aileenmaria's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
ekirs's review
5.0
This is such a wonderful, well-written memoir. This read is nostalgic and will make you think of your own childhood, yet at the same time is very unique and details the first 13 years of Santiago's life in Puerto Rico and the subsequent uprooting to Brooklyn. I would recommend this to anyone, especially people who claim that nonfiction is boring. This has the colors of fiction yet captures part of the reality of the human experience. One of my favorite books!
mbondlamberty's review
4.0
Gripping portrayal of the experiences of a Nuyorican, complete with cameos to look up in movies!
Shows the challenges of a people that are American yet not considered so and the challenges of going home too
Shows the challenges of a people that are American yet not considered so and the challenges of going home too
danisacchi's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A beautiful story of a girl leaving her beloved home in Puerto Rico for life in Brooklyn. Her story is rich in description and feeling - fiction writing elements infused into a nonfiction piece - which make it "unputdownable."
She addresses American colonization on the island, her parents tumultuous relationship, and growing up in search of her true self without example of what that really looks like. I loved reading about her experience and finding my own family's story in hers. A powerful read. Can't wait to read book two!
She addresses American colonization on the island, her parents tumultuous relationship, and growing up in search of her true self without example of what that really looks like. I loved reading about her experience and finding my own family's story in hers. A powerful read. Can't wait to read book two!
siria's review against another edition
3.0
This is a nicely written memoir of the author's childhood in the Puerto Rico of the 1950s—Santiago can write vividly and lucidly. Unfortunately, the subject matter seemed to hamper the book a little—no one's life has a narrative arc the way that a novel does, so things are of necessity somewhat episodic, and as she is a young child for most of the book, her experiences are mostly passive ones, caused by the actions of other people. I was also a little irked by the narrative device of scattering some Spanish words and phrases throughout the text—with the exception of those which are genuinely untranslatable, I don't see the need for it. That device always seems a cheap way of creating an aura of exoticism. Still, enjoyable—perhaps best suited for a YA audience and/or one with a connection to Puerto Rico.
geroescribe's review
emotional
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Interesante conocer sobre el Puerto Rico de los años 50. Habla sobre la educación, política, cultura familiar y general de la isla. Al igual que la infancia y transición a la pubertad de una niña durante ese tiempo. Me hubiese gustado que hablara más de su tiempo en Nueva York, pero entiendo que en el segundo y tercer libro de sus memorias habla de ello. Esmeralda hace una selección genuina de sus memorias al expresar su ignorancia, curiosidades y sucesos extremadamente personales e incómodos de leer para que conozcamos su historia a profundidad.