MY TOP 3 FAVORITE CHICANA/O CHILDREN’S/ADOLESCENT NOVELS
If you are ever interested in reading Chicana/o lit., I suggest you begin here. These are the most compelling stories I have ever read about the struggle of the Mexican immigrant. And just because its kid’s lit, you shouldn’t be put off by it. I would rather read these books over and over than read some of the long-winded and ill-written novelizations of the life of immigrants, Mexican-Americans and Chicanas/os by some of the most respected names in the Chicana/o genre…
The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jiménez
This is the most personal and endearing collection of stories I have ever read about Mexican migrant workers in the United States. The main character is Jiménez and his message of perseverance will bring you to tears by the final page. This is a must read for people who are completely unfamiliar or unaware of the struggle that migrant laborers and undocumented aliens go through, because just like the little boy and protagonist, the reader gets to learn about injustice, violence, racism and poverty along with him. The author’s voice soften these harsh social realities, but at the same time, opens our eyes to a truth that many refuse to see.
La Línea by Ann Jaramillo.
I just read this today and immediately decided it is a must read. I was so struck by the novel that I had to put it down several times just to compose myself. It is the story about a teen-aged brother and sister who live in southern Mexico and the odyssey they go through in order to find their parents, who have been working in California for almost 7 years. This book highlights the perils of crossing the border, and as the story unfolds, you will not believe to the extent children and adults will go through in order to obtain a better life in the US. Legally or not. Although the book ends abruptly, I was happy to read that one of the characters ends up returning to Mexico and leads a happier more fulfilling life. This is a RARE and much appreciated occurrence in migrant stories.
Downtown Boy by Juan Felipe Herrera.
Most of Chicana/o children’s and adolescent literature deals with the same issues: racism, immigration and poverty. This book is no exception, but it is written in a narrative prose-style, making it stand out form the rest. The author is a recognized prose poet and the language he uses makes the story of 10-year-old Juanito unique. I fell in love with the novel because I felt that, at heart, it is a story about finding one’s place and everyone can identify with that feeling, not just undocumented immigrants. I highly recommend reading this book out-loud!
