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Red Glass
ONE NIGHT SOPHIE and her parents are called to a hospital where Pedro, 6-year-old Mexican boy, is recovering from dehydration. Crossing the border into Arizona with a group of Mexicans and a coyote, or guide, Pedro and his parents faced such harsh conditions that the boy is the only survivor. Pedro comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and Sophie's Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia. Sophie loves Pedro - her Principito, or Little Prince. But after a year, Pedro's surviving family in Mexico makes contact, and Sophie, Dika, Dika's new boyfriend, and his son must travel with Pedro to his hometown so that he can make a heartwrenching decision.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2007
59 people are currently reading
1679 people want to read
About the author
Laura Resau
14 books431 followersLaura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, The River Muse (May 2026), and eleven acclaimed books for children and teens. Her books have garnered nineteen starred trade reviews, five Colorado Book Awards, and spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, and the American Library Association. Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and has a background in cultural anthropology, languages, and ESL. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University. You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, and a hundred house plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
September 16, 2019
Rating: 3.5
16-year-old Sophie’s stepdad, Juan, is Mexican-American. He gained legal status when he married her mom nine years ago. An importer, he has many connections with his home country. Late one February night, the family receives a phone call from Border Patrol. A group of migrants has been found dead in the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona, where the family lives. There’s a single survivor: a traumatized little boy, Pablo, who is about five. Sophie’s stepdad’s business card was found in one of the boy’s pants pockets. While Juan has helped migrants in the past, feeding and housing them overnight in emergency situations, he denies knowing anything about this group or this particular child.
When the family arrives at the hospital to see the boy and meet with a Border Patrol officer, Sophie’s Great-Aunt Dika, herself a traumatized refugee of the Bosnian war (whom Sophie’s family has taken in), decides they must foster this child. Eventually, Juan makes contact with the boy’s surviving relatives in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is decided that Pablo, who barely speaks and who insists on sleeping outdoors with the chickens, will stay in Tucson for the school year. Then, in the summer, he will be reunited with his Mexican relatives and make a decision about whether to stay in the US or return to his homeland.
The story mostly revolves around the road trip that Sophie, Dika, and Pablo take in a VW van with Dika’s boyfriend, Lorenzo, and his teenage son, Angel. Lorenzo and Angel made their own dangerous trek across the desert years before, fleeing extreme violence in Guatemala. Lorenzo was, in fact, tortured by government soldiers. Angel feels there’s a chance that his mother may still be alive. At the very least, he wants to retrieve her “jewels”, which he saw her bury when he was a little child. Possibly, too, he may stay on in Guatemala, set up a business there, as he has never felt at home in America. The plan is for the father and son to drop off the women and Pablo at the boy’s Oaxacan village and then proceed by bus to Guatemala. The men are to return in a week to pick up Dika, Sophie, and possibly Pablo (should he decide to live in America) for the drive back to US. However, things go very wrong for Lorenzo and Angel in Guatemala, and it falls upon Sophie to travel south to assist.
Resau’s novel is mostly an engaging one. An anthropologist by training, she apparently taught in the Oaxaca region for two years, and it shows in her convincing descriptions of the landscape and in her understanding of Mexican culture and customs. A large part of the book focuses on Sophie’s growing love for Angel, which is also quite nicely done. At times the writing is a little forcedly lyrical. (There are, for example, a few scenes in which petals drop from flowering trees upon the young lovers.) Symbolism around red glass can be heavy handed as well. Characterization is sometimes less than subtle. Dika is slightly cartoonish, and Sophie’s anxiety issues (OCD) are sometimes described too fulsomely—and they resolve way too easily considering the unhygienic conditions, even squalor, that the girl encounters.
Resau makes considerable use of St. Exupery’s The Little Prince. Passages from that French novel appear as epigraphs for each part of Red Glass, and they work well to underscore themes and provide extra layers of meaning.
In the end, I generally liked this novel, although I found some plot developments implausible and overly convenient. The concluding sections seem a little too tidy, even for a young adult novel.
16-year-old Sophie’s stepdad, Juan, is Mexican-American. He gained legal status when he married her mom nine years ago. An importer, he has many connections with his home country. Late one February night, the family receives a phone call from Border Patrol. A group of migrants has been found dead in the desert outside of Tucson, Arizona, where the family lives. There’s a single survivor: a traumatized little boy, Pablo, who is about five. Sophie’s stepdad’s business card was found in one of the boy’s pants pockets. While Juan has helped migrants in the past, feeding and housing them overnight in emergency situations, he denies knowing anything about this group or this particular child.
When the family arrives at the hospital to see the boy and meet with a Border Patrol officer, Sophie’s Great-Aunt Dika, herself a traumatized refugee of the Bosnian war (whom Sophie’s family has taken in), decides they must foster this child. Eventually, Juan makes contact with the boy’s surviving relatives in Oaxaca, Mexico. It is decided that Pablo, who barely speaks and who insists on sleeping outdoors with the chickens, will stay in Tucson for the school year. Then, in the summer, he will be reunited with his Mexican relatives and make a decision about whether to stay in the US or return to his homeland.
The story mostly revolves around the road trip that Sophie, Dika, and Pablo take in a VW van with Dika’s boyfriend, Lorenzo, and his teenage son, Angel. Lorenzo and Angel made their own dangerous trek across the desert years before, fleeing extreme violence in Guatemala. Lorenzo was, in fact, tortured by government soldiers. Angel feels there’s a chance that his mother may still be alive. At the very least, he wants to retrieve her “jewels”, which he saw her bury when he was a little child. Possibly, too, he may stay on in Guatemala, set up a business there, as he has never felt at home in America. The plan is for the father and son to drop off the women and Pablo at the boy’s Oaxacan village and then proceed by bus to Guatemala. The men are to return in a week to pick up Dika, Sophie, and possibly Pablo (should he decide to live in America) for the drive back to US. However, things go very wrong for Lorenzo and Angel in Guatemala, and it falls upon Sophie to travel south to assist.
Resau’s novel is mostly an engaging one. An anthropologist by training, she apparently taught in the Oaxaca region for two years, and it shows in her convincing descriptions of the landscape and in her understanding of Mexican culture and customs. A large part of the book focuses on Sophie’s growing love for Angel, which is also quite nicely done. At times the writing is a little forcedly lyrical. (There are, for example, a few scenes in which petals drop from flowering trees upon the young lovers.) Symbolism around red glass can be heavy handed as well. Characterization is sometimes less than subtle. Dika is slightly cartoonish, and Sophie’s anxiety issues (OCD) are sometimes described too fulsomely—and they resolve way too easily considering the unhygienic conditions, even squalor, that the girl encounters.
Resau makes considerable use of St. Exupery’s The Little Prince. Passages from that French novel appear as epigraphs for each part of Red Glass, and they work well to underscore themes and provide extra layers of meaning.
In the end, I generally liked this novel, although I found some plot developments implausible and overly convenient. The concluding sections seem a little too tidy, even for a young adult novel.
March 11, 2009
I'm not going to be able to say enough great things about this book but I'll try my best.
Sophie (our main character) feels like she is an amoeba. She doesn't feel like she fits or belongs anywhere. Well that obviously changes throughout the course of the story.One night her life changes when a little immigrant boy named Pablo comes into her life. The boy has seen much and lost his parents trying to cross the border. Five year old Pablo stays with them about a year, but eventually Sophie and her family decide that he should go back to his town in Mexico so he can decide whether to stay with them or go back to his home country.
So now this is where the trip begins. Sophie has always been afraid of dying and imagining weird scenarios of how it could happen.
Before I go on I must tell you the about the other characters. First of all there is Dika (Sophie's great aunt) that was a Bosnian refugee, and is just one of the examples of the characters that have great depth. Now there is Dika's boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, who absolutely crazy about his girlfriend. And there is Angel, who is Mr. Lorenzo's son. I'd have to say aside from Sophie he is my favorite character. Of course there is a number of other characters encountered in the book but these are the main ones.
Sophie and all these guys take the trip across the border to have Pablo go home. What made this story so marvelous was that I didn't feel like I was watching on the sidelines, but rather Sophie extended out her hand to me and pulled me to be part of her story. I felt like I was actually smelling all the great hispanic food they were describing. It was as close as I could get without actually being there. Since I am hispanic I had a really strong connection to the book's references to hispanic culture. It made me be happy to be part of something like that. Even though Sophie isn't Hispanic you can tell she loves the culture, and has grown up so much with it is really a part of her.
Angel has his own journey and in a way through his Sophie finds herself. They really help each other. I don't want to give anything away having to do with that. But suffice to say that Sophie goes through her journey of self discovery (which everyone knows is the purpose of any journey) and finds the spark in herself and others. Go ahead take a day to get caught up in this journey, it is more than worth it.
Sophie (our main character) feels like she is an amoeba. She doesn't feel like she fits or belongs anywhere. Well that obviously changes throughout the course of the story.One night her life changes when a little immigrant boy named Pablo comes into her life. The boy has seen much and lost his parents trying to cross the border. Five year old Pablo stays with them about a year, but eventually Sophie and her family decide that he should go back to his town in Mexico so he can decide whether to stay with them or go back to his home country.
So now this is where the trip begins. Sophie has always been afraid of dying and imagining weird scenarios of how it could happen.
Before I go on I must tell you the about the other characters. First of all there is Dika (Sophie's great aunt) that was a Bosnian refugee, and is just one of the examples of the characters that have great depth. Now there is Dika's boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, who absolutely crazy about his girlfriend. And there is Angel, who is Mr. Lorenzo's son. I'd have to say aside from Sophie he is my favorite character. Of course there is a number of other characters encountered in the book but these are the main ones.
Sophie and all these guys take the trip across the border to have Pablo go home. What made this story so marvelous was that I didn't feel like I was watching on the sidelines, but rather Sophie extended out her hand to me and pulled me to be part of her story. I felt like I was actually smelling all the great hispanic food they were describing. It was as close as I could get without actually being there. Since I am hispanic I had a really strong connection to the book's references to hispanic culture. It made me be happy to be part of something like that. Even though Sophie isn't Hispanic you can tell she loves the culture, and has grown up so much with it is really a part of her.
Angel has his own journey and in a way through his Sophie finds herself. They really help each other. I don't want to give anything away having to do with that. But suffice to say that Sophie goes through her journey of self discovery (which everyone knows is the purpose of any journey) and finds the spark in herself and others. Go ahead take a day to get caught up in this journey, it is more than worth it.
March 9, 2013
Ugh. I had such a hard time getting through this! First of all, Sophie's voice felt much younger than her declared age, making the "romantic" portions of the story awkward and creepy. Second, the "point" of the story was discarded for the better part of the second half of the book and ended up being resolved in a page and a half. Ugh. Third, she was traveling through Central America like an idiot and never had to face any consequences for it! She was SO unsafe, but everything turned out just fine and dandy. Super ugh. Fourth, the language was ridiculous at points. I felt like the author said to herself, "Ooh! I should throw in something fancy sounding here!" and then DID. Oh, and the constant comments about Dika's weight? Totally insulting.
I know this is the grumpiest review I've ever written, but I just couldn't stand reading this. It had such great potential and ended up feeling disjointed and fake the entire time.
I know this is the grumpiest review I've ever written, but I just couldn't stand reading this. It had such great potential and ended up feeling disjointed and fake the entire time.
September 28, 2010
This is tricky. The middle school librarian asked me to read this book and tell her what I think. That conversation will happen in a few days. I have no idea what she wants to know? I would give this book five stars if the author hadn't crossed a line, more than once, into, in my opinion, too sensual of descriptions. The book would be just the same if she would have left them out. Sophie, the 15 year old main character, steps out of her box, rather tremendously, and drives for a week with other characters from her home in Tucson, AZ to Southern Mexico and Guatemala. The author captures the culture and characteristics of the people perfectly. Even though I spent 15 months in Argentina (not Central America) the rural peoples are so similar. Sophie's experiences on the bus, at rest stops, with boys, with the women, they all ring true. I loved the peppering of Spanish (because I could understand it). Character development is fantastic. So, too bad for the author for crossing the line. Could have been a distinct winner for me.
January 7, 2008
I expected this to be one of those books that's trying too hard to be 'multicultural,' where the experience of Mexican culture opens a character's eyes and she finds herself blah blah blah. I was more than pleasantly surprised when I found myself in a story where the 'multicultural' details felt natural and necessary, where another culture is not seen as some perfect thing, but as a flawed yet beautiful world. The story fits the classic form of hero going on a voyage, but in this case our hero, Sophie, starts out as a fearful and slightly fragile sixteen year old who undergoes a believable transformation into a more capable and strong person as she's forced to actually encounter real threats rather than just worry about what might happen. The supporting characters all live and breathe - the great-aunt Dika, in particular, is marvelous - and even the characters who appear for only a few pages are fully-formed. Each setting is vivid, the language is lovely, and the ways in which the characters change felt true, both to life and themselves. Sophie never came out of her shell too quickly, and the plot never felt like a formula. Good for thoughtful middle-schoolers and up.
March 12, 2008
A really lovely and original book, filled with unique characters. I love a YA that I don't feel like I've already read a dozen times.
My only problem was that the author set up Mexico to sound like heaven, Guatemala like hell. She does have nice and generous Guatemalan characters, and she has good descriptions of how beautiful the countryside is, but violence is emphasized--overemphasized, I think.
ETA: I wrote to the author to tell her how much I liked the book, and also mentioned that I was disappointed that Guatemala came off as Guatemala-ten-years-ago rather than how Guatemala really is, now. She wrote back promptly with a lovely note explaining that the book is, in fact, meant to take place ten years ago, though it isn't explicit in the book (unless you know more about Bosnia than I do). So if you read this, please don't get the idea that Guatemala is too violent to visit today.
My only problem was that the author set up Mexico to sound like heaven, Guatemala like hell. She does have nice and generous Guatemalan characters, and she has good descriptions of how beautiful the countryside is, but violence is emphasized--overemphasized, I think.
ETA: I wrote to the author to tell her how much I liked the book, and also mentioned that I was disappointed that Guatemala came off as Guatemala-ten-years-ago rather than how Guatemala really is, now. She wrote back promptly with a lovely note explaining that the book is, in fact, meant to take place ten years ago, though it isn't explicit in the book (unless you know more about Bosnia than I do). So if you read this, please don't get the idea that Guatemala is too violent to visit today.
September 5, 2014
An Improper Review : Red Glass by Laura Resau
Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars
Last week, I was browsing for any interesting book in my local library, running my finger over the plastic covered spines until my eyes caught sight of this gem. I read the summary and it seemed interesting. I needed a break from reading nothing but fantasy (and some romance novels), so I thought it was a good chance. I opened it last night and as soon as I read the opening quote from The Little Prince, I knew it was going to be amazing.
But it was even better.
"I’ve always loved the desert. You sit down on a sand dune. You see nothing. You hear nothing. And yet something shines, something sings in that silence…"
"What makes the desert beautiful," the little prince said, "is that it hides a well somewhere."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ●THE LITTLE PRINCE
Sophie is a girl who thinks of herself as a simple amoeba—and who is afraid of many things. She knows the thin barrier between life and death, and fears the loss of loved ones greatly. She has always felt lost amongst her peers, and as you read on, you start to feel for her too, but when a young Mexican boy named Pablo comes to live with them, her world begins to change.
A simple crack on the lock of her glass cage forms.
Pablo and his family were jumping the border and traveling through the desert, but in the end, only Pablo survived. Pablo is a six year old boy who saw his parents die before his eyes. She reaches out to him tenderly, but only few words escape from him, and barely even a smile. A year passes, and finally, they find Pablo’s relatives in Mexico and contact them. Pablo’s abuelita wishes for Pablo to stay in America so that he can be given what his parents wanted for him to have, but Sophie’s parents felt that it wasn’t fair and that it was better for Pablo to go back to Mexico and make a decision there. Sophie frets and hopes that Pablo stays, but even she wasn’t sure.
Dika, Sophie’s greataunt, finds love with a Guatemalan pool man who is known as Mr. Lorenzo, and the two of them come to a decision to go to Mexico together—since Sophie’s parents couldn’t. In the morning of their trip, Sophie awakens with Mr. Lorenzo’s son, Ángel, staring down at her, with a mysterious box in his hands. She knew Mr. Lorenzo’s son would be joining them, but she never realized it would be someone from her class—someone unreachable.
When Pablo entered her life, it was like a domino affect, and Sophie was finding it harder to find her footing. She knew that going to Mexico would change her life somehow but the tender love that awaits her sends her rocking as an incident occurs where she would have to make the biggest choice of her life. Would Sophie be scared forever? Or is there really a spark in her that Ángel says he sees?
I have to say, this book changed my life. As soon as I turned the first page, I couldn’t put it down. I stood up all night reading it, and when I finally closed the book, I felt like I was parting from something important.
I didn’t feel like there was anything wrong with the story, Resau describes everything so vividly that I didn’t need much to imagine, I just felt like I was there. And the characters! I found it so easy to slip into Sophie’s mind. I was able to find a lot of myself in her because of her fears, and her wishes to be strong. I melted in the love that this story practically radiates.
Red Glass ended up being an unexpected treasure, and I found myself needing to have it in my bookcase. The value of this book is made up of beautiful prose and insightful lessons about what it means to be part of a family; what it means to be strong; and what it means to love.
Rating : 5 out of 5 Stars
Last week, I was browsing for any interesting book in my local library, running my finger over the plastic covered spines until my eyes caught sight of this gem. I read the summary and it seemed interesting. I needed a break from reading nothing but fantasy (and some romance novels), so I thought it was a good chance. I opened it last night and as soon as I read the opening quote from The Little Prince, I knew it was going to be amazing.
But it was even better.
"I’ve always loved the desert. You sit down on a sand dune. You see nothing. You hear nothing. And yet something shines, something sings in that silence…"
"What makes the desert beautiful," the little prince said, "is that it hides a well somewhere."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ●THE LITTLE PRINCE
Sophie is a girl who thinks of herself as a simple amoeba—and who is afraid of many things. She knows the thin barrier between life and death, and fears the loss of loved ones greatly. She has always felt lost amongst her peers, and as you read on, you start to feel for her too, but when a young Mexican boy named Pablo comes to live with them, her world begins to change.
A simple crack on the lock of her glass cage forms.
Pablo and his family were jumping the border and traveling through the desert, but in the end, only Pablo survived. Pablo is a six year old boy who saw his parents die before his eyes. She reaches out to him tenderly, but only few words escape from him, and barely even a smile. A year passes, and finally, they find Pablo’s relatives in Mexico and contact them. Pablo’s abuelita wishes for Pablo to stay in America so that he can be given what his parents wanted for him to have, but Sophie’s parents felt that it wasn’t fair and that it was better for Pablo to go back to Mexico and make a decision there. Sophie frets and hopes that Pablo stays, but even she wasn’t sure.
Dika, Sophie’s greataunt, finds love with a Guatemalan pool man who is known as Mr. Lorenzo, and the two of them come to a decision to go to Mexico together—since Sophie’s parents couldn’t. In the morning of their trip, Sophie awakens with Mr. Lorenzo’s son, Ángel, staring down at her, with a mysterious box in his hands. She knew Mr. Lorenzo’s son would be joining them, but she never realized it would be someone from her class—someone unreachable.
When Pablo entered her life, it was like a domino affect, and Sophie was finding it harder to find her footing. She knew that going to Mexico would change her life somehow but the tender love that awaits her sends her rocking as an incident occurs where she would have to make the biggest choice of her life. Would Sophie be scared forever? Or is there really a spark in her that Ángel says he sees?
I have to say, this book changed my life. As soon as I turned the first page, I couldn’t put it down. I stood up all night reading it, and when I finally closed the book, I felt like I was parting from something important.
I didn’t feel like there was anything wrong with the story, Resau describes everything so vividly that I didn’t need much to imagine, I just felt like I was there. And the characters! I found it so easy to slip into Sophie’s mind. I was able to find a lot of myself in her because of her fears, and her wishes to be strong. I melted in the love that this story practically radiates.
Red Glass ended up being an unexpected treasure, and I found myself needing to have it in my bookcase. The value of this book is made up of beautiful prose and insightful lessons about what it means to be part of a family; what it means to be strong; and what it means to love.
September 6, 2016
Call me naive, but I've always wondered why immigration (illegal and otherwise) across our southern border, especially from Mexico, is a political issue and not a humanitarian one. Red Glass perfectly illustrates why. Its opening scene is so visceral and heartbreaking, especially for me as an older sister, that I almost put the book down, unsure if I would be able to take it. Of course, I didn't put it down, and for that I'm glad. Red Glass is the kind of book that can be life-changing.
The first reason? Our heroine. As someone who (as I've mentioned) suffered from anxiety for years, I always love reading about characters with anxiety and reminisce on how far I've come. Sophie's panic attacks are perhaps the most realistic I've ever read, but Resau also seems to have an intimate understanding of where realism ends and magical realism begins, and we know from page one that Sophie's journey will be a parallel to our own. Everything about the character rings true, and in the YA magical realism genre where the quirky so often becomes the absurd and incomprehensible, it's a good thing we have that to cling to. In fact, nearly all of her characters are bastions of normal in the face of the crazy, and the ones that aren't - Aunt Dika in particular - are charming beneath the bizarre.
The second reason is Resau's prose, which can only be described as sensuous, and hot - Mexican border hot. Desert hot. Jungle hot. Heated conversations hot. And sexy hot when it comes to everything Ángel, of course. As with The Indigo Notebook (Resau's later release, which I read and reviewed before this one), I read Red Glass during one of our many cold snaps this spring here in MN, and found myself literally crying because I wanted to be within the pages of this book so badly. I believe the last time that happened was Harry Potter, so believe me when I say that this book has some of the most evocative descriptions I've ever read.
The third reason (of many, though the last I'll list) is the author's absolute refusal to pull punches, which I also remember from The Indigo Notebook. Every time I started to pull away, worried I was going to get saddled with a happy ending I didn't want and the story didn't need, I got a twist that not only pulled me straight back in, but also made such perfect sense in hindsight that I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it coming.
In short: it's brilliant, and as I said in the first paragraph, life-changing. If The Indigo Notebook was good, Red Glass was excellent, and it kept me thinking (and wanderlusting) long after the final page was turned. There aren't easy answers to its conclusion, just like there aren't any easy answers to the issues of immigration, poverty, war, and intercultural relations in general, but it's got enough sweet and romantic moments to make me want to re-read it, too.
And, leaving my Professional Reviewer persona behind me for a moment, I will share that first on that re-read list is every scene with Ángel in it. Nice Latino boy without a machismo complex a la What Can't Wait? Awww yeah!
If you couldn't tell, this was one of the books that majorly brought me out of my Mean Reviewer blues. It's beautiful in every way, and I can't wait to get my hands on more from Laura Resau.
The first reason? Our heroine. As someone who (as I've mentioned) suffered from anxiety for years, I always love reading about characters with anxiety and reminisce on how far I've come. Sophie's panic attacks are perhaps the most realistic I've ever read, but Resau also seems to have an intimate understanding of where realism ends and magical realism begins, and we know from page one that Sophie's journey will be a parallel to our own. Everything about the character rings true, and in the YA magical realism genre where the quirky so often becomes the absurd and incomprehensible, it's a good thing we have that to cling to. In fact, nearly all of her characters are bastions of normal in the face of the crazy, and the ones that aren't - Aunt Dika in particular - are charming beneath the bizarre.
The second reason is Resau's prose, which can only be described as sensuous, and hot - Mexican border hot. Desert hot. Jungle hot. Heated conversations hot. And sexy hot when it comes to everything Ángel, of course. As with The Indigo Notebook (Resau's later release, which I read and reviewed before this one), I read Red Glass during one of our many cold snaps this spring here in MN, and found myself literally crying because I wanted to be within the pages of this book so badly. I believe the last time that happened was Harry Potter, so believe me when I say that this book has some of the most evocative descriptions I've ever read.
The third reason (of many, though the last I'll list) is the author's absolute refusal to pull punches, which I also remember from The Indigo Notebook. Every time I started to pull away, worried I was going to get saddled with a happy ending I didn't want and the story didn't need, I got a twist that not only pulled me straight back in, but also made such perfect sense in hindsight that I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it coming.
In short: it's brilliant, and as I said in the first paragraph, life-changing. If The Indigo Notebook was good, Red Glass was excellent, and it kept me thinking (and wanderlusting) long after the final page was turned. There aren't easy answers to its conclusion, just like there aren't any easy answers to the issues of immigration, poverty, war, and intercultural relations in general, but it's got enough sweet and romantic moments to make me want to re-read it, too.
And, leaving my Professional Reviewer persona behind me for a moment, I will share that first on that re-read list is every scene with Ángel in it. Nice Latino boy without a machismo complex a la What Can't Wait? Awww yeah!
If you couldn't tell, this was one of the books that majorly brought me out of my Mean Reviewer blues. It's beautiful in every way, and I can't wait to get my hands on more from Laura Resau.
February 25, 2012
If nothing this book is unique. Sophie is really afraid about losing someone, germs, murderers, etc. People are scared of these things to some degree but Sophie thinks about it all the time. But Sophie is going to be tested she will need to go on a journey, not a very safe journey either. Sophie isn't like any heroine I've ever met while reading. This is the first time I've heard a girl describe herself as an amoeba, very strange.
This book kind of follows the whole girl finding herself in another culture. However, it was done so naturally that I can't say it is a stereotype. It shows us what it looks like on the other side of the border; the good and the bad of it. I could see it in my mind, hear it, I could even smell it. Some of smells are not so nice I'm telling you. But for Sophie everything is a novelty, and slowly but surely its magic starts working its way into her. Its danger draws out her strength and she finds that she can be Sophie la Fuerte. Its beauty shows her beauty that you can't see on a magazine cover and she realizes her own beauty.
I might've given this book 5 stars if not for the ending. It was fine, it really was but for some reason I was sad. I asked my sisters if they felt sad when they finished it and they said no. It's not supposed to be sad at all but for some reason I was. It's so frustrating that I can't place why.
This book kind of follows the whole girl finding herself in another culture. However, it was done so naturally that I can't say it is a stereotype. It shows us what it looks like on the other side of the border; the good and the bad of it. I could see it in my mind, hear it, I could even smell it. Some of smells are not so nice I'm telling you. But for Sophie everything is a novelty, and slowly but surely its magic starts working its way into her. Its danger draws out her strength and she finds that she can be Sophie la Fuerte. Its beauty shows her beauty that you can't see on a magazine cover and she realizes her own beauty.
I might've given this book 5 stars if not for the ending. It was fine, it really was but for some reason I was sad. I asked my sisters if they felt sad when they finished it and they said no. It's not supposed to be sad at all but for some reason I was. It's so frustrating that I can't place why.
January 28, 2021
In this beautifully written YA book, Laura Resau reveals the thoughts and feelings of Sophie, a young girl who is not yet aware of her strength, beauty, and calling and is about to be awakened to all three, as well as to love. Laura captures perfectly her young heroine’s anxieties, even panic attacks, and makes us feel we are with Sophie on this amazing journey—a true heroine’s journey—she is about to take. With equal dexterity, the author captures the sounds, smells, beauty, and darkness that exist in Mexico and Guatemala. Her words put us there as surely as they put us inside Sophie! At the same time, many other characters are brought vividly to life, and many kinds of love are explored. I just reread this book and cherished it even more, perhaps because it also focuses on the dreams, struggles, and many conflicts felt by immigrants who come to America. What amazes me about Laura Resau’s writing is how cinematic it is: I feel like I’m there every step of the way.
January 22, 2009
The author writes with wonderful evocative language that invites readers to engage with the story and the characters. Sophie, for example, a shy introverted young lady informs us that, "like that Native American story where white people weren't fully baked in the ovens so their clay never reached the proper brown color, my body was more underbaked than most, (and) my spirit felt underbaked too."
Or, after friendly conversation with Angel, she notes "…our words were gently bobbing along on the surface, underneath, my feelings were darting like fish."
Despite her many fears, love gives Sophie the courage to undertake a dangerous journey. And by the end of her quest, our heroine has transformed from a self-described amoeba to Sophie la Fuerte (Sophie the Strong).
I like the recurring symbols of protection that weave through the book: the red glass, the flannel shirt, Angel's sunglasses, Sophie's limes and the Little Prince himself and the acknowledgement as each is no longer needed.
I find it particularly satisfying that although the ending can be described as 'happy', that's not because the characters achieved their childhood dreams, but because they grew wise enough to recognize true treasure.
Or, after friendly conversation with Angel, she notes "…our words were gently bobbing along on the surface, underneath, my feelings were darting like fish."
Despite her many fears, love gives Sophie the courage to undertake a dangerous journey. And by the end of her quest, our heroine has transformed from a self-described amoeba to Sophie la Fuerte (Sophie the Strong).
I like the recurring symbols of protection that weave through the book: the red glass, the flannel shirt, Angel's sunglasses, Sophie's limes and the Little Prince himself and the acknowledgement as each is no longer needed.
I find it particularly satisfying that although the ending can be described as 'happy', that's not because the characters achieved their childhood dreams, but because they grew wise enough to recognize true treasure.
November 8, 2017
Honeslty i believe this book was definitely not for me. I just thought the book was boring and very blunt
May 11, 2008
Reviewed by Natalie Tsang for TeensReadToo.com
Laura Resau's RED GLASS was an amazing read. It's a wonderful mixture of excerpts from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's THE LITTLE PRINCE, eccentric people, political unrest, and magical fortunes folded into a cross-continental summer road trip.
Sophie is an amoeba, a free-floating spirit who is not attached to anything besides her family and her books. Then one night she picks up a phone call from the hospital. Seven Mexican migrants and their guide have died crossing the Arizona border. The lone survivor is a six-year-old boy named Pablo who had Sophie's stepfather's business card in his pocket. Pablo comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and Sophie's great aunt Dika, a Bosnian war refugee. Sophie grows to love her Principito, or Little Prince, but after a year her parents get in contact with Pablo's remaining family in Mexico.
Over the summer, Sophie, Dika, Dika's boyfriend, and his son must take Pablo back to his hometown so that he can choose between his new family and his birth family. The trip is hard at first, because Sophie is afraid that anything and everything will go wrong. But the stories and the struggles of her companions change her perception of danger and she grows attached to Ángel despite her fears that she will lose him. When a terrible accident occurs, Sophie is forced to make a dangerous trip by herself. On the way, she realizes that while life has its risks, it is still beautiful and even fun.
I loved this book. One of the things that was really well done was how it was multi-cultural without being culturally exclusive. Even though some of the dialogue was written in Spanish, it was still easy to read. But the best part of the book was its characters. They are both hilarious and tragic, but never melodramatic. At times, I felt as if author Laura Resau was in my head. Teens will identify with Sophie as one of their own.
Laura Resau's RED GLASS was an amazing read. It's a wonderful mixture of excerpts from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's THE LITTLE PRINCE, eccentric people, political unrest, and magical fortunes folded into a cross-continental summer road trip.
Sophie is an amoeba, a free-floating spirit who is not attached to anything besides her family and her books. Then one night she picks up a phone call from the hospital. Seven Mexican migrants and their guide have died crossing the Arizona border. The lone survivor is a six-year-old boy named Pablo who had Sophie's stepfather's business card in his pocket. Pablo comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and Sophie's great aunt Dika, a Bosnian war refugee. Sophie grows to love her Principito, or Little Prince, but after a year her parents get in contact with Pablo's remaining family in Mexico.
Over the summer, Sophie, Dika, Dika's boyfriend, and his son must take Pablo back to his hometown so that he can choose between his new family and his birth family. The trip is hard at first, because Sophie is afraid that anything and everything will go wrong. But the stories and the struggles of her companions change her perception of danger and she grows attached to Ángel despite her fears that she will lose him. When a terrible accident occurs, Sophie is forced to make a dangerous trip by herself. On the way, she realizes that while life has its risks, it is still beautiful and even fun.
I loved this book. One of the things that was really well done was how it was multi-cultural without being culturally exclusive. Even though some of the dialogue was written in Spanish, it was still easy to read. But the best part of the book was its characters. They are both hilarious and tragic, but never melodramatic. At times, I felt as if author Laura Resau was in my head. Teens will identify with Sophie as one of their own.
January 21, 2018
Book #78 for 2017
My Personal Reading Challenge:
- An award-winning book
- A book about a road trip
Better World Books:
- A book with a color in the title
- A book set in a place you want to visit (Mexico)
- A romance that takes place during travel
- A book by a female writer
- A book with a child narrator
PopSugar (max. 3):
- A book recommended by a librarian
- A book involving travel
- A book written by someone you admire
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative
I'll admit, I approached this book with a little apprehension, as neither the author nor her protagonist is Mexican or Latina. But that turns out to be the whole point of the story. Sophie (based largely on Resau herself) is a very real and believable character who learns and grows throughout the book. She gains a better understanding of her privilege and she finds her inner strength. This is a multifaceted story of journeys, and I found it moving on so many levels.
Resau did an incredible job writing this character without making her either obnoxious or too perfect. She has faults, but they don't feel manufactured for the purpose of being fixed by the story, and her voice is genuine. The rest of the characters also feel complete, with lives of their own, instead of convenient props to provide Sophie with Experiences. There are lots of coincidences, but instead of feeling contrived, they seem like slightly magical threads in the mostly mundane fabric of the narrative.
I can't point to any single "wow" factor in this book, but it has such a consistently warm vibe to it that it just feels like a five-star read. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
My Personal Reading Challenge:
- An award-winning book
- A book about a road trip
Better World Books:
- A book with a color in the title
- A book set in a place you want to visit (Mexico)
- A romance that takes place during travel
- A book by a female writer
- A book with a child narrator
PopSugar (max. 3):
- A book recommended by a librarian
- A book involving travel
- A book written by someone you admire
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge: A book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative
I'll admit, I approached this book with a little apprehension, as neither the author nor her protagonist is Mexican or Latina. But that turns out to be the whole point of the story. Sophie (based largely on Resau herself) is a very real and believable character who learns and grows throughout the book. She gains a better understanding of her privilege and she finds her inner strength. This is a multifaceted story of journeys, and I found it moving on so many levels.
Resau did an incredible job writing this character without making her either obnoxious or too perfect. She has faults, but they don't feel manufactured for the purpose of being fixed by the story, and her voice is genuine. The rest of the characters also feel complete, with lives of their own, instead of convenient props to provide Sophie with Experiences. There are lots of coincidences, but instead of feeling contrived, they seem like slightly magical threads in the mostly mundane fabric of the narrative.
I can't point to any single "wow" factor in this book, but it has such a consistently warm vibe to it that it just feels like a five-star read. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
February 12, 2012
Keri McLucas
Multicultural fiction
Pablo, a six year old boy and the only survivor of a group of immigrants who were killed while crossing the Arizona desert. He is taken in by Sophie, a 16 year old girl, and her family. For more than a year, Sophie takes care of Pablo, considering him to be her "Little Prince", and a brother. Sophie learns that Pablo has extended family members who are still alive and feels that she must help Pablo to visit them. She and four family members pack and travel from Tuscon to Mexico and Guatemala to find Pablo's family. On the trip, Sophie grows, learns and even falls in love. She is faced with difficult decisions when Pablo decides to remain in Mexico with his family. Sophie learns how valuable life is and how to love herself and others unconditionally as she learns to let go of her fears.
Laura Resau illustrates indigenous culture and language as well as the controversial issue of being an illegal immigrant throughout the story. Sophie's family, Aunt Dika, her boyfriend Lorenzo and his son, Angel are very caring and warm and work well to enhance this story. Resau was able to write this story in a colorful and complimentary style.
Red Glass began very slowly, yet was gripping during the events encountered while Sophie's family traveled. It is a story that seems to be more appealing to female readers; however, Red Glass may be loved by all readers from all backgrounds.
Multicultural fiction
Pablo, a six year old boy and the only survivor of a group of immigrants who were killed while crossing the Arizona desert. He is taken in by Sophie, a 16 year old girl, and her family. For more than a year, Sophie takes care of Pablo, considering him to be her "Little Prince", and a brother. Sophie learns that Pablo has extended family members who are still alive and feels that she must help Pablo to visit them. She and four family members pack and travel from Tuscon to Mexico and Guatemala to find Pablo's family. On the trip, Sophie grows, learns and even falls in love. She is faced with difficult decisions when Pablo decides to remain in Mexico with his family. Sophie learns how valuable life is and how to love herself and others unconditionally as she learns to let go of her fears.
Laura Resau illustrates indigenous culture and language as well as the controversial issue of being an illegal immigrant throughout the story. Sophie's family, Aunt Dika, her boyfriend Lorenzo and his son, Angel are very caring and warm and work well to enhance this story. Resau was able to write this story in a colorful and complimentary style.
Red Glass began very slowly, yet was gripping during the events encountered while Sophie's family traveled. It is a story that seems to be more appealing to female readers; however, Red Glass may be loved by all readers from all backgrounds.
February 26, 2013
Marcia Vining
Resau, L. (2007). Red glass. New York: Delacorte Press.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Format: Print
Selection Process: Horn Book Review:
Isaac, M. (2008). Red Glass. Horn Book Magazine, 84(1), 93-94.
Review
Red Glass is an engaging book that deals with topics such as immigration, diversity and families within the context of a compelling narrative. Resau has done her homework and creates a believable setting and quickly draws the reader into the story of Sophie. Sophie's less than traditional family has welcomed Pablo, a six year old whose parents have perished crossing into the U.S. Sophie struggles with the possibility of Pablo returning to his family in Mexico as well as caring for a diverse group that makes up her "family". Resau's characters are realistic and honest, sharing their faults and struggles as they are forced to see each other in a new light. Young readers will enjoy Sophie's self discovery as she travels to another country with a varied group of people with which she is not well acquainted.
This book is highly recommended as a resource for teachers as well as an enjoyable read for anyone who wants to explore the world outside their normal realm.
Resau, L. (2007). Red glass. New York: Delacorte Press.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Format: Print
Selection Process: Horn Book Review:
Isaac, M. (2008). Red Glass. Horn Book Magazine, 84(1), 93-94.
Review
Red Glass is an engaging book that deals with topics such as immigration, diversity and families within the context of a compelling narrative. Resau has done her homework and creates a believable setting and quickly draws the reader into the story of Sophie. Sophie's less than traditional family has welcomed Pablo, a six year old whose parents have perished crossing into the U.S. Sophie struggles with the possibility of Pablo returning to his family in Mexico as well as caring for a diverse group that makes up her "family". Resau's characters are realistic and honest, sharing their faults and struggles as they are forced to see each other in a new light. Young readers will enjoy Sophie's self discovery as she travels to another country with a varied group of people with which she is not well acquainted.
This book is highly recommended as a resource for teachers as well as an enjoyable read for anyone who wants to explore the world outside their normal realm.
February 10, 2017
this book is okay. To me, i feel like almost all books take too long to get through, Red Glass is no exception. The story drags on so long. Its about a girl named Sophie and her family helps illegal immigrants cross the border on emergency occasions. The story with child protective services calling Sophie's step father, Juan, because they found a child in the desert alone and had Juan's business card (Which is the dumbest thing i ever heard child protective services do [-_-] ). And so without know a single thing about this child except his name, the family just adopts which is also dumb. In the book it said when the child, Pablo said like two words and then didn't talk for nine months after that....[-_-] .... First, the book really skipped nine months at the start of the book, in the middle of the paragraph. Second, the author knew that the story had no thought, and half of the character had no common sense. Overall, the story was okay but there was too much lack of intelligence or common sense for me to ignore.
.....OH Yeah!.... <<<<****SPOILER**ALERT****>>>> ....sorry... forgot about that...
.....OH Yeah!.... <<<<****SPOILER**ALERT****>>>> ....sorry... forgot about that...
April 30, 2008
This is a beautifully written, well-crafted book. It is definitely a coming of age story with an international flair. Sophie is the daughter of an English mother and a Mexican immigrant stepfather. She has a Bosnian war refuge "Aunt" and a Guatemalan boyfriend. Her journey to Mexico (and Guatemala) to return a rescued 6-year-old Mexican boy (who is the only survivor after he and his parents illegally cross the border into Arizona)to his extended family helps her to grow beyond her imaginary fears as she helps those she love face and come to terms with the real traumas of their past. "It is in the harshest places where you appreciate beauty the most" Resau says in the closing paragraphs of her story. That is certainly true of this beautifully written tale of harsh realities. I would recommend this book to older teens with a warning that there is underage drinking depicted that is portrayed as acceptable.
June 14, 2009
This book is both two love stories and the gradual transformation of a girl who feels like an amoeba - an outcast - in contrast to the world's organisms. We can all relate to that at one time or another. I was mesmerized from beginning to end, and read it cover to cover in one sitting.
The main character, Sophie, reminded me of my own daughter - with her fears and worries. Sophie's transformation throughout the story reminded me of the possibilities in life to change. I loved it and cheered her on as she choose to be brave.
Sophie calls Pablo - el "principito" - Reseau skillfully wove in The Little Prince, which somehow I managed never to read in my life as a reader. Now I will for sure.
Great interweaving of Spanish. Loved it! Gracias. Otro libro buen escrito, Laura.
The main character, Sophie, reminded me of my own daughter - with her fears and worries. Sophie's transformation throughout the story reminded me of the possibilities in life to change. I loved it and cheered her on as she choose to be brave.
Sophie calls Pablo - el "principito" - Reseau skillfully wove in The Little Prince, which somehow I managed never to read in my life as a reader. Now I will for sure.
Great interweaving of Spanish. Loved it! Gracias. Otro libro buen escrito, Laura.
August 11, 2009
Wow! Don't read this one - listen to the audio book. The narrator is amazing! And the variety of accents really make this one way better when read aloud.
Sophie's family takes in a young Mexican boy who was the only survivor of a group - including his parents - that died in the desert trying to enter the U.S. Sophie's stepdad is Mexican, so she and her mom speak Spanish. They agree to make Pablo a part of their family, and after some research, find his relatives back in Mexico. That summer, they take Pablo to see them, hopefully so that he can say good-bye and remain with them in Tucson. The journey is long and hard, and along the way Sophie, who has always been fearful and shy, is drawn out of her shell and realizes her own inner and outer strength. A wonderful and colorful cast of characters, an adventure, a history lesson, and a love story too. Two thumbs up.
Sophie's family takes in a young Mexican boy who was the only survivor of a group - including his parents - that died in the desert trying to enter the U.S. Sophie's stepdad is Mexican, so she and her mom speak Spanish. They agree to make Pablo a part of their family, and after some research, find his relatives back in Mexico. That summer, they take Pablo to see them, hopefully so that he can say good-bye and remain with them in Tucson. The journey is long and hard, and along the way Sophie, who has always been fearful and shy, is drawn out of her shell and realizes her own inner and outer strength. A wonderful and colorful cast of characters, an adventure, a history lesson, and a love story too. Two thumbs up.
May 21, 2013
This book was a very good read. I highly recommend this book to others and I enjoyed it very much. The plot for the story is very well thought out although there is some parts where I really didn't understand what was going on. There is a lot of detail within the book and good use of a very wide selection of vocabulary. Some main details to know before reading this book would be, that sometimes the scene is a little chaotic and it is sometimes confusing if you don't read every sentence. One of the main characters, Dika, is from a foreign country and the author portrays that by spelling some of the words that she uses wrong like somebody would do if they weren't very good in English. Overall this was a very good read.
February 14, 2008
This beautiful story begins the night fearful sixteen-year-old Sophie is rereading Exupéry's The Little Prince at the same time a small Mexican boy is found in the nearby Arizona desert with her stepfather's business card in his pocket. Spanning three countries and four cultures, with loving, big-hearted characters, (especially great-aunt Dika, a Bosian refugee; little Pablo; and the ancient Mixteco, Ñola), Red Glass follows Sophie's transformation from timid, lonely girl who risks nothing for fear of harm or hurt or loss, into Sophie la Fuerte, risk-taker for life and love. The best kind of book, the kind you read with your heart.
January 28, 2013
I'm reading this with my eleven year old daughter and we are both loving it! Its heart wrenching and heart warming. Very well written book. So glad my girlfriend gave it to me. I highly recommend this book to everyone so far. The characters are great. The main character Sophie has so many phobias it's hilarious how she describes them. And her courage in dealing with them is inspiring. The writing is so good and the characters so real I feel like I'm part of the story and I forget I'm actually reading a book! It's very hard to put down!
April 29, 2013
This book was phenomenal! I loved this book so much. The only thing I didn't like was the back cover! I don't think the summary captures the book at all, and it makes it sound not nearly as great as the story really is. This book is based around the struggle of illegal immigration, and takes place in Tucson, Arizona, and parts of Mexico. I loved this book because I loved all of the characters, and wanted to care for all of them. With lots of love, and struggle, Red Glass was my favorite book this term!!!
August 27, 2015
I really enjoyed reading “Red Glass” by Laura Resau. Red glass is about Sophie and her parents who take in a mexican boy named Pedro. Later during the story Pedro finds relatives who live in Mexico and travels back to see them.
I encourage people to read this story if they are looking for a good story that relates to the boarder or just intrigued by Hispanic immigration. I connected well with this book since I live close to the boarder. Overall, it was nice to read about a story that follows the struggle of a immigrant child from Mexico.
I encourage people to read this story if they are looking for a good story that relates to the boarder or just intrigued by Hispanic immigration. I connected well with this book since I live close to the boarder. Overall, it was nice to read about a story that follows the struggle of a immigrant child from Mexico.
August 14, 2014
I listened to this book on audio which was fantastic because there were several accents and it really brought the characters to life. I loved that I learned about four different cultures and some historical background I wasn't aware of. It was very moving and the main character grew and changed by having to take risks which is always my favorite kind of book. Plus, there was a bit of spiritual mystery going on which I enjoy.
October 1, 2012
This is a coming of age story about a teenaged girl finding her strength and self worth as she faces the challenges and danger of a trip to Mexico and Gautemala.
I thought the strength in this novel was the character development. We are introduced to a myriad of people over the journey that teach Sophie about acceptance, healing, and courage.
I thought the strength in this novel was the character development. We are introduced to a myriad of people over the journey that teach Sophie about acceptance, healing, and courage.
September 10, 2012
I really enjoyed this YA novel as it describes Sophie, a anxious teen, and her journey to Mexico. I loved all the characters, especially Dika, the Bosnian war survivor full of personality. The novel is amazingly multicultural, without feeling forced. The story deals with illegal immigration, guerrilla warfare, violence, family, love and loss in a very human way. Excellent novel.
Read 9/12
Read 9/12
Read
February 28, 2010An amazing book. Growing up close to Mexico I never actually gave thought to what it would be like the the situation Mrs. Resau put the characters into. The book is well writen, has wonderful characts, and is by no means boring. I suggest this book to anyone from middle school and up.
October 20, 2008
Couldn't get into it so didn't finish it
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