Dear Author letters of hope

Picture retrieved from: http://flit.hubpages.com/hub/Dear-Author-Letters-of-Hope
Chapter Book: Yes         Genre: Non Fiction

Kaywell, J. (2007).  Dear author letters of hope. New York: Penguin Group.ISBN 978-1-101-04279-3. $12.47

     Dear Author letters of hope is a compilation of letters to young adult literature authors from their readers expressing gratitude for the books they wrote. All of the letters were about challenges young adults face such as suicide, drug abuse, sexual abuse and self-mutilation. That’s not to say that these are the only types of books these authors write however; those topics just happened to be the focus of this particular book. Some of the authors were, Cherie Bennet, Lois Duncan, Rodman Philbrick, Laurie Halse Anderson, Chris Crutcher and Christopher Paul Curtis.

     Dear Author letters of hope is a unique book in that not only do the readers write the authors but the authors actually take the time to write back. Moreover in their responses the authors are very candid about what their motivation was for writing the books and in most instances some of the authors wrote about their own experiences or experiences of someone very close to them. For example a reader wrote author Cherie Bennett about how she was overweight and had been teased by her peers and the devastating affect it was having in her life. As it would happen in her younger years Cherie Bennett faced that same challenge of being overweight and she explained how she overcame the negativity of the situation. Lois Duncan encourages her reader to get help from a suicide support group. Letter after letter each author displays a very caring and understanding show of emotions towards their readers.

     Now I must be candid and admit that this was my first complete reading of an e-book and what has taken me so long are the pros and cons of reading an e-book. The challenge I have with reading an e-book in its entirety is not being able to turn physical pages. The pros are that the book seemed shorter to read for lack of a better word. I thought the book was very well written and I would recommend this book for young adult readers ages 14 and above. I believe Dear Author letters of hope is a good tool for young people facing challenges mentioned earlier in those particular areas as well as their support system with regards to understanding how to help. In addition, the book offers a wide range of helpful websites and hotlines such as: The Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453.        

Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico

Picture retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/563483.Sofi_Mendoza_s_Guide_to_Getting_Lost_in_Mexico

Chapter Book: Yes      Genre: Realist Fiction

Alegria, M. (2007). Sofi mendoza’s guide to getting lost in mexico. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN-13: 978-0-689-87811-4. $8.99.

     The book Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico, is about a young lady who was born in America to Mexican parents. All of her life she was raised as an American. While in high school she falls head over heels in love with a white boy named Nick. All she could think of was that when they finished school, they would get married, have the American dream and live happily ever after.  During the last days of her senior year in high school she and a group of friends decided to go to Mexico to party to celebrate before their graduation. Of course Nick would be there, so against her parents’ wishes and her better judgment she just had to go, but while in Mexico she discovers that Nick does not feel the same way, so Sofi and her friends decide to leave early. On their way back home to America, when they get to the boarder she discovers that her green card is a fake document and that she must stay in Mexico with her relatives and that is where her journey begins.

     The author Malin Alegria, wrote this story based on the real-life story of Martha and Carmelia Luna from Santa Paula, California. They were denied reentry into the United States after visiting TJ for an afternoon (p. vii).  Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico takes place in San Inocente, California. The story begins with Sofi being the typical teen feeling as if her parents are too strict, they do not understand her and as soon as she graduates from high school she is leaving home going to live on campus at USC where she will be able to do whatever she wants. Her parents are hardworking Mexicans who left Mexico a long time ago in search of fulfilling the American dream for themselves and their daughter. After disobeying her parents Sofi realizes that she may have to spend the rest of her life with her relatives in Mexico. Just as Cinderella has universal application, the same is true for the Wizard of Oz. In the story the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy felt as if she was trapped in Kansas but after being in the world all alone she realized that there was no place like home.

     There were no illustrations in Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico however; the author was very vivid in her story telling. I thought the book was very well written and it captured my total attention. I would highly recommend this book for teens ages 14 and above. While reading Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico, the ups and downs and struggles Sofi’s family faced in their quest to find the American dream, reminded me of a book I am reading called The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabelle Wikerson. It is an epic story about the migration of black families from the South to the North. One of the greatest stories ever told about how people left one part of America with nothing to live out the American dream and actually accomplished their goal.

Picture retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/books/31book.html?_r=1

See pictures of the characters from Amazon’s website.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679444327/ref=rdr_ext_tmb