ANNA S. (SanJoseCa) reviewed on 12/12/2007 + 328 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 5

This book is about the authors chaotic childhood in Puerto Rico and then her move to Brooklyn, New York. She writes about her journey through the public school system, the prestigious High School of Performing Arts and attending Harvard University on a scholarship. I felt drawn into her story as she wrote about being caught in the agonizing web of dual identities, an experience many immigrants to America face. This excellent coming of age autobiography is written by a producer of documentary and education films. Esmeralda Santiago has also written for the New York Times, the Boston Globe and many mass market magazines like Good Housekeeping and Home and Gardens. I found her writing to be very engaging. This book is highly recommended for the readers interested in the immigrant experince and for the educators. There is an excellent movie verson of the sequal to WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN called ALMOST A WOMAN.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details