100 Hispanics You Should Know

October 1, 2007
Gr 6 Up-These figures represent a wide range of famous and lesser-known people from around the world and spanning several centuries. Featuring scientists, artists, and leaders rather than modern celebrities or athletes means that there are entries on many hard-to-find individuals, though a mere eight are female. Only 15 of the people also appear in Rick Laezmans "100 Hispanic-Americans Who Changed American History" (World Almanac, 2005), reflecting this works global and historical focus. Each entry includes two to three pages of well-organized information. Career Highlights and Important Contributions are followed by a one- to two-page chronological overview. The narratives are clear and lively enough to engage readers who are unfamiliar with the subject. They highlight positive elements of each life, as well as less admirable ones when appropriate. These are not in-depth profiles, but they provide solid summaries with well-chosen specific details. Each article includes a bibliography. Entries are arranged alphabetically by name; the index provides access by homeland, but there is no convenient way to search by occupation or time period. Articles lack cross-references, which also makes it hard to see connections between people in related fields and eras. There are no photographs, and the simple black-and-white drawings of each figure are rather unappealing. Still, this volume offers a wealth of useful material in a needed subject area, presented in an accessible format and style."Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR"

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