Culture 3: Hispanic/Latino(a) Lit
Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 1994. ISBN-13: 978-1-56512-038-9
Summary: This heartwrenching story follows 3 sisters who are battling family and societal expectations while trying to stand up for what’s right during the regime of the dictator Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. They face many challenges as sisters, daughters, wives, and mothers. Their roles in each of these parts of their life sometimes cause them to question their upbringings, their religion, their life choices, etc. but it doesn’t fail to still strengthen their sisterly bond.
Cultural Analysis: A big cultural aspect of the book was how education and women was not always a priority as mentioned “She looks at me, not understanding. So, she doesn't know directions. Can she read, I wonder?...I make a mental note that once I’m back, I’m going to make sure these girls are enrolled in school” (150). Women are basically meant to expect other things, education not being one of them. With education also comes a lack of political understanding and knowledge. Throughout the book there is a lot of political talk during a climate where people are mostly silent and expected to be silent, especially women: “There wasn’t much talk of politics, so as to not worry mama…And me, Patria Mercedes, like I said, I had settled down for life in my rocksure house. And eighteen years passed by” (149). The contrast of a politically oppressive government vs. traditional women's roles and expectations does not turn out well for women, and add the lack of education in the mix. Women have a huge challenge if they’re not paying attention to the world around them and thinking for themselves. But ultimately, as mentioned, “Women make the best of things” with all the issues and problems and burdens and weight of tending to the family of their own and their parents and siblings as well (181).
Reviews: “Brimming with warmth and vitality, this new novel by the author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (1991) is a paean to the power of female courage. The butterflies are four smart and lovely Dominican sisters growing up during Trujillo's despotic regime…This is not Garc°a M†rquez or Allende territory (no green hair or floating bodies); Alvarez's voice is her own, grounded in realism yet alive with the magic of everyday human beings who summon extraordinary courage and determination to fight for their beliefs. As mesmerizing as the Mirabal sisters themselves.
Kirkus Reviews
Connections: One thing that I connected with a lot in this book was the fact that boys aren’t correlated with anything “soft,” such as on page 36 when a little boy brings in flowers from the garden, they mention it’s not really something seen in real life. In Latino families, boys aren’t really expected to be kind and soft and anything that is “girly” will get you made fun of, unfortunately. I do think that things are improving a bit, it’s not as intense as it was before like when I grew up or especially when my dad grew up, but it’s still the norm. Another type of expectations, especially of women, in the book was to keep up with the catholic church. My dad, to this day, unspokenly expects me to go to church. He’ll ask me about it if I go, even though I am married and live on my own. The expectation for women to pray and keep close to church is so intense.
Medina, Meg. No More Seṅora Mimi. Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts. 2024
Summary: Ana is a young girl who is taken care of by her neighbor, Senora Mimi. Ana is excited that her Abuela will be moving in with her soon, which means she won’t have to worry about having to be babysat anymore. While this sounds like a great and fun idea, Ana soon realizes that means she won’t see Senora Mimi anymore, and this makes her sad. Senora Mimi, however, reassures her that she will miss Ana as well, but they promise to keep in touch and visit often, as they live close by each other.
Cultural Analysis: I think this addresses a not so popular culture topic and that is of the babysitters and community village raising of children. There’s a sense of community and being there for each other without even having to ask or thank them. In the book, I love the Spanish words that were sprinkled in there, especially Abuela. I can’t think of reading about a Latina little girl and her saying “grandma,” it doesn't feel/sound right. I loved that the people in the book were brown, all different shades. It makes me happy that young kids will read about these types of characters and feel represented or at least understood. In the pictures, I loved that Senora Mimi had a trenza on, it was super spot on with growing up as a Mexican American, my mom would always make me a trenza. I hated it growing up, but now I see it as a staple! Another part of the pictures was that throughout the story, there are tools for tejer. Although it’s not as popular among the younger generations, it’s still a super important part of our culture; maybe it would’ve been more accurate if the grandma as the one tejiendo, but it’s still great to see that represented in the pictures!
Reviews: “A child prepares to say goodbye to a beloved babysitter…A compassionate consideration of caregivers, Medina’s careful, playful text blends spare dialogue with telling details that, piece by piece, build up Ana’s tender friendship with señora Mimí. Hints of other everyday adventures shared between child and caretaker believably tease out the central conflict, which comes to a suitably upbeat conclusion. Cicchese’s artwork boasts a rich palette of warm shades of yellows, oranges, and browns. The main characters are Latine; Ana’s community is diverse, and one classmate uses a wheelchair.
An affectionate shoutout to sitters. (Picture book. 4-8)
Kirkus Reviews
Connections: Growing up, I always was under the care of anyone, mostly my mom’s many sisters, that could take care of us. My dad worked two jobs, and my mom was always on call. Therefore, my aunt often took care of us when necessary. When my mom got a better job, she would take care of all my cousins while their moms, my tias, went out to their jobs. In Mexico, you really use up your whole village to help raise your children, and people gladly help take care of them as their own.
Mora, Pat. Dizzy In Your Eyes.
Summary: These collections of poems about the different stages of confusing love and intense emotions one feels as a young woman or teenager, the author is able to open up discussions and topics about one’s romantic relationships and family relationships, even friendships.
Cultural Analysis: These poems digged deep into the raw emotions of what it’s like to be part of both cultures. It is super relevant to today’s administration in the USA with the poem “Legal Alien.” I often think that I’m not from either side. One thing that these poems reminded me of is there was a hashtag on TikTok or the internet in general that said something about wanting to be loved “Mexicanly,” which referred to the big rose bouquets, the mariachi, the big church cathedral weddings, the cooking and tending to your husband and family, etc., but I found it to be super weird because as a Mexican American woman, I’ve been loved “Mexicanly,” and it isn’t always pretty. I think I was confused at the romanticizing of a culture that wasn’t painting the full picture, especially in a time right now where there are still so many “Marchas Feministas para las Mujeres” in Mexico for the disappearances of so many young women, for the many victims of abuse, etc. Violence against women is a big topic right now in Mexico, and for someone to use a hashtag that doesn't know about these situations, was a bit confusing. I shared these poems with my sister, as Mora discussed the sisterly topic in the poems, because I feel that no one else understands the family struggles in language, finances, society, etc. When your family is from another country. It’s like you’re all trying to learn together, yet that’s what drives y’all crazy with each other. Again, these poems raised great topics and discussion points that I could truly relate to.
Reviews: “The author employs an extraordinary diversity of poetic forms, from blank verse to a tanka, a cinquain to an anaphora, a haiku to a triolet and more, short notations adding a learning component for budding poets. The poems are complemented by abstract designs, the circles, rectangles and other geometric shapes repeating pleasingly. A must read for lovestruck teens, whether they’re poets or not. (Poetry. 12 & up)”
Kirkus Revies
Connections: I loved the Spanish poem that talks about both sides of the Mexican American being hyphenated. Growing up, I was always in Mexico. I lived there up until about the age of 8 years old, then as I got older, I wouldn’t go visit as much. Now, I only go about twice a year. It makes me sad, and it always makes me think of this one phrase: Ni de aqui, ni de alla, which means, I am from neither here nor there. It’s so sad that most people, especially our Hispanic students feel an emotional attachment to their family and their home country, and don't know how to process that they are too Mexican for the Americans and too American for the Mexicans. It’s an internal battle that they must learn how to navigate through those emotions. Now, as an adult, I realize that it’s a blessing and a great attribute that I can relate and be part of both places, but students who are younger and have a ways to go in understanding their place in the world need that extra help and representation through literature.
Sanchez, Erika. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. Published by Alfred A. Knopf. New York, New York. 2017. ISBN 978-1-5247-0048-5
Summary: Julia experiences the heartbreaking news of her sister’s passing, which drives her to a depressive state. It’s difficult for her to go through life being the daughter of Mexican parents, meeting their expectations and trying to live up to Olga, her sister’s, perfection that her parents saw her through. Julia must learn to face the challenges of death in the family, her emotional and mental health, and her parents’ expectations. Throughout the story, she discovers various things about her sister, while discovering her own identity and trying to find her place in the world.
Cultural Analysis: I love the picture it paints on page. 37 of the people selling fruit and corn from carts. My favorite memories of living in Mexico when I was younger were of going to the plaza and everyone just sat around and talked and ate fruit and whatever else the vendor in the little cart was selling: gorditas, chalupas, etc. And the place smelled like frying chorizo” that part made me LOL because everytime I hear the word or see the word chorizo, I think of my grandma. Speaking of my grandma, on page 63, I love that it mentioned that no matter the risks, people still make the journey to see their loved ones. No matter what. When my grandma passed away, her daughter, my dad’s sister, living in Dallas for 8 years on an expired visa, had to cross back into Mexico and is now waiting for an appointment with customs to reapply for a new visa. She had to give up her current life in the US of 10 years, she had a little ranch and a boyfriend and her 3 pet dogs, but she had to give that all up and cross back into Mexico to see her mom before she passed. Latinoamericans, I feel, are born with the gene of sacrifice and pain in their blood and veins. As mentioned throughout the book, we suffer a lot. We learn to sacrifice and move on and take what life gives us and keep moving forward. Moving on to something lighter, another part that made me laugh out loud was on page 26 when she says that her mom doesn’t let her close the door. This is very true! I never closed my door in my room and was surprised to hear that some people did, mostly the ones that grew up with more American parents. Something else that was funny, but awkward was on page 56, it talks about how some women get old and can’t fathom the idea of having friends or being out and having a life outside of your family and kids. I’ve encountered older women who give a sort of judgy look when I say I go out to eat dinner and get dinner drinks with my girlfriends, but then I say I’m not financially ready or mentally ready to have a baby. Another big issue here with cultural analysis is the type of women expectations pg.322 Some references seem genuine like the Juanga reference, but others like “What’s wrong mija, you look like you just saw El Cucuy,” make me feel like huh? No one says that…or maybe they do in various parts of Latinoamerican countries and not here? Maybe I’ve read it too much in literature that now by this point I’m like okay here’s yet another Cucuy reference? Overall, this was a super fun and relatable read!
Reviews: “After the death of her dutiful older sister, Olga, Julia must deal with grieving parents and the discovery that her sister was keeping secrets…An abrupt plot development involving self-harm and mental illness feels forced, as does a magically life-changing trip to Mexico in the third act.
This gritty contemporary novel about an unlikable first-generation Mexican-American teen fails to deliver as a coming-of-age journey. (Fiction. 14-17)”
Kirkus Reviews
Connections: battling with doing your own thing and doing what would make your parents happy and proud. Battling between telling your parents the truth of how you feel and what your dreams are and just staying quiet to avoid hurting their feelings or just not being understood. Pg. 338-339 322 Some Mexican parents, especially dads, are very far detached from their children, not knowing anything about their favorite colors or who their friends are or what music they’re into. Pg.155 on page 22 she says about the church saying women should obey their husbands. Something similar happened to me. At church, the priest said that if you’re married and don’t have kids, you're borderline sinning because the purpose of marriage is to procreate and bring god’s children to the world, so if you’re not doing that, then what are you doing? It’s hard to leave your loved ones to chase your own dreams.
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