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Nancy Keane's | Booktalks -- Quick and Simple | |
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Perez,
Amada Irma.
MY DIARY FROM HERE TO THERE Children's Book Press/Editorial Libros para ninos, 2002 IL K-3, RL 4.0 ISBN 0892391758 |
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Do
you ever wonder why families emigrate from Mexico to America? If
you can imagine how difficult it would be to move to a different country
and attend a new school that teaches in a unfamiliar language from the
language you have known since you were born, then reading My Diary from
Here to There by Amada Perez will give a you an insight about how traumatizing
it can be to be an immigrant. This autobiographical story is eloquently
told from little Amada Perez's point of view in English and in Spanish.
The story is based on Amada's own immigrant story according to her diary.
It holds the thoughts of joyful and painful memories of this life changing
journey that took place during the 1950's.
The story is about Amada's family's decision to leave Mexico during tough economic times. America was where her father was born and a place that would allow them to have an opportunity of a good and comfortable life again. Amada is distraught about leaving her homeland, Juarez, Mexico. The sadness of leaving her friend and the community she has known all of her young life is brought to life in these brilliant colored animated pages. Amada wants to remember who and where she comes from. Her diary is her companion that does just that. Throughout the story she writes about her feelings of fears, joys, and hopes which helps her get through this dramatic time of change in her life. This story touches upon authentic Mexican cultural traditions. It also tells the all too familiar story of separation Mexican families must go through in order to immigrate to America. It reveals the joys of having strong and loving family bonds. This story also directly connects to the struggle of the farm worker's plight of harsh working conditions during the time of Cesar Chavez's through Amada's father. To quote the former 20 year veteran teacher and author, "With the love of our families and by writing in our diaries, we find the strength to thrive in our new home. Through words, we keep our memories and culture alive, in our diaries and in our hearts."-Amada Irma Perez. (Malinda Hurley, malinda.hurley@omsd.k12.ca.us, teacher) |
| SUBJECTS:
Mexican Americans -- Fiction.
Spanish language materials -- Bilingual. Emigration and immigration -- Fiction. Family life -- Fiction. Diaries -- Fiction. |
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