A review by camillejoy
The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez by Alan Sitomer
2.0
I listened to this book on a playaway.
I think in an attempt to inform the reader about Mexican-American culture, Sitomer did way too much telling and not enough showing. Sonia says many times, "En mi cultura..." and "then I realized..." Her constant explanation of culture and revelations about her ancestral country made her voice seem inauthentic. In the beginning she also lists stereotypes about Mexicans and says how much she hates them but then goes on to explain how her family fits many of the stereotypes, which I found strange.
*spoiler below*
The other major issue I had with the book was that there is a sexual assault scene in the end in which Sonia cannot find the strength even to scream for help. Instead of showing how she'd grown by allowing her to fight back against her attacker, she ends up being rescued first by her boyfriend, and then by her father in a violent manner. I thought this was totally counter to the changes Sonia had gone through during the book-- she became stronger and I think she would have had the strength to stand up for herself.
I think in an attempt to inform the reader about Mexican-American culture, Sitomer did way too much telling and not enough showing. Sonia says many times, "En mi cultura..." and "then I realized..." Her constant explanation of culture and revelations about her ancestral country made her voice seem inauthentic. In the beginning she also lists stereotypes about Mexicans and says how much she hates them but then goes on to explain how her family fits many of the stereotypes, which I found strange.
*spoiler below*
The other major issue I had with the book was that there is a sexual assault scene in the end in which Sonia cannot find the strength even to scream for help. Instead of showing how she'd grown by allowing her to fight back against her attacker, she ends up being rescued first by her boyfriend, and then by her father in a violent manner. I thought this was totally counter to the changes Sonia had gone through during the book-- she became stronger and I think she would have had the strength to stand up for herself.