Culture 3 – Hispanic / LatinX Literature
1. DIZZY IN YOUR EYES by Pat Mora
Bibliography
Mora, Pat. (2010). Dizzy in your eyes. Alfred A. Knopf.
Plot Summary
Dizzy in Your Eyes is a book of 49 poems about love through a teenager’s eyes. Poems range from familial love to romantic love. While many of the poems are free verse, Mora uses a variety of forms, and she defines them for the reader throughout the book.
Critical Analysis
The collection of poems begins with a table of contents. Mora introduces her poems with a letter to the reader where she explains the inspiration behind the collection and the different poetic forms she uses. All poems are on the right-hand side of the page. She reserves the left side for periodically introducing a new form of poetry. The book concludes with Acknowledgements and an About the Author section at the back.
There are a few cultural references in the book. Spanish is sprinkled throughout. The poem “Conversation / Conversación” is a conversation in both languages. In “Mirrors”, her grandmother calls her “Tan linda”. The poem, “Mariachi Fantasy” has references to cholla cactuses and charro hats. “Valentine to Papi” is a poem for her father. “Spanish” is about the narrator feeling trapped by her lack of English, but the joy she feels at hearing Español. "Mundo de agua" has a Spanish title but is expressed in English. “Oda a las maestras” is a poem completely in Spanish. There are no mentions of skin tone and there are no pictures.
Review excerpts
- Booklist: “The tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems, which teens will enjoy reading on their own or hearing aloud in the classroom.”
- Kirkus Reviews: “The author employs an extraordinary diversity of poetic forms, from blank verse to a tanka, a cinquain to an anaphora, a haiku to a triolet and more, short notations adding a learning component for budding poets.”Connections
- Visit the author’s website: https://www.patmora.com/books/dizzy-in-your-eyes-poems-about-love/ for videos and resources.
- Read about the author at the back of the book.- Students can research the forms of poetry featured in the book.
2. A FIRE IN MY HANDS by Gary Soto
Bibliography
Soto, Gary. (2006). A fire in my hands. Harcourt, Inc.
Plot Summary
This is a collection of 33 poems inspired by Gary Soto’s life. He writes about his life growing up in the San Joaquin Valley. Memories of his childhood and moments with his daughter serve as his inspiration.
Critical Analysis
The book begins with a Table of Contents and an introduction by the author. The poems are written in free verse. The author includes an interesting personal anecdote for each poem that explains its origin. The book concludes with an interview with the author that gives insight into the author and his creative process.
There are several cultural references in this book. There is no explicit mention of skin color and there are no illustrations. The first poem explains that he is Mexican American. Spanish is sprinkled throughout the poems. In “Kearney Park” his abuelita shouts, “Baile, hijo, baile!” In “Inheritance”, his “grandfather chewed frijoles like a camel”, “plugged his ears with mariachis”, and calls him mi’jo. One poem titled “Mexican Food” is dedicated to his rules for eating his favorite Mexican dishes like enchiladas suizas.
Review excerpts
- - Booklist: “Soto's chatty introduction about writing poetry that celebrates small, common things will appeal to both readers and writers, as will the informal questions and answers at the back of the book and the brief autobiographical notes Soto includes with each poem.”
Connections
- Visit https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gary-soto for a mini-biography, links, and resources about the author.
- Further reading: Baseball in April and Other Stories by Gary Soto- "Chatting with Gary Soto" at the back of the book is a question-and-answer interview with the author.
3. CARMELA FULL OF WISHES by Matt de la Peña
Bibliography
de la Peña, Matt. (2018). Carmela full of wishes. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Plot Summary
Carmela has looked forward to the day she would be old enough to go out into the neighborhood with her big brother to run errands. Today is her birthday and she can finally tag along. Outside of the laundromat, she spots a dandelion. Her older brother tells her to make a wish before she blows it out. Carmela feels the weight of her decision and contemplates what she will wish for while she helps with the laundry one-handed. She carefully carries the dandelion as they run the rest of their errands. After the last stop, she tumbles with her scooter to the ground and the dandelion is crushed. She is devastated. Her brother consoles her and then walks her to a field of dandelions on their way home. She closes her eyes, makes a wish, and blows. The story ends with a sky full of wishes.
Critical Analysis
Matt de la Peña’s descriptive word choice makes the story come alive. The reader can hear Carmela’s bracelets jingle and jangle as she glides along after her brother and the ocean humming as she closes her eyes. The relationship between Carmela and her older brother is full of details that young readers can connect with. Her older brother is annoyed that his little sister is tagging along, slowing him down. Carmela shooting him a “too bad” glare, is a look we all know well. Their banter is endearing and makes his gesture at the end of the story even more sweet.
While the ethnicity and skin color of the characters is not explicitly stated within the text, the author and illustrator help the reader understand this through intentional supporting details. The only character named in this story has a Spanish name - Carmela. Christian Robinson has depicted the characters with brown skin and has left clues to the neighborhood the characters live in. Carmela and her brother walk past a Panadería Las Delicias Bakery on their way to the laundromat. They also go to a “bodega” on their block. The text says that they go past the home improvement store that, “...her dad used to stand around weekend mornings, waiting for work.” Later Carmela imagines her dad getting his papers fixed so he can come home.
Review excerpts
Connections
- Visit the Penguin Random House website for a teaching guide.
- Further reading: Miguel and the Grand Harmony by Matt de la Peña.
4. DREAMERS by Yuyi Morales
Bibliography
Morales, Yuyi. (2018). Dreamers. Neal Porter Books.
Plot Summary
Dreamers is the autobiography of Yuyi Morales and tells the story of her immigration to the United States with her son Kelly. In the beginning, she crosses the bridge into the United States. They soon notice how different the new place is. She finds comfort in a place full of books – the local library. She and her son learn to speak, read, and write in English as they settle into their new life as dreamers.
Critical Analysis
Dreamers won the Pura Belpre Illustrator Award for 2019. Yuyi Morales’s illustrations are stunning. They are full of color, wonder, and joy. She perfectly captures the feeling of being “dreamers”. Her poetic words tell her journey, and the illustrations convey her emotions. She cleverly includes the list of books from the back that inspired her as books on the shelves of the library that meant so much to her.
Cultural references are woven throughout the text and illustrations. Immediately, you see the word “Amor” twice as part of an illustration. Both characters have brown skin. She is shown carrying her son across a bridge with the words “Adios Corazón”. The illustration shows the bridge, a prickly pear cactus, a calavera, a guitar, a coyote, and many monarch butterflies, which are known to migrate there. The words “immigrants” and “migrantes” are used to describe herself and her son. The illustration of Yuyi exclaims “Ay!” Protesters are shown shouting, “Sí se puede” and she describes herself and her son as caminantes.
Review excerpts
Connections
- Visit TeachingBooks.net for resources, games, and readings of Dreamers.
- Further reading: Just a Minute!: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales.- Pair with Duncan Tonatiuh’s A Worker’s Fight for an examination of the immigrant experience.
