Us, in Progress

May 29, 2017
In this timely collection of 12 stories, Delacre (Alicia Afterimage) offers an inside look at being a Latino today in the United States. Rendered in straightforward prose, the stories focus on tweens and young adolescents from a variety of cultures, including Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. The collection goes beyond expected subjects like the Dream Act and deportation to less talked-about ones: fair-haired, fair-skinned Vicky feels ostracized from her own culture; 13-year-old Marla battles back against her family’s tendency towards diabetes; and Luci finally stands up to a lifetime of bullying by her older sister. Back matter includes translations of the Spanish words, phrases, and refranes (Spanish sayings) that appear throughout, as well as notes on the source material and inspirations for each story. While these tales offer a broad range of perspectives, the storylines often chart predictable courses, and the characters aren’t always distinctive as individuals. The book’s most compelling element may be Delacre’s accompanying artwork, evocative mixed-media portraits of the protagonists that look like they could step off the page. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from June 15, 2017
Based on actual accounts, this dynamic short story collection focuses on and delves into the nuances of the lives of young Latinos and Latinas in the United States. In the opening story, "The Attack," readers are exposed to a medical emergency gone wrong when police racially profile a young Mexican-American man undergoing an epileptic seizure with a knife in hand. The story lands like a gut punch, and the following 11 also leave impressions and invite considerable scrutiny. Another touching narrative, titled "Burrito Man," depicts the sudden death of a Salvadoran father saving for his daughter's college tuition as an unassuming food vendor in D.C. Inspired by true stories and woven with cultural details and Spanish dialects appropriate to different Latin American countries, the collection is penetrating: Latin American families are divided by deportation; illness and poverty are constant struggles; characters feel guilt, shame, and an inescapable sense of being unwelcome in the U.S. Tech-industry gentrifiers and neighborhood kids clash over a San Francisco soccer field; a privileged, fifth-generation middle-class Tejano harbors palpable prejudices and misconceptions about unaccompanied children crossing the border. Common Spanish sayings--refranes--and attractive freehand pencil sketches of the protagonists usher in each story, both serving as integral elements in this solidly packaged collection.Pura Belpre honoree Delacre's chronicles--each different from the next--offer moving snapshots of family heartbreak, disadvantage, dysfunctionality, heartbreak, privilege, and joy. (glossary, translations, notes) (Short stories. 8-12)

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Starred review from May 1, 2017

Gr 6-8-In a collection of 12 tales, readers hear fictionalized narratives of young Latinos drawn from news stories. The selections represent a variety of children from diverse countries of origin and include standard prose as well as the poetic "Pickup Soccer" and the musical "Cubano Two." The entries highlight issues that some Latinos face, such as problems with food and obesity, cultural identity, the deportation of relatives, the quest to obtain legal status, and prejudices some have toward fellow Latinos from different backgrounds. While these stories offer an interesting cross section of the Latino experience, there is a preponderance of sad and serious tales (with topics that include a sister who bullies, an epileptic seizure mistaken for a criminal attack, and the death of a parent). Spanish words are sprinkled throughout and defined in the back, and refranes (sayings) introduce each piece. The author's mixed-media portraits accompany each entry, and the original articles that inspired each offering are listed and discussed. VERDICT This welcome update to short story collections such as Gary Soto's Baseball in April and prose alternative to Alma Flor Ada's Yes!: We Are Latinos is a solid addition to libraries and would also add much-needed diversity to classroom study.-Karen Yingling, Blendon Middle School, Westerville, OH

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