Hispanic/Latino(a) Lit

Mora, Pat. 2010. DIZZY IN YOUR EYES: POEMS ABOUT LOVE. New York: Knopf. ISBN: 9780375843754

Pat Mora's collection of love poems for teens is written in a variety of poetic forms. School Library Journal says, "The love here is neither hot and heavy nor cliched, however, but rather a glimpse into the last remaining innocence of the teen years. At times, the narration even slips a bit astray from an authentically teenage voice. Those expecting a more typical raw, edgy approach to love with poetry akin to the ramblings of a teenager's journal will be better off elsewhere." Fifteen-year-old Georgia from Little Rock agrees. She critiques, "Some of the poems were pretty, like in 'You're Beautiful' where it says, "Like the green romance of a bud/ and lily's pink, gentle sway./ You: more beautiful than yesterday."...and 'Fortune Cookie' was cute because it told a little story. But mostly it just seemed like a grown up with a generic idea of what a teenager might be like, trying to sound like a teenager."

With the exception of "Oda a las maestras", the Spanish translation of "Ode to Teachers", there are not many cultural markers to identify this writing as Hispanic. In "Mirrors", one of the few poems in my opinion with a voice that rings teen, the narrator's Grandma says, "You're beautiful. Tan linda." The Spanish phrase is repeated effectively and sarcastically throughout - "...wide waist, Tan linda...my eyes that won't open wide/ and round like my sister's,/ that hypnotize guys./ Tan linda./ What does Grandma see?"

"Mariachi Fantasy" includes references to cholla cactus and mariachi dancing. "Valentine to Papi" includes the endearing term "Papi", "Remember, Papi, ten years ago?/ You smiled when you saw me/ wearing a new yellow dress." These cultural markers add interest and authenticity to the poems. Some are charming, but most were not exciting, or what I would expect a teen to enjoy.

Connections:

Read some of Pat Mora's other works.

Pair with Gary Soto's collection of love poems, PARTLY CLOUDY. Read, discuss and compare.

Try writing some love poetry about friends, family, pets, even inanimate objects like chocolate!

Try writing some of the forms of poetry included and described in the book.




Soto, Gary. 2009. PARTLY CLOUDY: POEMS OF LOVE AND LONGING. Boston : Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152063016

"Soto skillfully captures the voice and emotions of young teens in love.", so says School Library Journal, and I could not agree more. Divided into two sections, "A Girl's Tears, Her Songs" and "A Boy's Body, His Words", the love poems are told convincingly from the points of view of teen girls or boys. Some are happy, others are sad. "Consequences", a particularly thought-provoking one ponders, "With love, when it falls/ The rocks shoot sparks. Gossips/ Gather at the river's edge,/ Skipping stones across the water,/ Asking intently, "Who brought it down?"

Very few cultural markers identify this collection as Hispanic. In "Barriers", the narrator and her love are identified, "As I'm Japanese/ And you are Mexican,/ Both of us third generation./What do we know-/ Gracias, por favor,/ Arigato, sayonara."

"Neighborhood" describes a setting with gangs, though not necessarily Hispanic, - "But gangsta rap/ Behind the smoked windows/ of long squeaky cars,/And the long yellow grill on the face/ Of a thug leaning from/ The porch, calling, "Hey, baby." Gangs, again, come up in "Time", where the narrator is "Tired of the same cats in the Dumptser,/ Tired of blaring radios, of gangsters with their grills/". By and large, the collection will be universally accessible and enjoyable to most any teen, anywhere.

Connections:

Pair with Pat Mora's collection of love poems, DIZZY IN YOUR EYES. Read, discuss, compare.

Try writing poems from the point of view of the opposite sex.

Read other works by Gary Soto.

Write a love poem, maybe to a family member, friend or pet.

Ancona, George. 2010. ¡OLE! FLAMENCO. Boston : Harcourt. ISBN: 9780152063016

Author and photographer George Ancona has produced a book about flamenco song, dance and music that is both entertaining, informative and culturally authentic. A School Library Journal review says, "The book's strength lies with the balance of maps, text, and colorful photographs that emphasize the joy of music through performance and family tradition."

Ancona first explains the history of the art form and the people with whom it originated. These people, the Roma, eventually came to be known as Gypsies. "Some say the Roma were from Egypt. The name Gypsy comes from Egipto, the Spainish word for Egypt." Thus Ancona's history and geography lesson begins. He goes on to fully describe the music and dance, complete with colorful photographs of Spanish families and dancers, often with Spanish style courtyards and architecture in the background. Photographs depict full costumes with fringed shawls and long ruffled dresses.

Other cultural markers include Spanish names, instruments and phrases. "¡Olé! is a shout of approval and encouragement...And they all shout, '¡Olé!' when the boy gets up to dance...Calls of '¡Olé!' ring out and compliments fill the air. ¡Asi se canta!That's singing! ¡Asi se baila! That's dancing! ¡Asi se toca! That's playing!" From start to finish, readers will get a real feel for the culture surrounding flamenco.

Connections:

Listen to some flamenco music.

Create rhythms by clapping and drumming using different instruments.

Invite a guest flamenco dancer to perform and teach some of the moves. Shout '¡Olé!' as everyone tries.

Use a globe to locate Egypt and trace the migration of the art form and the people who have kept it alive.