From: Christine Hill <chill>
Date: Wed, 05 Dec 2001 16:17:15 -0500

This seemed like two books to me. The first half was finely observed and delicately written, with a distinctive, convincing narrative voice. It was particularly well done in the way it showed how the narrator acquired a new language and absorbed a new culture. In the second half, the feisty, fascinating narrator disappears into the shadows as the dissolution of her parents' marriage takes center stage. All we know about the narrator in the second half is that she gets older, conceals her family's troubles and gets good grades. The fine writing no longer serves the development of the narrator's character, and ends up calling too much attention to itself. Frankly, I was bored and unconvinced by the second half. Christine M. Hill Willingboro Public Library One Salem Road Willingboro NJ 08046 chill at willingboro.org Coming in February! Ten Hispanic American Authors, Enslow, 2002
Received on Wed 05 Dec 2001 03:17:15 PM CST