|
Summer Reading
Sit back, relax, and enjoy some wonderful
new books by Latina authors. |
 Adiós
to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer
Pocket Books, 2006, $9.95 (Paperback)
The story of a seventeen-year-old singer-guitarist,
Alegria Montero. When she discovers that a new
reality television series named Oye Mi Canto is
searching for the next big sensation, she decides to
audition and finds herself dealing with the
whirlwind of the competition. Alegria has to decide
whether to deal with the pressure, or go back to her
previous life.
Across a Hundred Mountains by Reyna Grande
Atria Books, 2006, $23.00
A compelling novel about migration, loss and
discovery experienced by two women, one born in
Mexico and one in the United States. Juana Garcia
and Adelina Vasquez meet across the border, offering
each other needed material and spiritual support,
and ultimately becoming close in unexpected ways.
Chicana Lives and Criminal Justice: Voices from
El Barrio by Juanita Díaz-Cotto
University of Texas Press, 2006 (Paperback)
The first comprehensive book documenting the
experiences of Chicanas within the U.S. criminal
justice system, portraying the impact of the war on
drugs in their lives. It uses oral history to
chronicle the lives of twenty-four Chicana pintas (prisoners/former
prisoners) arrested and incarcerated for non-violent,
low-level economic and drug-related crimes. It also
provides the first documentation of the thirty-four-year
history of Sybil Brand Institute, Los Angeles’
former women’s jail.
Chasing the Jaguar (Martika Gálvez Mystery) by
Michele Domínguez Greene
Harper Collins Publishers, 2006, $15.99
Meet Martika Gálvez, the Latina Nancy Drew of the
new millennium, in an adventure story for young
adults that incorporates aspects of Mayan history
and culture. Martika, a teenage girl dealing with
the separation of her parents, is having recurrent
nightmares about jungles and jaguars. She soon finds
out she is a curandera, or witch. In all the midst
of all the turmoil in her life, her psychic powers
land her in the middle of a kidnapping case, and
it’s up to her to solve the mystery.
Cellophane by Marie Arana
The Dial Press, 2006, $24.00
Author of American Chica, Arana creates a rich,
lively story about an extraordinary family, an
invention, and a collision between science, magic,
and faith. Don Victor Sobrevilla’s dream of founding
a paper factory in the Peruvian rainforest comes
true – but when he discovers the recipe for
cellophane, his household is affected with a plague
of truth. Soon, confessions of shameful secrets lead
to deadly confrontations.
Separated by Duty, United in Love: A Guide to
Long-Distance Relationships for Military Couples
by Shellie Vandevoorde
Citadel Press, 2006, $7.95 (Paperback)
Vandevoorde, a U.S. army veteran and military wife,
provides a guide for military couples on how to
handle the pain of separation during active service.
The author draws upon her experiences, exploring
real-life issues and providing tools to help
military relationships survive.
Journey to the Future: A Roadmap for Success for
Youth by Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
Liberty Publishing Group, 2003, $21.95 (paperback)
This self-improvement and empowerment book for young
adults lays out a framework for early leadership
development. Castillo Kickbusch draws upon insights
and lessons derived from her own life and career
that are highly applicable in today’s business world
and for the development of future leaders. |
