Frontera Street

by Tanya Maria Barrientos

Desperate to escape the pain of her past, a pregnant Dee Paxton leaves her affluent neighborhood for a job at Frontera Street Fabrics, a small shop in the barrio, where she finds a friend in Alma Cruz, a single mother who has her own secrets. A first novel. Original.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Betty G · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a great story about friendship, family, and a community that is held together by tradition and love. This story also was heavy on crossing borders and being open minded to different backgrounds and lifestyles. It was a little predictable in parts but all in all I enoyed this. There are small stories within the story of different characters which was fun and the mentioning of La Llorona is always a plus for me!

[Barb Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emotionally, this was quite a story about a community of women supporting each other. Not everything turns out to be "happily ever after", as the relationships among the characters is what is emphasized most. The attribute of the story being told from the viewpoint of alternating characters was carried out very well. Sometimes, I get lost with this; but it was easy to follow in this book.

[Vibeke Figueroa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the writing style - it made me want to be part of that family/neighborhood.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Amazon review: While Frontera Street carries a strong message about crossing borders, both physical and self-imposed, the story that reveals the message is unbelievably full of extreme highs and lows. From the loss of husbands, lovers, jobs and businesses to the excitement of new love, full scholarships, babies and quinceaneras, it is impossible to get to know these characters and their true selves. Back stories and dirty laundry abound but do not amount to real insight into each characters heart.

Both Dee, a white woman from the Westside, and Alma, a Mexican woman from the barrio, could easily be the same woman - struggling with backgrounds of rejection and loss, single parenthood and prejudice, but Barrientos has gone out of her way to make an important and single distinction between the two women - money. Dee's wealth is, ultimately, what keeps everyone happy and although the strength of the Frontera Street neighborhood bond comes through it is disappointing to watch Alma and her daughter leave the Street solely for the purpose of wealth and prestige.

Barrientos' writing is stylish and, at times, fun. By far the most engaging part of the story is a flashback detailing the story of "The Miracle Muffin." Initially a short story of its own, the description of the milagro and its effect on family, community, and faith is the most in-depth, provocative and endearing section of the book.

A good book club read, Frontera Street will provoke discussions about our own boundaries and the development of friendship, it also allows for interesting discussion on what it means to read about a character and feel as if you "know" them.

[Chambodia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This felt too much like a PC handbook for me to truly enjoy it. The best parts of the novel are when the characters interact with each other the way most of us do, one on one, instead of one demographic to another.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fast read, but it wasn't that great. Pretty predictable...the dad comes back & the mom gets with the teacher. I also do not like books that use words from another language in regular sentences and I'm supposed to figure out what they mean w.o translation. It's annoying.

[Judy King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick entertaining read about the crossing of cultural boundries -- geographic, community, class, family, stereotypical, more.

Likeable characters, sweet story, surprising twists. Good inside view of border life.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dee Paxton doesn't know where to go or who to turn to after her 28 year old husband dies unexpectedly of a brain aneurysm. She ends up in her hometown on the TX/Mexico border where she applies for a job in a fabric shop on the "wrong" side of town.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely Chicana chic lit but very well written and while predictable I enjoyed it. Set in Texas border town a young Anglo widow from the Westside finds family and love in the barrio.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story of women who come together due to some sad circumstances and become friends. Something they never would have imagined to ever happen due to racial and economic lines. Great read!!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read that was enjoyable. However, the end was predictable and a just too neat, which was disappointing.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about friendship and community. A young woman grieving for her husband ends up in a neighborhood very foriegn to her and they become her family.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the writing is not superior, I loved the bonds of sisterhood created across racial lines.