish-Speaking World
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Interesting
  • Get some culture, Hispanic-style!
  • Great little book!
The Hispanic Way: Aspects of Behavior, Attitudes and Customs in the Spanish-Speaking World
Judith Noble , and Jaime Lacasa
Manufacturer: Passport Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0844273899

Book Description

For All Students Students will find The Hispanic Way an indispensable reference as it familiarizes them with the common as well as the divergent cultural traits of the Hispanic world. Includes 73 major points, covering everything from acronyms and abbreviations to bullfighting, dating, holidays, and work. Increases students' cultural awareness and ability to understand Spanish-speakers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Interesting.......2006-01-27

The bit of info this book offers is interesting, as well as valuable in getting to know the people & culture. My knowledge of both areas is increased. The reading is interesting enough to maintain one's interest. I didn't want to put it down until I finished the little book, once I started to read it.

4 out of 5 stars Get some culture, Hispanic-style!.......2002-09-19

These 73 "points" on Hispanic Culture give insight in areas you may have puzzled over. The alphabetical arrangement of points may seem awkward, e.g., the second point is "Approaching strangers in public to ask something," but it does yield a pleasing eclecticism.
And there's a fine index to zero in on particular topics along with a helpful bibliography. The emphasis is on "little-c" culture -- those subtle elements of behavior in daily interaction that can add to culture shock if not understood. The points pertain to the entire Spanish-speaking world, and distinctions are often made between different countries. This will be a great help to you if you are traveling in a Spanish-speaking land.
Passport has put out other books in this series: The Russian Way, The German Way, The Italian Way, The French Way, etc. I've gleaned fascinating tidbits from several of them, but haven't found them intriguing enough to make part of my home library as I did The Hispanic Way.

5 out of 5 stars Great little book!.......1999-06-18

I work at a Spanish language school in Costa Rica (ilisa.com) and we give this book to students on special occasions. It deals with and explains a lot of issues that people encounter when learning Spanish here. If you deal with Hispanics a lot or are going to live in Latin America, get this book!
Angels' Town: Chero Ways, Gang Life, and the Rhetorics of Everyday
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Angels' Town: Chero Ways, Gang Life, and the Rhetorics of Everyday
    Ralph Cintron
    Manufacturer: Beacon Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 080704637X

    Book Description

    As issues of power and social order loom large in Angelstown, Ralph Cintron shows how eruptions on the margins of the community are emblematic of a deeper disorder. In their language and images, the members of a Latino community in a midsized American city create self-respect under conditions of disrepect. Cintron's innovative ethnography offers a beautiful portrait of a struggling Mexican-American community and shows how people (including ethnographers) make sense of their lives through cultural forms.
    Carlito's Way: Rise to Power
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • True to the game
    • A great crime memoir
    • A Vivid Glimpse of Life in the Barrio
    Carlito's Way: Rise to Power
    Edwin Torres
    Manufacturer: Grove Press, Black Cat
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0802170129

    Book Description

    This powerful, gritty, and vivid novel is the unforgettable story of Carlito Brigante, a Harlem drug dealer in the 1960s, and his rise to the top. Drug dealer, thief, and murdered, Carlito Brigante was once just another Spanish Harlem street punk with a poor boy's dream of flash and fast money -- but as he gets older he determines that it's either take or be taken, and he knows which role he intends to play. Soon he's a mob-connected professional with an easy charm, joie de vivre, stubborn pride, and hair-trigger temper. But the rules change rapidly in a sudden-death world of scams, sell-outs, and payback, where only the strongest and smartest predator can be king of the barrio. And when there's a major changing of the guard in the top echelons of the mob, Carlito will have some hard choices to make. Taut, thrilling, and a joy to read, Carlito's Way established a voice that has lost none of its vivid color or power to enthrall.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars True to the game.......2003-01-08

    For fans of streetlife and "the real" in general, this is a fantastic read. Having seen the movie, I wasn't quite expecting the book to be what it was - a running mental monologue recounting the life and times of Carlito Brigante, the fictional yet prolific gangster the film was based upon.

    Having grown up in Brooklyn, I was thoroughly impressed by the accuracy with which Torres illustrates the "I've got mine, so .... you" thug mentality that's so much a part of the underground New York experience. That, combined with the "Code Of The Streets" and a tiny dab of conscience, is what makes Carlito seem human and uncannily real-to-life.

    Torres, being a NYC criminal court judge, has chosen to expound his abundant understanding of the criminal mind not through textbooks or bland case studies, but through this brilliant character depiction. I place it in the same category as "Down These Mean Streets" - a modern urban classic.

    5 out of 5 stars A great crime memoir.......2000-02-23

    If you like crime stories don't miss this one. This is one of my all-time favorites and it never really got the attention it deserves. The story of Carlito Brigante shows us the world of crime from a different angle than the classic Mafia tales. Carlito is Puerto Rican and comes up in the New York of the fifties and sixties. He's a hard-core criminal, hard-nose, and he makes no bones about it. He starts of with breaking-and-entering, moves up to racketeering, and after a long impatient wait breaking into the big-time--heroin trafficking.

    Yet Carlito never comes across as a merely evil person. Living in America, where the streets are paved with gold except in the barrio where he spent his entire life, Carlito says that no way was he going to spend his whole life washing dishes when there was big bread out there for guys with the guts (he would use a different word) to go get it.

    Torres, to his credit, never romanticizes Carlito to the point that he comes across as a good guy, either. Carlito follows his way because its the one HE chose, and if that means dancing with a fine lady at the Palladium one night and then going into Lewisburg Penitentary for a 3-year stretch the next, that's how it goes. Those are the risks and rewards of the life he leads. He meets characters like smooth guy Earl Bassey, crazy guy Nacho Reyes, wise guy Rocco Fabrieze, and bad guy Pete Amadeo. All in all, "Carlito's Way" is a wild ride, both the ups and downs.

    I really recommend that you get the audio version of this book and listen to Torres read his book. The movie "Carlito's Way" actually focuses on the second book Torres wrote, titled "After Hours." It's good, but the first novel is told in the 1st person, in Carlito's voice, and Torres is fantastic as he speaks in Carlito's voice. Well worth a listen.

    5 out of 5 stars A Vivid Glimpse of Life in the Barrio.......2000-01-18

    Like many, I was first introduced to this book when I saw the popular movie starring Al Pacino, Sean Penn, and Penelope Anne Miller. I received the book as a Christmas present, that particular paperback being a movie tie-in reprint with Al Pacino (Carlito) on the cover. I think I gave away the book to the library when I moved a couple of years ago. Film Ink's edition, showcasing a typical street in an ethnic neighborhood, impressed me. I've always been fascinated by some of the provocative photography on book covers these days.

    The saga of Carlito Brigante's life (in essence the film Carlito's Way) is actually chronicled in two books, the first titled Carlito's Way, wherein Carlito in 1st person narrative describes his rough-and-tumble childhood and induction into New York's ruthless criminal world, culminating in Carlito's arrest, conviction, and sentence of thirty years in Riker's Island. Yet no one can accuse Brigante of being simply a heartless killer. We get to sympathize with his plight; he is undoubtedly the hero of Torres' tale.

    The next installment, titled After Hours (written in 3rd person this time), is actually the setting of the movie, beginning when David Kleinfeld, Carlito's Alan Dershowitzesque attorney, gets Carlito out of prison on a technicality. The David Kleinfeld character is another reason to read this book after seeing the movie, as things in the book turn out quite differently for most of the characters affected by Kleinfeld's machinations. There's also some additional fleshing out of characters and episodes not included in the movie, including Brigante's trip to Spain, where the brash hombre shows off his bullfighting skills. I'm not giving anything away.

    Like the Shawshank Redemption, the movie also highlights the profound changes in American everyday life and culture (and with it the criminal world) during the twentieth century. The two books trace Carlito Brigante's criminal career, from the swinging and colorful 1940s, when Carlito existed on small-time armed robberies and switchblades, all the way to the sleazy lava-lamp lit cocaine infested 1970s, an appropriate prelude of the Me Decade. Central to the story is the role New York's Italian Mafia plays in the life of Brigante. Brigante, a Puerto Rican, is eventually admitted to their exclusive innermost circles, but because he is not a Sicilian is never elevated to the status of a "Made Guy," which ultimately leads to his downfall. Via subplots and secondary characters Torres notes the rise and fall of the Cosa Nostra's influence in the Big Apple.

    I thought that Miller brought a lot to the somewhat hapless role of Gail, Carlito's longtime love-interest and confidant. I found it much more believable that Carlito's girlfriend would be a stripper and aspiring dancer. In the book her character is an elementary school teacher, which makes the idea of Carlito persuading her to go to the Bahamas a bit implausible.

    In an interview contemporaneous with the film's release, Torres said that his novels were inspired by his exposure to countless Carlito Brigantes who had walked through his courtroom throughout his career on the bench. Torres also includes a vocabulary of Hispanic street slang and underworld terms.

    An extremely capable writer of prose, Torres pens a stimulating, readable, and believable portrait of life in the Barrio. Barrio is Spanish for jungle, in this context the urban jungle-ghetto that wickedly and unknowingly nurtures the self-destructive psyche of a career criminal who knows nothing but a life of violence and self-preservation.

    Splendid!
    Around The Way Girls
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • NOT ALL THAT.
    • so- so
    • A Cool Collection and a Fast Read
    • OK
    • Come on now!!
    Around The Way Girls
    La Jill Hunt , and Angel Hunter
    Manufacturer: Urban Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 1893196801

    Book Description

    There's a saying in Brooklyn that if you come from my part of town that you're from around the way. Around the Way Girls is a fast paced look at the life of some street smart women who think they know it al,l but are about to get the lessons of their lives.

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars NOT ALL THAT........2006-04-21

    I CANT REMEMBER ALL THE DETAILS OF THIS BOOK, BUT IT WAS AN OKAY READ.

    2 out of 5 stars so- so.......2006-02-07

    I'm not going to lie my personal favorite is southern comfort. the first story okay but at a certain point it started dragging.

    I suggest you borrow this book from a friend than going to actually buy one.

    3 out of 5 stars A Cool Collection and a Fast Read.......2005-08-19

    Back in 1990 rapper LL Cool J dedicated a rhyme to the "around the way girl." You remember her, the one at the bus stop sucking on a lollipop. Now, more than ten years later we're learning more about the "cuties from the neighborhood" in the fiction release titled Around the Way Girls. This compilation of three short stories takes readers on a journey through the mean streets of Brooklyn and into the lives of three around the way girls.

    First, in "Busted and Disgusted" author Angel Hunter introduces readers to Cream, who has had to grow up fast after her mother's death. Cream is a stripper who would love to trade in her stiletto heels and skimpy outfits for a more respectable lifestyle, but it just doesn't seem possible. Plus, she just can't shake a particular bad habit-- her son's father Wise, a known drug dealer. Her friend Amber comes up with a brilliant plan that could mean thousands of dollars and a way for their dreams to come true. But when the plan snags, life rapidly changes leaving Cream busted, disgusted and betrayed.

    While this story is touching, it has been done before. The ending seemed almost abrupt. But if you love urban fiction, you'll love this story regardless.

    "Southern Comfort" by La Jill Hunt is by far the most interesting. After unwillingly moving to Brooklyn with her mother, brother and sister, Sydni has been missing Atlanta ever since and vows to return. She's a southern girl at heart, but she's confident and doesn't take any mess from anyone, especially Darrius, her brother Aaron's new best friend. When Aaron is killed, her world turns upside down. Her sister becomes more promiscuous than ever before. Her mom's boyfriend can't be trusted and a white guy who's strictly a friend suddenly professes his undying love.

    The plot in this story is intriguing. The author added a suspenseful twist and a dramatic ending, which make for a great read.

    Rounding out the three stories is Dwayne Joseph's "Played." Angel Santiago, is a Puerto Rican party girl who thinks she knows it all and has total control of her life. Any given night of the week you can find her at a night club getting drunk with her friends Shanice, Ray and Stevie. A night of partying leaves her intoxicated and feeling the music and the next thing she knows she's in bed with two other women. She suspects she's been drugged by Frido, the drug kingpin that had been eyeing her at the club. Although she has vowed never to date a drug dealer, something about Frido draws her to him like a magnet. Hopefully, she won't get played.

    With believable characters, a splash of erotica and hints of violence, Played is definitely entertaining. If you love short stories and you're looking for a fast-paced read, pick up Around the Way Girls.

    2 out of 5 stars OK.......2005-08-12

    I thought this book was OK. It could have been alot better. I didn't think the stories were all that interesting. I only finished it because I don't like starting a book and not finishing it. The last story was the best to me. The other two just seemed rushed and unrealistic. They also stated that these chicks lived in Crown Heights. I'm from the Heights born and raised and nothing was mentioned (street or land mark, nothing even a Chicken spot would have been a little more realistic) and these girls didn't speak like chicks from around the way "eee, cack off" anyone from around the way can interpret that, 1.

    2 out of 5 stars Come on now!!.......2005-07-05

    This book could have been better. I dont advise anyone to buy this, maybe borrow it. The front of the cover should have been a hint hint clue clue, but I bought it anyway. There are differnt srories going on and they are not to interesting. Once it begin to get interesting its drops back down to its low point. I have read better, but at the same token have read worse. If you are interested into thugged out book keep moving, if you wanna take your time than read this book because its gone take a min to get through it.
    The Way It Was and Other Writings (Recovering the Us Hispanic Literary Heritage)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Way It Was and Other Writings (Recovering the Us Hispanic Literary Heritage)
      Jesus Colon , Edna Acosta-Belen , and Virginia Sanchez Korrol
      Manufacturer: Arte Publico Press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      HistoryHistory | Subjects | Books | Africa | Americas | Ancient | Arctic & Antarctica | Asia | Audiobooks | Australia & Oceania | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Europe | Gay & Lesbian | Historical Study | Large Print | Middle East | Military | Military Science | Russia | United States | World
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      ASIN: 1558850570

      Book Description

      The Way It Was and Other Writtings is an autobiographical recollection of life and the evolution of the Puerto Rican community in New York City and its major figures and organizations. The book documents the strength, spirit of survival and solidarity, and life experiences that Colón shared with many other working-class migrants and politically radical communities.
      The Hispanic Scholarship Directory: Over 500 Ways to Finance Your Education (Stepping Stones to Success Series)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Hispanic Scholarship Directory: Over 500 Ways to Finance Your Education (Stepping Stones to Success Series)
        Andres Tobar
        Manufacturer: Wpr Publishing
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 1889379050
        Life on the Hyphen: The Cuban-American Way
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A Force in the World of Exile Theory
        Life on the Hyphen: The Cuban-American Way
        Gustavo Perez Firmat , and Gustavo Perez Firmat
        Manufacturer: Univ of Texas Pr
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover

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        5. The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry The Latin Deli: Prose and Poetry

        ASIN: 0292711530

        Book Description

        From Desi Arnaz and "I Love Lucy" to Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, Cuban-Americans have conga'd and mambo'd their way into the heart of popular culture in the United States. This engaging book, which mixes the author's own story with his reflections as a trained observer, explores how both famous and ordinary members of the "1.5 Generation" (Cubans who came to United States as children or adolescents) have lived "life on the hyphen," neither fully Cuban nor fully American, but a fertile hybrid of both. Ranging widely from music to movies to television to literature, Gustavo Pérez Firmat chronicles what it means to be Cuban in America. He offers an in-depth look at Cuban-Americans who have become icons of popular and literary culture, including Desi Arnaz, Oscar Hijuelos (whose The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love won the Pulitzer Prize and became a major motion picture), musician Perez Prado, poet José Kozer, and crossover pop stars Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada.

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars A Force in the World of Exile Theory.......2007-04-27

        After buying many Gustavo Perez Firmat books to glean in preparing to write my senior thesis on Cuban-American identity, I grew to love this man's work. Perez Firmat is honest, creative, educated, and experienced! An exile himself, he is able to back up his analysis of the exile experience with his own history.

        This book stands out above his other works as the most significant. In it, he relates ideas about the exile experience, such as his exposition of what it means to live "on the hyphen," and the extent of the challenges that exiled children face (the 1.5 Generation). Perez Firmat applies theory to 20th Century Cuban-American examples.

        This is a powerhouse in the world of Cuban-American Studies. It is written by a man in high standing academea (current professor at Columbia Univ.), but the book speaks in clear, concise language that can be enjoyed by anyone interested in the topic. I highly recommend the book and hope that you will use this book as a jumping point to read Perez Firmat's other books.
        The 2005 Hispanic Scholarship Directory: Over 1,000 Ways to Finance Your Education (Hispanic Scholarship Directory)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The 2005 Hispanic Scholarship Directory: Over 1,000 Ways to Finance Your Education (Hispanic Scholarship Directory)

          Manufacturer: Wpr Pub
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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          1. Getting Money for College: Scholarships for Hispanic American Students, 1st edition (Scholarships for Hispanic Students) Getting Money for College: Scholarships for Hispanic American Students, 1st edition (Scholarships for Hispanic Students)

          ASIN: 097675620X

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