White Bread Competition

by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez

Fiction. Latina American Studies, This novel takes place in the picturesque city of San Antonio, Texas, with its rich Mexican-American culture providing the ideal backdrop for the interconnected stories in this intriguing novel for young adults/teenagers. Luz, the young Latina protagonist, will represent her state in the upcoming national spelling bee and her participation signifies a substantial milestone of her community's sense of pride and achievement. However her success triggers a variety of emotions from her family and community as they come to terms with how they feel about Luz as a Latina participating in a national spelling bee. This is the first full-length book by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernadez who previously had her stories published in journals including Rock Falls Review, Rain Dog Review, and Atom Mind.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

AUTHOR OF
White Bread Competition
The Throwaway Piece

Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez, graduate student, writer, San Francisco, 1995 Awarded grant for support of graduate work on Mater’s degree matriculation at University of San Francisco.

Has had short story “White Bread Competition” published in New Texas 95. Has in progress novel, Lover’s Trust. Is circulating Aftermath, a novel of incest. She writes for a Latina audience.

She currently runs Bronze Word - Latino Book Tours at http://www.LatinoBookTours.com

Reviews

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about Luz who is Latina and her life after she is selected to represent her state in the national spelling bee. Although you think her life would be wonderful because of her achievements but sadly that's not the case. Her life is crumbling in front of her. Her younger sister becomes jealous of her, her grandma and mother are constantly arguing, her friends turn against her, and lastly she is accused of cheating. Luz life is unravelling and we are right there with her. You see how Luz deals with all of her problems. It's good that in the end everything works out and it ends on a happy note.

This book was an easy read. It wasn't difficult but it was boring at times. I have to say that even though there was so many difference conflicts going on it just became too much. There was too much going on that it was all just jungled up. I personally did not like the plot either. It's suppose to be emotional and inspiring but I didn't get that. I would recommend this to people who don't like challenging books.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez's White Bread Competition examines the hardships that comes with modern Americanism in a traditional family. I believe that this novel correlates so well with the 11th grade focus on American identity from American point of view as well as the American-immigrant perpective.
It is an incredibly touching story, as Mexican-American children struggle in school because of something as seemingly insignificant as lunch sandwhiches. The tortilla and white bread comparison is so interesting because although a tortilla is definitley the more healthy choice, the protagonist is patronized for it, because it is "unamerican". It is so interesting that bullies will discriminate against people based on simply the food they eat. The comparison of beans versus american cheese symbolizes modernism versus tradition, and the pride and embarrassment that a snack could evoke.
I would recommend this book to anyone! It is a quick read, but very interesting.

[Christian Medina]

In White Bread Competition, a mexican girl goes to a school where being diffrnet is weird, she goes through many problems. Her classmates make fun of her because she eats white bread and she causes fights in school, because people make fun of her. I fee like this is a good book if you like problems that need to be solved, because this book draws you in with intesity.

[Abel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a good book, it has a lot of drama and shows how people were made fun of because of there race. i liked this book because it was easy to read and i enjoyed reading it. its a good book if you dont like reading alot.