Cubanita

by Gaby Triana

Book Overview

All Isa wants is to be a regular American teenager, something her Cuban immigrant mother most definitely does not understand. After almost eighteen years of constant debate over everything from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060560223
• ISBN13: 9780060560225
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Rayo
• Length: 195 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

In Cubanita, a teen grapples with her roots

Cubanita: ''a girl or woman of Cuban descent who embraces her culture." That's not Isabel Diaz, the 17-year-old narrator in the new book, ''Cubanita." This second novel by Miami native Gaby Triana explores the angst a teen faces as she comes to terms with her roots and with going away to college. It's a book told from a teen's point of view about growing up in a bicultural world, specifically, Cuban and American. The author, a former school teacher, grew up in Miami to Cuban parents. She has said in interviews she always felt more comfortable speaking and writing English than Spanish, something many children of immigrants, no matter what nationality they are, can identify with. While the book focuses on Isabel's cultural duality, the heart of the book is her relationship with her mother. More important, Triana explores the emotional umbilical cord that keeps so many adult Hispanics near their parents. It's her longing to be away on her own that makes Isabel realize who she really is and embrace where her family came from. The book begins as Isabel, known as Isa to her family, prepares for her last summer in Miami before heading to UM -- the University of Michigan, not the University of Miami. Isabel's overprotective Cuban mother grows even more maternally suffocating as the summer unfolds. Isabel breaks up with her high school sweetheart so she can have a clean start for her new college life, but her ex won't leave her alone. Neither will her mother. Then Hurricane Andrew rolls into the Everglades summer camp where Isabel teaches art. But the Andrew that blows her away is a friendly cute guy, not the hurricane that devastated South Florida in 1992. Isa begins dating Andrew, a 23-year-old student at the University of Miami. As she begins to fall for him, she learns the hard way that this Andrew, like the hurricane, is a dangerous one-hit wonder. In the meantime, a sudden family illness forces Isabel to reevaluate her priorities and, perhaps, stay in Miami for college. It is then she realizes the sacrifices her grandparents and her parents made for a better life in the United States. Isabel also learns that even though she has never been to Cuba, it is an important part of her cultural DNA. Triana writes the book in a fluid, conversational, in-your-face style. It's as if the teen character was in the room with you, gabbing about her experiences. The author generously peppers humorous Spanish sayings throughout the book, but their meanings are clear. It's an easy and entertaining read, and the plot moves at a brisk pace, which will keep readers, even younger ones, hooked. But it's the lively interaction between Isabel and her mother that resonates the most, making the surrounding boyfriend drama and looming freshman year in college take a back seat. Isabel's mother often gives her advice as she prepares ''Kee-line pie," pokes her head into her bedroom to drop off laundry, or shops at the local Hispanic supermarket. ''I can tell she's t

A great choice

I read this book and loved it.It is almost like my life in a book.Alot of the places mentioned in this book are real places in Miami like the Big Cheese,Baptist Hospital,Sedano's, and more. I would reccomend this book for any teen because there are alot of great lessons learned.

Mixed bag

This was a very nice young adult book, and 'clean' in comparison to many others in this genre. The main character Isabel is, like many teens, embarrassed by her mother, and does everything she can to distance herself from her Cuban roots. Most of the book focuses on Isabel's relationship with her mother, and the struggles they have to agree on issues. Isabel's mother is very proud of her Cuban heritage and wants Isabel to feel the same way - which she doesn't. The family lives in Miami, but Isabel doesn't participate in anything having to do with her Cuban heritage. Isabel is a smart young woman who has a variety of friends and talents. One of her talents is art, and she spends her final summer before college teaching art at a summer camp. There, she meets Andrew, and begins a relationship with him. Unfortunately, Andrew isn't everything he seems to be, and although there is some romance, the couple never makes it to the 'big act.' I think the author did a really good job of making Isabel and her entire family likeable. The book will appeal to teen and pre-teen girls not only because of the super-cute cover, but because the story is solid and the characters are fun. The author also intermixed many Spanish words with the English text, and explained what everything meant. The only part that could have been omitted was any reference to Isabel's sister Carmen - we only 'hear' from Carmen through 2 emails, and her presence in the book was minimal and unnecessary. I was pleased with the ending and overall, feel that it was a book well worth my time and recommendation.

Awesome

I loved this book, as an older reader picking it up, I was unsure what to expect. Ms. Triana does an outstanding job of weaving a tale about boys, work, home, and the need for independence, while still accurately, and entertainingly capturing the young adult voice. I would recommend this story to adults and teens alike!