La Llaman América

By Luis J. Rodríguez

Book Overview

Una ni?a de nueve a?os, Am?rica Soliz, vive con su familia en el Barrio Pilsen de Chicago. Echa de menos su hogar en M?xico y se siente descontenta en la escuela, donde experimenta el prejuicio contra los inmigrantes mexicanos. Am?rica se siente en la fila de atr?s del sal?n de clase y se la pasa so?ando con su aldea en Oaxaca hasta que un d?a un poeta, el Sr. Aponte, visita la clase. "Todos llevamos le poes?a por dentro," le dice el Sr. Aponte a la clase e inspira a Am?rica a escribir. "Escriban en espa?ol o en ingl?s," exhorta ?l. Am?rica escribe cuentos y poemas, aun cuando su padre dice que es una manera poco pr?ctica de utilizar el tiempo. Tanto el t?o como la madre de Am?rica disfrutan los cuentos de la chica, y ?sta descubre para s? lo que el Sr. Aponte ha dicho en clase. "Cuando se usan las palabras para compartir los sentimientos con otra persona se es poeta y los poetas pertenecen a todo el mundo." A trav?s de la escritura, Am?rica se siente "en casa" en el Barrio Pilsen.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880684411
• ISBN13: 9781880684412
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Curbstone Press
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 8.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

América is Her Name

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.

MORE REVIEW QUOTES

"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