Rodriguez, Luis J.

Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.

Average customer rating:

Almost too realistic, yet a must read.
The Definitive Account of Barrio Life.
best book ever
Poorly written
Always Running

Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member
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ASIN: 0743276914

Book Description

By age twelve, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East L.A. gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests, then watched with increasing fear as drugs, murder, suicide, and senseless acts of street crime claimed friends and family members.

Before long, Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and the power of words and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation. Achieving success as an award-winning Chicano poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more -- until his son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in Always Running, a vivid memoir that explores the motivations of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its participants. At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-learned lesson for the next generation.

Customer Reviews:

Almost too realistic, yet a must read. .......2007-03-20

I heard this book was good, but didn't know how good it actually was until I read it. There isn't a dull page.

What's most alarming about the book is not necessarily the events that take place, as many movies about this lifestyle have been made since the book's first publishing, sort of numbing the harsh realities of gang life to even outsiders who grew up in secluded suburbs, but the age that Luis Rodriguez actually is when the events are taking place. Some of the day to day drama described in the book is so adult like that you can only picture the subjects of these tales being 18 to 25 years old, yet the reader is often reminded that the author was as young as 14 when some of them took place.

What may also separate the stories told in this book from the stories told in typical 1990s west coast gang folklore, from hip hop to film to books like 'Monster', is the sexual situations Mr. Rodriguez describes that he took part in and witnesses, again, in some cases as young as 14. Some are romantic, and almost remind the reader of a time when romance was first discovered in their lives, yet there are some that are so disturbing that the reader is quickly brought down to earth, reminded that love and romance in a violent, drug infested environment is far different from the kind most Americans have grown to know, that is dictated by Hollywood fairy tales.

Luis Rodriguez finding his outlet from the gang life through art and writing could give hope to any current gang member who happens upon this book. It's one thing for a suburban high school teacher to tell a 'homeboy' that he can express his views through art, it's another for an older 'homeboy' himself to tell him.

A must read for everyone, from suburbanites with little knowledge of the gang life who would like another version than that given by media outlets and law enforcement agencies, where the knowledge tends to be limited to crime reporting and identification of territories and monikers, to kids and adults wrapped up in the gang life, and just looking for any story that can inspire them or give them some kind of direction to a better life.

The Definitive Account of Barrio Life........2007-02-19

What more is needed to say about this memoir? This is singlehandedly one of the most powerful memoirs I have ever read and that goes without saying. I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, the same one that Rodriguez builds and describes and I can honestly say he is completely spot on. About? Everything. The racial, identity, and sexual struggle that Rodriguez weaves in this story is compelling and really grabbed me and immersed me into his life. This memoir says what there is to be said, and it says a lot.

best book ever.......2007-02-09

this os the best book i have ever read next to tommyland very different but bolth very good books

Poorly written.......2006-12-13

I suppose one of the editorial reviews summed it up nicely.

"...Mexican funerals, rapes and arrests, but his writing style renders much of that rich material forgettable."
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I was very much interested in the topic, yet the rambling, writing style of Luis Rodriguez
made for a disappointing experience.

Always Running.......2006-12-07

We believe that every teen should be given the opportunity to read Always Running. Luis J. Rodriguez grew up in East L.A in the 60's and 70's. This book is his life story describing all the situations he went thru as a cholo; the sex, drugs, violence, and parties. His style of writing is hypnotizing due to the vivid descriptions that create an amazing picture in your mind. As a result, you won't want to put the book down. However, readers beware; Always Running contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find as inappropriate.

Average customer rating:

Great Book
Outstanding book
Our Republic
Our Republic
A Ride Through East L.A.

The Republic of East LA: Stories
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Rayo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
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ASIN: 006093686X
Release Date: 2003-03-04

Amazon.com

Luis J. Rodriguez's The Republic of East L.A. showcases the lives of drifters, gangbangers, the homeless, and other hard-luck residents. The characters in these stories often commit crimes or suffer hardships without taking responsibility for their actions, or the author leaves the consequences unexplored (after a murder at the end of one story, the characters simply drive off). What we are left with are people to whom at the outset we sense bad things will happen, and they usually do. There are touching stories in here, however, where people endure the blight of urban poverty, making the most of it and/or escaping through fantasies of a better life. Rodriguez sums up East L.A. in "Boom, Bot, Boom": <blockquote>There are hundreds of midnight images: black-uniformed officers with taped nightsticks, scrawled bus stops, spasms of gunfire, crowded jail cells, whirling helicopter blades, sidewalk Romeos and red-toed Juliets.... But for Raul and Stick, there was only this--a sad, silly, and sometimes deadening symmetry called suburbia. And they thrived on it.</blockquote>

Rodriguez covers fertile ground, but does so in a rather bland and predictable manner. Perhaps the author is right that the people of East L.A. simply endure what comes their way, but without giving us more engagement between the subjects and their action, The Republic of East L.A. seems inhabited less by people than by characters. --Michael Ferch

Book Description

From the award-winning author of Always Running comes a brilliant collection of short stories about life in East Los Angeles. Whether hilariously capturing the voice of a philosophizing limo driver whose dream is to make the most of his rap-metal garage band in "My Ride, My Revolution," or the monologue-styled rant of a tes-ti-fy-ing! tent revivalist named Ysela in "Oiga," Rodriguez squeezes humor from the lives of people who are not ready to sacrifice their dreams due to circumstance.

In these stories, Luis J. Rodriguez gives eloquent voice to the neighborhood where he spent many years as a resident, a father, an organizer, and, finally, a writer: a neighborhood that offers more to the world than its appearance allows.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-01-26

The Republic of East L.A. is incredible because it talks about the truths of East L.A. Some stories are hard to believe because it is so gruesome and tragic. For example, on page 63, a sixteen-year-old girl named Noemi got raped by some vatos. Furthermore, on page 229, there were women who sold themselves for sex in order to obtain money. However, there are parts of the story that are just funny. For example, on page 64, a freshman girl named Olivia fought over a seat and got suspended. We would recommend The Republic of East L.A because it has an exciting mixture of settings, emotions, and characters. We recommend this book because it talks about betrayal, love, and tragedy. Overall, this book is worth reading.

Outstanding book.......2004-03-18

It's rare to find new literature about Chicanos in Los Angeles. Most I've found is set in the years from 1920 to 1970. This was a breath of fresh air.

I must admit that I hadn't heard of Luis J. Rodriguez before I read the books. What first attracted me to the book was the pretty girl on the cover. While the stories were compelling to me as a Chicano, I think the true beauty of the author's work is a truth that transcends racial and socio-economic background and most importantly, age.

Highly recommended.

Our Republic.......2003-07-20

Luis J. Rodriguez once again has painted a vibrant and complex picture of those who work, live, love and die in "The Republic of East L.A." Rodriguez's prose is straight-forward yet poetic as he tells us about the varied struggles of cholos/as, a budding journalist, a limousine driver, immigrants, working people, all sorts of gente. My favorite story is "Sometimes You Dance with a Watermelon," where forty-year-old Rosalba (an immigrant living in poverty and already a grandmother) needs to escape her crowded home to get a momentary bit of joy. She rouses her favorite granddaughter, Chila, and they drive to Grand Central Market where they buy a watermelon. Rosalba balances it on her head and starts to walk swaying "back and forth to a salsa beat thundering out of an appliance store." She and Chila get caught up in this joyous dance:

"Rosalba had not looked that happy in a long time as she danced along the bustling streets of the central city in her loose-fitting skirt and sandals. She danced in the shadow of a multi-storied Victorian -- dancing for one contemptuous husband and for another who was dead. She danced for a daughter who didn't love herself enough to truly have the love of another man. She danced for her grandchildren, especially that fireball Chila. She danced for her people, wherever they were scattered, and for this country she would never quite comprehend. She danced, her hair matted with sweat, while remembering a simpler life on an even simpler rancho in Nayarit."

This is a powerful, beautiful collection.

NOTE: This review refers to the paperback edition.

Our Republic.......2003-04-05

This is a powerful, beautiful collection.

A Ride Through East L.A........2002-09-11

The Republic of East L.A. is collection of stories set in a part of Los Angeles that even natives have not seen, do not know. Rodriguez has an eye for his culture and a sometimes imperfect way of telling a story that only adds credibility to the subjects he writes about.

That these stories have a rough edge, that they are not always perfectly told, is not important because they are poignantly told. Mostly they cross the barrio barrier for all to enjoy. Occasionally they don't. If you are interested in culture, speak Spanish or are familiar with Hispanic/American way of life, you will have no trouble. If you aren't, you will still find some of these stories worth a bit of a struggle. Especially "Pigeons." This tale about new Mexican immigrant prejudices against second generation Mexicans and vice versa is worth the entire ride through "East L.A."

Amazon.com

We've heard about drive-by shootings and territorial battles in the news. "East Side Stories" brings the code, the lives, the words, and the hope of actual gang members to light in this stunning collection of essays, photographs, and an interview of ex-gang member Luis Rodriguez, now the author of five books and the recipient of several major awards. The labyrinthine rules and codes of gang life are examined and explained, while intimate photographs of "gang bangers" in their homes and with their families put a human face on what is, for many of us, just another story in the afternoon newspaper.

Luis Rodriguez explains in his interview that the demonization and false glorification of gang life has done much disservice to the termination of gang activity, activity which he defines as "90% boredom." What's the key to reduction of gang violence and improvement of inner-city lives, to the dissolution of prisons as a right of passage? Part of the solution lies in providing better education by informed and supportive teachers who are able to tap into the overlooked creativity in inner-city communities. And a great part lies in nationally understanding and supporting communities bound by poverty, and encouraging people to work together to help people work for themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Too many pictures.......2005-10-08

One would think that this book would describe gang life more thoroughly. But, well over half the pages are pictures. Also, a lot of the rest of the pages either have a only few sentences or they are totally blank. I am very disappointed.

GREAT BOOK!!!!.......2002-09-30

It doesn't get any more real than this!! I really enjoyed this book. It lets you really get to know the people in the book who are real and not just some made up characters. I hope to see more of these type of books from Joseph Rodriguez. I also like the idea that someone made above about the author doing an update to this book. That would be great!!!

Finally the truth.......2001-12-05

Finally someone writes a book and tells the truth i grew up in East los and believe me it was hard but something we chose,we chose to gangbang and finally someone was real about it and wrote this book showing the way it really is and what we really go threw.........THANKS,VBTP

The Same Neighborhood.......2000-01-03

I live in East L.A., and I know two of the young guys that were in the book. This is what life for us is really like.Im 19, and the guys that came out in the book are around 22 now. I think that this guy has come a really long way and hopefully when he looks back at this book he will realize that he has turned into a better and smarter person.The author has my support in whatever he does. To come here to the neighborhood and write about what goes on in here is opening society's eyes to the everyday struggles and pressures that our young Chicano men have to go through. Behind every picture that Joseph has taken there is a story,and the people that live through it are the authors. I am sure that Joseph has some how helped these guys, because when I first met Porky the first thing he told me was that Pony and him had came out in a book!I think that this book should be updated and see how everyone is doing now.I recommend this book to anyone that wants to see some of the hardships of life.Pony died after this book was made but his smile and memory are always with me.When you see his face in this book don't think of it as another gang member, but as someone who was sill a kid that got caught up in the gang life.

Excellant portrayal of gang life........1999-04-23

Mr. Rodriguez does a masterful job of showing the reader the very human side of people who are traditionally depicted as inhumane animals. I lost somebody very close to me to gang violence, I myself grew up in such a setting. Mr. Rodriguez not only offers hope for the people who are in the barrio, but for people who do not live in the barrio he offers an understanding of the pathology behind gangs. Ultimately the author is able to show us that "gang" kids are America's kids, and the way to help them is not to ignore them, or lock them up, but to show them love, understanding, and a way out.

Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times

Average customer rating:

Great Book

Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Seven Stories Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
The Concrete River
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Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez
My Nature Is Hunger: New & Selected Poems, 1989 2004

ASIN: 1583225641

Book Description

A longtime peacemaker with gangs in Los Angeles and Chicago, Luis J. Rodriguez prescribes healing through community building. He warns against further marginalization of people already on the edge of society, and points the way to nonviolent opportunities for youth.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2002-08-13

This is a must read for youth workers who get (or need to get) the political and social justice context of their field. It was written by someone in the trenches and not the ivory tower of foundations, university or some nonprofits. It is well written and thought provoking.

Average customer rating:

REVIEW QUOTES
The Warrior-Poet
noche de trochemoche

Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Curbstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Concrete River
My Nature Is Hunger: New & Selected Poems, 1989 2004
Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way/No tiene que ser asi: A Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio

ASIN: 1880684500

Amazon.com

Trochemoche (TROH-chay MOH-chay) means helterskelter in Spanish, and this book is dedicated to the helterskelter of the barrio--both its chaotic good and bad.

Many of the poems are narrative, relying upon the metaphor of the poem's event rather than densely figurative language. In "Freeway Flyin' Burrito Man," the Mexican speaker of the poem is confronted by a biker buddy of his white girlfriend, who tries to scare the speaker with a motorcycle adaptation of the game "Chicken." The speaker gets the girl; the biker hits the road, after some significant glaring.

Rodriguez seems to use narrative with great control. Perhaps too much control. His most passionate words come not from the cool, sharp-eyed stories but from the often surprising images that he creates, images that build and rebuild the life of the barrio. In "Reflection on an El Train Glass," the speaker becomes mesmerized as "a vise of sun grips a shape, / an innuendo of myself" and the past reveals its hazy multiple layers. In the stirring poem "Securo Que Hell Yes!" the poet explains the effects of racism and oppression as a nightmare that has occurred so frequently that "it's a song / beneath our breathing," yet it won't stop the dream of returning to the America that his people helped to build. The imagery provides a bridge for understanding the harsh events of the barrio.

Customer Reviews:

REVIEW QUOTES.......2001-08-06

"The voices of TROCHEMOCHE are truly unforgettable." --World Literature Today

"In fusing childhood experience of working life, love and family with current labors and lusts, ...these peoms make clear their voracity." --Publishers Weekly

"Chicano poet Luis J. Rodríguez is a writer to watch...and read." --MultiCultural Review

"Each of his tender poems is an unabashed machine of transcendence, a hunk of primary meat to feed the primary poetic hungers." --Richard Silberg, Poetry Flash

The Warrior-Poet.......2000-05-15

The poems in this collection are more recent ones by former gang member, street guy, Rodriguez. Some are not as lyrical as they might be, in fact, it is a hit and miss collection. However, what this book really has going for it is a passion for the art and a passion for his variety of subjects. All the mechanical skills in the world cannot replace a love for your art. Rodriguez has this and more. In this volume there is great humor and great sadness, love, bitterness, loneliness and great strength, the strength of a poet-warrior.

noche de trochemoche.......2000-04-14

after reading his other book La Vida Loca, i was left with a craving for more. Although his poetry is rather different, it still seems to capture the same vividness, and reality of what life on the streets is like. Being a native of chicago it was nice read some of the descriptions of places that i grew up around. I could feel his perception of this gray city we live in. There are few books that can capture what it is to grow up in urban America and make it seem so real and at the sametime beautiful.

My Nature Is Hunger: New & Selected Poems, 1989 2004

Average customer rating:

A must read!

My Nature Is Hunger: New & Selected Poems, 1989 2004
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Curbstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez
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America Is Her Name

ASIN: 1931896240

Book Description

"This poetry is of the barrio yet stubbornly refuses to be confined in it-Rodriguez's perceptive gaze and storyteller's gift transport his world across neighborhood boundaries."-Publishers Weekly on Trochemoche

"While filled with the heart and words of Chicano culture, Rodriguez's poems transcend the scope of race and ethnicity. The topics he addresses in this book-relationships, justice, love, and the irony of daily life-are, or should be, the subjects that envelop us all. It is this universality, cloaked in the specific encounters of his life that make his writing as gripping to readers living in inner-city America as to those living in small-town USA."-Sojourners on Trochemoche

My Nature is Hunger is the first poetry collection in five years by this major award-winning Latino author. It includes selections from his previous books, Poems Across the Pavement, The Concrete River, and Trochemoche, and 26 new poems that reflect his increasingly global view, his hard-won spirituality, and his movement toward reconciliation with his family and his past.

Though Rodriguez is the most authentic voice of the barrio, many reviewers have commented on the universality of his work.

The son of Mexican immigrants, Luis J. Rodriguez grew up in Watts and East Los Angeles. He began writing in his early teens and eventually won national recognition as a poet, journalist, fiction writer, children's book writer, and critic. He is currently working as a peacemaker among gangs on a national and international level. After spending 15 years in Chicago, Rodriguez returned with his family to Los Angeles, where he helped create Tia Chucha's Cafe & Centro Cultural, a multi-arts, multimedia cultural center in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

Customer Reviews:

A must read!.......2006-07-26

"My Nature is Hunger" reveals a turning point in the continued maturation of Rodriguez as a poet and visionary. The acuity of Rodriguez is still there, but now it is the marked difference between a steak knife, and a scalpel.

It Doesn't Have to Be This Way/No tiene que ser asi: A Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio

Average customer rating:

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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America Is Her Name
Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez
Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.
The Concrete River
My Nature Is Hunger: New & Selected Poems, 1989 2004

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:

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.

Average customer rating:

powerful and poignant poetry

Poems across the Pavement
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Tia Chucha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez
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Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times
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ASIN: 0962428701

Book Description

Winner of the 1989 Poetry Center Book Award

Customer Reviews:

powerful and poignant poetry.......2000-06-23

Luis Rodriguez's poetry is powerful, sometimes gut-wrenching, honest and vibrant. It is unself-conscious and spontaneous. It sounds like he is just talking in his everyday language, which just happens to be in beautiful poetic phrases. He is one of our national treasures. His work can be a bridge between communities.

Average customer rating:

América is Her Name
adults will enjoy it more than children
MORE REVIEW QUOTES

America Is Her Name
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Curbstone Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aqui hasta alla (Pura Belpre Honor Book Narrative (Awards))
Trochemoche: Poems by Luis Rodriguez

ASIN: 1880684403

Book Description

Set in the Pilsen barrio of Chicago, this children's picture book gives a heartwarming message of hope. The heroine, America, is a primary school student who is unhappy in school until a poet visits the class and inspires the students to express themselves creatively-in Spanish or English. America Is Her Name emphasizes the power of individual creativity in overcoming a difficult environment and establishing self-worth and identity through the young girl America's desire and determination to be a writer. This story deals realistically with the problems in urban neighborhoods and has an upbeat theme: you can succeed in spite of the odds against you. Carlos Vazquez's inspired four-color illustrations give a vivid sense of the barrio, as well as the beauty and strength of the young girl America. Luis J. Rodriguez grew up in Watts and East L.A. His bestselling memoir about gang life, Always Running (now available in paperback in both English and Spanish from Touchstone Books), won the Carl Sandburg Award. His Poems Across the Pavement (Tia Chucha Press) won the Poetry Center Book Award from San Francisco State University, and his poetry collection, The Concrete River was awarded the 1991 PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award for Poetry. Mr. Rodriguez has worked extensively with gang members to guide them in positive directions, and he is frequently featured as a keynote speaker or guest poet at national conferences and cultural centers. Rodriguez explores the Chicano experience with an unrelenting, socially conscious eye that moved Larry Weintraub of the Chicago Sun-Times to call him a poet "we need to hear." Illustrator Carlos Vazquez was born in Mexico, studied physics and art, and now teaches in adult education programs in New York City. This book is also available in a Spanish language edition as La llaman America translated by Tino Villanueva. 1-880684-41-1

Customer Reviews:

América is Her Name.......2005-06-21

América is Her Name is a heartfelt, realistic story of a Mixteca Indian girl who regains her lost voice through writing poetry. What will resonate with children is América's decision not to fall victim to the poverty, hopelessness, and violence that surrounds her in the Pilsen barrio of Chicago. Instead, children will be encouraged by América's choice to heed Mr. Aponte's teachings: "When you use words to share your feelings with somebody else, you are a poet, and poets belong to the world."

Children will likewise be empowered by Luis Rodríguez's overall message that permeates throughout the text-that every voice counts. When a child is told that their words and feelings count, it is akin to opening up their world. Just as América discovers that the heart of a poet may lie beneath such social barriers as culture, race, and class; children reading her story will also see that they, too, can follow América's example and find their own poetic voice that will transcend the obstacles of life. As América begins to value the beauty of her own poetry and her mother recalls the strength of their proud heritage in her native language, the child reader will grasp that the heart of a poet is within everyone, if only we have the courage to share our words, our feelings, and our hearts, with the world.

adults will enjoy it more than children.......2003-03-02

Beautiful illustrations and a topic that hasn't been addressed much in children's literature are positive qualities of this book. However, I think it will appeal more to adults than children, and since poetry is part of the story-line, I think it ought to have more poetry embedded into the text.

MORE REVIEW QUOTES.......2001-08-06

"What really sets La Llaman América/América is Her Name apart is that the story manages to address perplexing realities with neither cynicism nor an excess of earnestness." --Kathy O'Connell, Hartford Advocate

"This heartening book will touch readers and writers of all ages and backgrounds and belongs in every school and public library." --Frances Ann Day, MultiCultural Review

"This story deals realistically with the problems in urban neighborhoods and has an upbeat theme: you can succeed in spite of the odds against you. Carlos Vesquez's inspired 4-color illustrations give a vivid sense of the barrio, as well as the beauty and strenght of the young girl América." --Hispanic Outlook

"This is a story for librarians, teachers and parents as well as for children ages 6 and up because it helps us understand the newcomer's search for a place of belonging. Touching and true." --Feminist Bookstore News

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