From: Robin Gibson <rlgibso2>
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 14:36:46 -0500

I was reluctant to begin _Grab Hands and Run_, but only because I had already ready all of Frances Temple's other books, and I knew that this would be the last time I could read one of her books for the first time -- I just loved all of the others so much; what a great loss for all of us. I am thankful for the wonderful books that she did leave to us though.

I was not disappointed by _Grab Hands and Run_ either; I especially liked how she used Spanish phrases throughout the book. The placement seemed very natural to me, and although my knowledge of Spanish is extremely limited, I had no difficulty in understanding the phrases. The meaning was conveyed either by context, or by an explanation that followed, but the explanation/translation was so integrated that it did not seem like a dictionary.

I also liked that when the family is in Mexico, they recognize that different words are used for certain things, and they must use the Mexican way of speaking so that they won't call attention to themselves. In this way Temple gives the reader an idea of the nuances of the Spanish language, and the differences among the Central American countries (it's not one single culture).

I'm still thinking about KT's question about how this book, and the two about Haiti, relate to _The Ramsay Scallop_ and _The Beduin's Gazelle_. I look forward to reading some of your thoughts about the connections.

Robin
Received on Thu 27 Jun 1996 02:36:46 PM CDT