That's Not Fair! / No Es Justo!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice/La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia

That's Not Fair! / No Es Justo!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice/La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia

Written by: Carmen Tafolla and Sharyll Teneyuca
Illustrated by: Terry Ybanez

Upper Elementary and Junior High Grades

"This handsome picture-book biography in English and Spanish relates the struggle of Mexican American farmworkers in the early twentieth century through the perspectiive of Emma Tenayuca, who became a labor activist. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, in the early twentieth century, Tenayuca was shocked by the gross inequality around her, comparing her comfortable home to the extreme poverty of the many families of factory and farmworkers. As a smart, kind teenager, she spoke in public about the plight of the pecan shellers in the factories, and at 21, in 1938, she led 12,000 workers in a strike that forced factory owners to raise wages. Co-authored by the late Tenayuca’s niece and one of the activist’s friends, the story is heavy on exclamatory messages. Yet the stirring, unfamiliar chapter in labor history and the humanitarian efforts of Tenayuca herself will intrigue children, who will also like the bold, mural-like illustrations, which show a child confronting suffering and growing up to make a difference."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/tenayuca.html

The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans

The Holy Tortilla and a Pot of Beans

High School Grades

Written by: Carmen Tafolla

"Readers will be rewarded by the wisdom, wit, and hope in these 16 short stories. The selections range from the mystical appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in "The Holy Tortilla" to the haunting yet empowering story of a victim in "The Stuff to Scream With." Other stories include the importance and power of cultural heritage in "Inheritance"; a frisky housewife and doubting husband in "Federico and Elfiria"; and the strong sense of community in "Black Leather Lu." What all of these stories have in common is the optimism that comes from taking emotional risks and forming relationships with family, friends, and community. Most of them take place in San Antonio and are peppered with Spanish words and phrases, giving the stories an authentic feeling of place. A well-organized glossary is provided. This collection will be sought after by both teens and teachers looking for strong characters and an eloquent voice in Chicana literature."

School Library Journal Review

Online resources:
http://www.wingspress.com/book.cfm/91/The-Holy-Tortilla-and-a-Pot-of-Beans/Carmen-Tafolla/

Sammy and Juliana Go to Hollywood

Sammy and Juliana Go to Hollywood

Written by: Benjamin Alire Saenz

High School Grades

**this book contains strong language**

"Sammy Santos–responsible, bright, and self-contained–grows up in the Hollywood barrio of Las Cruces, NM, during the last half of the 1960s. Sáenz provides the Mexican-American teen with a voice that is genuine and compelling, realistic in its limitations and nuances as he comes to grips with the death of Juliana, his first love, and the increasingly complex demands and needs of his remaining friends, as well as of his family and neighbors. Subplots involve the role of the Church in the barrio, the movement from authoritarian school administrations to the loosening of rules during the Vietnam War period, the realistic portrayal of what happened to too many gay teens during this period (and continues to happen today), the effects of the draft on poor young men of color, the roles adopted by individual teens as they mature within a community's social order, and family ties that require people to choose sometimes for themselves and sometimes for others in the family.

Sáenz works through all this material neatly and so effectively that Sammy deserves to become a character of lasting interest to both casual readers and literature classes. Expletives appear throughout as do large helpings of Spanish, without italics and not always with English echoed afterward, in perfect keeping both with Sammy's world and his self-perception. His hopes and plans for a better life, beyond the hold of Hollywood are poignant and palpable. This is a powerful and authentic look at a community's aspirations and the tragic losses that result from shattered dreams."

School Library Journal Review

Web Resources:
http://www.cincopuntos.com/teacher_resources.sstg
**Scroll down this page until you see the title Sammy and Juliana Go to Hollywood and then click on "this guide" for a great pdf guide you can use for this book.

A Gift from Papa Diego/Un regalo de Papa Diego

A Gift from Papa Diego/Un regalo de Papa Diego

Written by: Benjamin Alire Saenz
Illustrated by: Geronimo Garcia

Elementary Grades

"The tender story in A Gift From Papá Diego / Un regalo de Papá Diego by Benjamin Alire Saenz is sprinkled with Spanish expressions throughout the English version, adding to the flavor of this bilingual tale. A glossary of the terms used is provided at the end of the book. In addition, a complete Spanish text is printed on each half page. Illustrations of wonderful clay figures painted with bright colors highlight the narrative and provide an attractive graphic border. This paperback original is a debut into the world of children's books for Mr. Saenz, and he has succeeded in writing a poignant read-aloud book for young children - at once entertaining and comforting."—Barbara Bonds Thomas

Web Resources:
http://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/wiki/A_Gift_from_Papa_Diego

Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories

Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories

Written by: Sandra Cisneros

Junior High and High School Grades

"In this collection of Mexican-American stories, Cisneros addresses the reader in a voice that is alternately buoyant, strong, funny, and sad. The brief vignettes of the opening piece, "My Lucy Friend Who Smells Like Corn," are tiles in a mosaic. Taken together, these vignettes give a vivid, colorful picture of life on the Texas/Mexico border. Family ties are strong: aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents are all present. The stories are often about the romantic dreams of young girls longing to escape stifling small-town life who discover that things are not much different on the other side of the border. Cisneros has an acute eye for the telling detail that reveals the secrets and the dreams of her characters. She writes with humor and love about people she knows intimately."

Library Journal Review

Web Resources:
http://www.enotes.com/woman-hollering

He Forgot to Say Goodbye

He Forgot to Say Goodbye
Written by: Benjamin Alire Saenz

High School Grades (strong language)

This novel is the second young adult novel from author Benjamin Alire Saenz which follows the lives of several high school aged characters as they navigate through cultural and social issues in their El Paso, Texas neighborhoods. It would appear Ramiro Lopez from “Dizzyland”, a working class Mexican-American barrio, and Jake Upthegrove from the upper West Side of El Paso would have little in common. A tragic twist of events including the drug related death of a family member bring Ramiro and Jake together creating an unlikely friendship that flourishes in spite of the cultural differences that exist between both characters. What transpires is a well-written novel that shows how family, culture, and social class barriers can be broken down allowing adolescents to break free of some of the stereotypes that exist in society. The author of this book uses strong and conversational language high school students will identify with. Adolescent readers will be drawn to the “realness” and relevancy of this book.

Jennie's Review