6. When Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

I am, inexplicably given my lackluster opinion of her novels, on a “Let’s read everything Julia Alvarez ever wrote!” kick.

Fortunately this book has rewarded my patience. It’s a fluffy little children’s book that plays to Alvarez’s strengths (family drama, moderate wackiness) without the political elements that aren’t her strong suit. It isn’t very deep, but it amused me, and even in Spanish it was a quick read; I think actual children would enjoy it too.

There is one scene that deals explicitly with racism. One of Miguel’s classmates tells him that he’s sure to get on the baseball team, because he’s a Dominican like Sammy Sosa; and Miguel’s dad says, no, he’ll get on the baseball team because he’s good at baseball, and he’s good at baseball because he practiced, which has nothing to do with how Dominican he is. A simple and elegant tutorial in How Not to Be Racist 101 for eight-year-olds, on a level they could probably apply directly to their own lives.