trybngr8tv007's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jonhhh's review against another edition
4.25
it wasn't necessarily a good read, but the last three pages did it for me
nesasaenz81's review against another edition
4.0
2017 Read with my English III Pre-AP kids.
2018 English I E.O.C kids are enjoying it. One of my current students is dating one of my students from last year. When he came in and saw what book we were reading he said, "That was a real good book." This coming from a kid that prided himself in not reading.
2018 English I E.O.C kids are enjoying it. One of my current students is dating one of my students from last year. When he came in and saw what book we were reading he said, "That was a real good book." This coming from a kid that prided himself in not reading.
monica_hellen's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
bigbookgeek's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of young Antonio Marez, and how his life was touched and affected by Ultima, a curandera who came to live with his family. The prose is so beautiful and warm, it is very easy to get lost in this story! Antonio is in the midst of spiritual awakenings and discoveries (as many young children can be), and with the help of Ultima, is discovering that there is much more to God and religion than meets the eye. Add to this a measure of suspense with some bad guys, and you just get even more lost in the story! I highly recommend this one!
0ntothenextadventure's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
I did not like any of the characters and was actively annoyed by them at times. This along with an uninteresting plot, especially as a very non-religious person, made reading this feel like pulling teeth. (I read this for school)
rpc415's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting ideas and mythology; I liked the setting of WWII-era New Mexico caught between modernity and precolonial times, but overall pretty weak characters and weak writing
isabel_kasa's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this for school. I gave it three stars because it wasn't particularly bad but not really interesting either.
gslife's review against another edition
4.0
Growing up hurts, which is something no one ever says. "These are the best years of your life!" people say, which really means "my life isn't very exciting now that I'm older". Growing up means you can do more things, but as we age out of being children we're wounded in ways we don't even know hurt because we don't know enough to know what hurts yet.
Antonio Márez, six years old, lives with his father and mother in a small New Mexico town spread around a valley. He's torn in several directions in several ways: his father's family wants him to be a rancher, while his mother's family wants him to be a farmer; his mother wants him to be a priest, but he's not sure he understands the holy mysteries of Catholicism; his father wants to move with his family to California, yet his older brothers leave with this dream unrealized and Antonio with a burden to support his parents.
Six years old.
As the book progresses, it becomes something of a bildungsroman. Each chapter is a small part of the boy's life, some more influential to his character than others. Centrally, Ultima, a curandera (Native healer), comes to live with the Márez family. Ultima is known to Antonio's mother and father and was present at Antonio's birth. We slowly learn that Ultima does have some true power, seemingly where the church does not.
Tony follows the two paths, that of the curandera, which he seems fated to, and that of the priest, which seems to be forced upon him. Tony desperately wants to be a priest but assumes the Catholic answers will fall into his head. His faith in Ultima's abilities and knowledge seems much more natural.
The book hints at larger questions that Tony feels must have answers, but ultimately left me somewhat unfulfilled. The ending suggests that a melding of religion and folklore is the best path, but ends at that point. Ultima's character seems above it all (and honestly, the character is not more than a light sketch) and exists separate from Catholicism and in spite of it. In a world where Mexicans are slowly becoming Americans and learning English, Anaya convinces me of the problems but doesn't convince me of a solution.
Antonio Márez, six years old, lives with his father and mother in a small New Mexico town spread around a valley. He's torn in several directions in several ways: his father's family wants him to be a rancher, while his mother's family wants him to be a farmer; his mother wants him to be a priest, but he's not sure he understands the holy mysteries of Catholicism; his father wants to move with his family to California, yet his older brothers leave with this dream unrealized and Antonio with a burden to support his parents.
Six years old.
As the book progresses, it becomes something of a bildungsroman. Each chapter is a small part of the boy's life, some more influential to his character than others. Centrally, Ultima, a curandera (Native healer), comes to live with the Márez family. Ultima is known to Antonio's mother and father and was present at Antonio's birth. We slowly learn that Ultima does have some true power, seemingly where the church does not.
Tony follows the two paths, that of the curandera, which he seems fated to, and that of the priest, which seems to be forced upon him. Tony desperately wants to be a priest but assumes the Catholic answers will fall into his head. His faith in Ultima's abilities and knowledge seems much more natural.
The book hints at larger questions that Tony feels must have answers, but ultimately left me somewhat unfulfilled. The ending suggests that a melding of religion and folklore is the best path, but ends at that point. Ultima's character seems above it all (and honestly, the character is not more than a light sketch) and exists separate from Catholicism and in spite of it. In a world where Mexicans are slowly becoming Americans and learning English, Anaya convinces me of the problems but doesn't convince me of a solution.
hem's review against another edition
4.0
Both beautiful and haunting, severe and full of grace, a story of a community and a boy striving to find meaning and balance in the turmoil of life, death, and the everyday.