Jenna’s Comments (group member since Jun 21, 2019)

Jenna’s comments from the Multicultural Library EDGTE 480 group.

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

This book is about thirteen-year-old Arturo Zamora and his summer of fun turning into much more. Arturo expects his summer to be filled with basketball, hanging in banyan trees, and drinking smoothies with his Abuela (grandmother). However, change is in store when he has his first crush on family friend Carmen and when a developer comes into town and threatens to tear down his family’s restaurant that is the heart of the neighborhood. This story is about family, community and Arturo’s fight to keep that together. This book would be good for bilingual learners because many of them would be able to relate to their community and culture being threatened by “the big guy” and gentrification. It shows that through perseverance, courage, and the bonds of community anything can be accomplished. Also, this book richly incorporates Arturo’s Cuban culture in the story with his family dynamics, food, and poetry from legendary Cuban revolutionist José Martí. The author even adds his own family’s recipes at the end of the book to share his culture with his readers, which I thought was a charming touch since food is what brought the community together in the story. Also, this book has Spanish words and phrases incorporated throughout the text which adds to the authentic feel of Arturo and his family.

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems

They call me Güero is a series of poems that depict the life and experiences of Mexican-American seventh-grader Güero who lives in the U.S. in a town near the border of Mexico. Güero faces some identity challenges throughout the story. He is light-skinned and freckled which he feels makes him a misfit among the other boys. However, his father has an honest and eye-opening conversation with Güero telling him that “pale folks catch all the breaks” and that he has to use the doors that will be opened for him so that he can hold open the doors for the rest of them. This moment was very powerful because it speaks to the lack of opportunities non-white people can face in this country. I feel that most immigrants and bilingual learners can relate to this. Another powerful moment was when Güero and his family are stopped by border patrol. Güero talks about the fear and anger he feels that he constantly must prove that he belongs in his own country. Especially given the current political climate, many Latino students would be able to connect to Güero and his family’s feelings. This also would provide other students some perspective on how that would feel. Spanish is also used greatly throughout these poems further incorporating the vibrancy of Güero’s culture. A glossary is provided at the end so non-Spanish speakers can feel more confident learning about Güero and his culture and experiences. Lastly, I think this is a good book for teachers to note because it has many great tips for educating multicultural students. Güero makes a point to talk about his english teacher and how she includes many cultures in her lessons like the myths and legends of China, Korea, and Mexico. He also notes that his social studies and english teacher team up to provide cross-content thematic lessons. They call me Güero has a lot of depth and insight of what is like to be a Mexican-American kid living near the border. It would be a great addition to any library.

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Merci Suárez Changes Gears is the story of a girl of Cuban descent starting the sixth grade at an expensive academy. She is a scholarship student that lives with her parents, brother, and extended family in a group of small houses they call Las Casitas. Merci endures the challenges of growing up including bullies, aging grandparents, and fighting to be treated as an adult. I feel that most kids can relate to this and have similar experiences finding their own voice and how to cope with life’s hard realities. Merci also seems to have to be on edge more than the other students in her school because she is in the academy on scholarship. Her father warns her to be a model student because the school does not have to keep her enrolled and can kick her out if she becomes too much of a nuisance. I feel that many emergent bilingual students would be able to relate to this feeling because society puts harder standards on immigrants and people of differing cultures. They are put on thin ice, and at the slightest hint of trouble there are calls for deportations even though they have as much right for a chance to thrive in this country as anyone else. I also think another reason this book would be good for bilingual learners is because Merci’s Cuban-American culture is well-represented in the book. It is shown through her dynamics with her family, the Spanish phrases incorporated throughout the book, and the traditions depicted, like the differing food menu they eat on Thanksgiving and the staying up till midnight on Christmas Eve. I feel that many Latino students will be able to identify with these aspects which would allow them to be able to relate to the characters in the book and project themselves in the story.