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teresarosereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This was such a unique way to learn about Hispanic/Latino history! The information was presented in a way that was easy to understand which helped me to learn a lot and makes me want to continue to learn more. This would be great for younger audiences who want to learn about history without getting overwhelmed by complicated text. I also loved the mix of voices and the addition of illustrations. Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read that taught me a lot!
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
4.0
Another beautiful historical novel in verse by Engle. This one covers 600+ years and tells the story of immigration and Latinx history in North America. She starts in Puerto Rico, then called Boriken, in 1491 and explains:
"Most US history books being with colonization of the thirteen colonies by English invaders who conquered numerous Indigenous nations. However, the part of modern US territory that was colonized the earliest is Puerto Rico."
She then moves through time up to present day with a 6th grade Dreamer fearful of DACA ending.
It's amazing how much history she tells in this short book.
I used it together with Caminar and The Only Road.
"Most US history books being with colonization of the thirteen colonies by English invaders who conquered numerous Indigenous nations. However, the part of modern US territory that was colonized the earliest is Puerto Rico."
She then moves through time up to present day with a 6th grade Dreamer fearful of DACA ending.
It's amazing how much history she tells in this short book.
I used it together with Caminar and The Only Road.
yuniesan's review against another edition
5.0
When the history of people is erased, it is up to their ancestors to find ways to tell those stories. That's what this collection of poems is, its a history written to reflect those of Hispanic origins who are not one race but many.
megrocha's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of poetry wasn’t what I was expecting, but I learned so much none the less. I thoroughly enjoyed reading!
qrb's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't love this for the poetry but for the knowledge I gained!
jdintr's review against another edition
3.0
In this chronological tour of Latin-American history, Magarita Engle uses poetry to illustrate the lives of real and fictional characters, showing how they would have experienced notable events--and even introducing readers to events (like the pueblo uprising in New Mexico or the struggle for Puerto Rican independence) that aren't in most middle-grade history books.
My critique of the book is that too many of the voices sounded similar to me. I really liked the historic detail and the interesting characters, but the voices seemed to blend together. More dramatic contrasts in structure and voice would have been nice.
Still, this is a valuable book, and I would consider it a good teaching tool. I could see this book used in grades 4-6 as a springboard to research or learning about one or more of the characters in the book. Each poem provides just enough historic detail to get a student started learning on their own, and exploring our country's fascinating Latin heritage.
My critique of the book is that too many of the voices sounded similar to me. I really liked the historic detail and the interesting characters, but the voices seemed to blend together. More dramatic contrasts in structure and voice would have been nice.
Still, this is a valuable book, and I would consider it a good teaching tool. I could see this book used in grades 4-6 as a springboard to research or learning about one or more of the characters in the book. Each poem provides just enough historic detail to get a student started learning on their own, and exploring our country's fascinating Latin heritage.