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American History
- GenresSchoolShort Stories
Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Judith Ortiz Cofer
44 books109 followersJudith Ortiz Cofer (born in 1952) is a Puerto Rican author. Her work spans a range of literary genres including poetry, short stories, autobiography, essays, and young-adult fiction.
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
Judith Ortiz Cofer was born in Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, on February 24, 1952. She moved to Paterson, New Jersey with her family in 1956. They often made back-and-forth trips between Paterson and Hormigueros. In 1967, her family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she attended Butler High School. Ortiz Cofer received a B.A. in English from Augusta College, and later an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University.
Ortiz Cofer's work can largely be classified as creative nonfiction. Her narrative self is strongly influenced by oral storytelling, which was inspired by her grandmother, an able storyteller in the tradition of teaching through storytelling among Puerto Rican women. Ortiz Cofer's autobiographical work often focuses on her attempts at negotiating her life between two cultures, American and Puerto Rican, and how this process informs her sensibilities as a writer. Her work also explores such subjects as racism and sexism in American culture, machismo and female empowerment in Puerto Rican culture, and the challenges diasporic immigrants face in a new culture. Among Ortiz Cofer's more well known essays are "The Story of My Body" and "The Myth of the Latin Woman," both reprinted in The Latin Deli.
In 1984, Ortiz Cofer joined the faculty of the University of Georgia, where she is currently Franklin Professor of English and Creative Writing. In April 2010, Ortiz Cofer was inducted into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame.
In 1994, she became the first Hispanic to win the O. Henry Prize for her story “The Latin Deli”. In 1996, Ortiz Cofer and illustrator Susan Guevara became the first recipients of the Pura Belpre Award for Hispanic children’s literature.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 17, 2024
I read this for school today and I actually liked it.
January 21, 2025
This story was.... definitely a story.
Our main character, Elena, is a young immigrant who recounts her experience with President Kennedy's assassination. It was clear that Elena had no control over herself, which as a mere child I can somewhat get behind. She claims to feel nothing for this man who has died, instead worries about a boy whom she has taken a liking to at school. I understand on a deeper level the themes that are present in this, just didn't really stick out to me as memorable.
Our main character, Elena, is a young immigrant who recounts her experience with President Kennedy's assassination. It was clear that Elena had no control over herself, which as a mere child I can somewhat get behind. She claims to feel nothing for this man who has died, instead worries about a boy whom she has taken a liking to at school. I understand on a deeper level the themes that are present in this, just didn't really stick out to me as memorable.
September 3, 2025
Even on the days that make the world stand still, the children still face their own problems. Unable to understand the grief of the collective, they fall into their own world shattering dilemmas. Rejection, snobbery, the worst all mean a lot more to a child experiencing the world for the first time then losing a president they never voted for.
November 18, 2024
(read for school) i really enjoyed this! it reminded me of my mom’s stories about what she went through as a kid, which makes sense since it was published in a similar time period. makes me a little sad
October 23, 2019
I am amazed by this story especially it how deeply describes an immigrant life's in the U.S. The short story maintains your attention from the very beginning till the end.
May 8, 2023
Great, diverse short story that teaches many valuable lessons. I love Elena's character and I think other fourteen year olds - thinking about relationships rather than worldly events.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews