The Block Captain's Daughter (Chicana and Chicano Visions of the Américas Series)

Chicana & Chicano Visions of the Américas

by Martinez

Guadalupe Anaya, a waitress, is pregnant. She is also the newly elected block captain of Sunflower Street, in charge of raising awareness of safety in her southeast Albuquerque neighborhood. Her campaign platform: God helps those who help themselves. While she waits for the baby, Lupe writes letters to her unborn child, whom she names Destiny. It is Lupe’s dream that her daughter will be a writer, pushing a pen instead of a broom.

In this highly imaginative work of fiction by the acclaimed author of Mother Tongue, Demetria Martínez weaves a portrait of six unforgettable characters, whose lives intertwine through their activism as they seek to create a better world and find meaning in their own lives. At the center of this circle of friends is Lupe, and her heartfelt letters to Destiny punctuate the narrative. Until she crossed the border alone and without papers, Lupe worked in a maquiladora in Mexico. Rescued by strangers, she has made a family for herself among the kindhearted friends, swept up in various causes, who will be her daughter’s godparents.

Deftly alternating between first-person and second-person narratives, conscious states and dream states, The Block Captain’s Daughter is full of delightful surprises, even as it deals with universal themes of desire and risk, death and birth, and the powerful ties that bind us all together.

Genres: School

104 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2012

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It wasn't hard to read but it also wasn't interesting. The author's blatant agenda pushing just got more and more annoying because it was so forced. Changing the narrative from 1st, 3rd, and yes- even 2nd person, was way too much and didn't seem necessary. I also didn't understand the letters to Destiny thrown in at random moments, they weren't even consistently at the end of every chapter. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for the letter placements or the narrative changes- it just made it sloppy.

[Christine Granados · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book should have been edited before it was published. Actually, it shouldn't have been published at all.

[Ruth Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to love the 90's and 2000's writing style of chicana/Latina writers, the voice, humor, etc. BUT I have a huge problem with books that contain SO much Catholic/Christian religion in them, even though I know all about it as a Chicana myself; however I left religion and its institutionalized bullshit behind 40 years ago!! So I find I enjoy these stories much much less as the years go on because they seem to shove religion in out faces...which is exactly what this same religion did to witches and wise women of Europe, Native Americans, tribes of Europe etc etc the atrocities go on and on. So NO I don't want to read about this faith. Hence the book was far less enjoyable than it could've been for me. And the quirky idea the main character had to make money? Kinda dumb, not creative, and religion is involved, so extra annoying. Skip this if you feel the way I do about this religion, and institutionalized religion in general!

[Smith Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the characters and the changes in point of view.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Such a beautiful story about immigration and how activism can connect different people <3

[Sofia Vela-Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for Intro to Latina/o/x studies, and I really liked it. It’s an epistory novel and it calls attention to the layers of Chicano identity and immigration experiences!

[Solita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to give it three stars, I really do. But the truth is I was disappointed. It really is a disjointed narrative. Maybe I need to re-read it, maybe I'd see something I missed in the first read. I don't know why she switches from first to second person, or why she even uses the second person at all. I don't know why she jumps from the birth of Destiny to her writing home from college to a mother that is still block captain, eighteen, nineteen years later? Really? Nothing changed? I don't know. But there are times when the narrative flows nicely, and the writing is beautiful, poetic. Some of the characters are bilingual, and I know some people speak this way, mixing English and Spanish together, but somehow the way these characters speak just doesn't ring as true or real. It feels forced, or contrived. I wish the block captain's letters to her unborn child were more compelling. For the most part, this little novella feels sloppy. I've seen some of Ms. Martinez's poetry, and I think it beautiful. And I really enjoyed Mother Tongue. So, I'm disappointed to be disappointed; it's such a let-down.

[Karla Molinar arvizo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last year I had the fortune to meet Ms. Martinez at the University of New Mexico. She was there to speak of her writing experience to a Chicana Feminism class. I remember her reading a small section from Cory's dialogue. She explained how language had played a significant role in her identity. By asking to be called Socorro she was reclaiming her identity. Her reading gave it a beautiful meaning as she spoke of the similarities between her and Socorro. This books felt profoundly personal,for people living in Albuquerque, it gave us a sense of belonging, somehow seeing the names of places every New Mexican has visited gives each place a special connecting point, which is why I believe Martinez's main audience was New Mexican. It tells a very important story of reconciliation between the always clashing different identities of immigrants and the next generations alike. Overall I enjoyed the reading very much, there's no doubt of Martinez's poetic talents. I do wish the book had been longer.

[M. Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of a 3.5. Wonderfully optimistic and incredibly moving, THE BLOCK CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER displays generational affection as Lupe writes letters to her soon-to-be born daughter about her struggles and resolve as a Mexican woman who fled across the border. The book's characters and setting are all captivating, but the narrative suffers from some stylistic shortcuts. Often I thought: I'd really like to see this scene instead of being told about it. The book needed at least another draft and some more intense editing. Still, it is very much worth reading.