Culture 3 - Hispanic/Latino(a) Literature Book Reviews

Culture 3 - Hispanic/Latino(a) Literature Book Reviews

Book 1: Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love by Pat Mora

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mora, P. (2010). Dizzy in your eyes: Poems about love. Alfred A. Knopf.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Dizzy in Your Eyes is a beautiful collection of poems, each told from the perspective of a different teen. Every poem gives you a peek into someone’s world, whether it’s a girl who finds peace while swimming or a guy who leaves flowers on the windshield of his crush. Each voice is unique, but they all share one common theme: love. This book captures all the ups and downs of love at a young age, the butterflies of a first crush, the heartache of losing someone close, and the deep bond between siblings who are more like best friends. Some poems are sweet and hopeful, others are sad and reflective, but they’re all honest and relatable. Whether it’s romantic love, family love, or just figuring out what love even means, these poems hit on emotions we’ve all felt at some point. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Dizzy in Your Eyes is a powerful poetry collection that middle school readers will really connect with. Each poem is written from the perspective of a different teen exploring love in its many forms, from first crushes to family bonds, from heartbreak to deep friendship. The emotions feel real and relatable, making it easy for students to see themselves in these pages. What sets this book apart is its celebration of diversity. Many poems are bilingual, blending English and Spanish in a natural, meaningful way that highlights the richness of Latino culture and identity. The poems also vary in style, including haikus, tanka, and blank verse, with footnotes to help readers understand the different formats. This is a book students can read all at once or revisit over time. Whether they’re navigating their first feelings of love or learning how to express care and connection. This is a thoughtful, heartwarming, and deeply relatable read that not only explores love but also encourages appreciation for different cultures, voices, and experiences. 

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Awards and Nominations:

Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, American Library Association, 2011 

Américas Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Commended Title, 2011 

Eureka! Children’s Nonfiction Award, Silver Honor, California Reading Association, 2010 

Lasting Connections, Book Links, 2010 or 2011 

School Library Journal Author Award, Nominee

5. CONNECTIONS

Similar books to Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about love, in verse or poetic form

What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Book 2: I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sánchez, E. L. (2017). I am not your perfect Mexican daughter. Alfred A. Knopf.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is about a Mexican-American teengirl named Julia who is trying to cope after her “perfect” sister Olga dies in a tragic accident. Her parents are grieving and overly protective, but Julia has dreams of leaving Chicago, going to college in New York, and becoming a writer. She feels like she’ll never live up to her parents’ expectations and starts to unravel secrets about Olga’s life that make her question everything. Julia also struggles with depression but feels like she can’t get help because of her family’s undocumented status and cultural stigma around mental health. Her story feels personal and real, much like the author’s own experience as the U.S. born daughter of Mexican immigrants. This book really captures the challenge of balancing who you are with who your family expects you to be.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In the book I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Erika Sánchez created Julia’s character as bold, independent, sarcastic, and totally real. She’s not always likable, but she grows a lot throughout the story, and you start to understand where she’s coming from and where her parents are coming from, as well. The cultural conflict in this book hits hard as Julia is a Mexican-American teen stuck between two worlds: her parents’ traditional Mexican values and her own desire for freedom, college, and a creative future. She wants something different from what her parents had planned for her and that tension feels incredibly honest. It really shows how complicated it can be to grow up between cultures, especially when your dreams feel so far from your family's expectations. Julia's grief, the family drama, school pressure, mental health, even a little romance are all relatable themes teens experience in today’s world. Julia is grieving, and no one really hears her until things get serious. Her journey through anxiety, depression, and self-discovery are powerful and by the end, she starts to understand her parents, her sister, and herself a little more. She’s a full, complex character, not just a stereotype, and her story will definitely stay with me.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Awards and Nominations:

National Book Award - Finalist, Young People’s Literature, 2017 

Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award - Winner, 2018 

New York Times Bestseller - #1 placement, 2017 

Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year - 2018 selection 

Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List - 2019 selection 

Virginia Capitol Choices Award List - 2018

5. CONNECTIONS

Similar books with similar themes of Latinx identity & cultural expectations:

 Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera

Don't Ask Me Where I'm From by Jennifer De Leon

The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera

When Reason Breaks by Cindy L. Rodriguez

Book 3: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Medina, M. (2013). Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. Candlewick Press.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina dives into the harsh reality of bullying in schools today. The story follows Piddy Sanchez, a Latina teen who’s just trying to focus on her grades and figure out the mystery of her father, who her mom refuses to talk about. But everything changes when she starts at a new school. Out of nowhere, Piddy finds out that Yaqui Delgado wants to beat her up, and she doesn’t even know who Yaqui is. What starts as a subtle threat quickly spirals into full-blown bullying and fear that takes over Piddy’s life. Her confidence and sense of safety start to crumble, and she begins to change under the weight of constant threats and violence. The book takes us through Piddy’s journey as she tries to find her strength again and figure out who she is while dealing with the fear and isolation that bullying can bring. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, you see how bullying can spiral out of control when you don’t feel like you can talk to your parents or ask for help through Piddy Sanchez’s story. It’s heartbreaking but important for kids to see the impact of staying silent. The mother-daughter relationship in this book is so honest. Piddy’s mom is tough on her because she wants to protect her, but Piddy needs things her mom doesn’t know how to give, and that tension feels true to how many teens experience the world. Piddy’s pain is detailed so well that you can truly feel her anguish. But ultimately, what helps Piddy survive is the community around her. I don’t think Piddy’s story would have had the same impact if she hadn’t grown so much through everything she faced. Meg Medina really captures the ups and downs of being a teenager, showing the struggles and small triumphs that shape who you become. From Piddy and her hardworking mother with a Cuban accent to Lila, Gloria, Mitzi, and the Puerto Rican community around them, the characters feel like a real slice of New York. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, shows many moments that highlight Latino culture throughout the book, grounding Piddy’s story in her family and community even as she faces major challenges.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Awards and Nominations:

Cybils Award (YA Fiction) — Winner, 2013 

Pura Belpré Author Award — Winner, 2014 

International Latino Book Award — Best YA Fiction (English), 2014 (1st place) 

Américas Award Commended Title, 2014 

Junior Library Guild Selection, 2013 

YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, 2013 

Kirkus Best Books for Teens, 2013 

School Library Journal Best Books, 2013 

Blue Ribbon List, Bulletin for the Center for Children’s Books, 2013 

ALSC Notable Children’s Book, 2014 

5. CONNECTIONS

Similar books to Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass with Latinx Voices, Bullying, Identity, and Tough Topics:

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

Burn by Suzanne Phillips

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Education of Margot Sánchez by Lilliam Rivera

Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From by Jennifer De Leon

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

Book 4: Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 

de la Peña, M. (2015). Last stop on Market Street (C. Robinson, Illus.). G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

PLOT SUMMARY:

Last Stop on Market Street is about a boy named CJ and his Nana, who ride the bus together every Sunday after church. They take the bus across town, and along the way, CJ asks lots of  questions about everything he sees, and Nana always has an answer that helps him to see the world in a new, brighter way. As they ride, they meet people from all different backgrounds, religions, and walks of life. Through Nana’s eyes, CJ starts to notice the beauty in his urban neighborhood, even in places he didn’t think to look. Their bus ride ends at a soup kitchen, where they spend the afternoon helping serve food to people in need in their community. This story is simple but powerful, reminding us to appreciate what we have, to find beauty in everyday moments, and to discover the joy that comes from helping others. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Reading Matt de la Peña’s multicultural book, Last Stop on Market Street felt like a warm hug. Nana’s dialogue made me laugh because it felt so familiar, like something my own grandma would say. It’s such a sweet perspective, of a curious boy, CJ, asking his Nana lots of questions on their bus ride home from church. Along the way, she helps him see all the beauty in people, nature, and their neighborhood. Christian Robinson created bright and vibrant illustrations that bring Nana’s message to life. The colors pop off the page and help us see the world the way she does, full of everyday magic. I especially love the endpapers at the front and back as they are filled with little images of everything CJ and Nana notice on their ride, which ties the whole story together perfectly. This story is a gentle reminder to look for wonder in the world around us, in people, places, and even in ourselves.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S):

Awards and Nominations:

Newbery Medal – Winner, 2016 

Caldecott Honor – 2016, for Christian Robinson’s illustrations

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor – 2016, awarded to Christian Robinson 

Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book – 2016 

Bank Street Children’s Book Committee “Best Books of the Year” – 2016

Starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and Shelf Awareness 

5. CONNECTIONS:

Picture books similar to Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña:

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Windows by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale

A Bus Called Heaven by Bob Graham

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët