Book Analysis

Danza!: Amalia Hernandez and El Ballet Folklorico de Mexico is a true story about a dancer, Amalia Hernandez, born in Mexico City in the year 1917. She fell in love with the art of dancing from an early age. Her parents could not get her to stop dancing around the home, so they enrolled her in ballet classes. In 1939, two dancers from the U.S. visited Mexico City and introduced her to modern dance. Eventually, Ami became a dance teacher and choreographer. She decided to mix the two dance styles by creating ballets based on the folkloric danzas from the different regions of Mexico. Ami traveled the country to learn about each area’s traditional dances. She taught her classes these dances for ceremonial purposes, but also so people could have fun. Her dance company became international in 1961 when it won its first prestigious prize. In 1968, Ami opened a dance school. She continued the legacy started by her grandmother and mother of being a schoolteacher.

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin is the story of two cousins living in two different worlds, one lives in Mexico and the other in the United States. Despite living thousands of miles away, they write letters to one another and share their daily lives. The letters discuss the differences as well as traditional aspects of their cultures. Even though they live in different parts of the world, they realize their lives aren't so different. The story compares the everyday lives of the two cousins and we learn that despite the distance and different environments, they still have things in common.

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours tells the story of an artist, Diego Rivera, born in 1886 in Guanajuato, a city in Mexico. As a boy, he loved to draw. When he got older, he traveled to Madrid and Paris where he learned how to paint realistically and use painting methods like cubism. One day he was asked by a man named Jose Vasconcelos to return to Mexico and paint murals. He returned home and traveled around to become inspired by his country. While creating his murals, he combined the classical way he learned how to paint as a boy with the new style he had learned abroad. These murals expressed the history of his country, fights that took place, and traditional dances. His goal was to educate the people on the country and to make them proud to be part of the culture. He lived to be an old man, however, people still wonder what topics his murals would discuss if he were alive today.

Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist is the story of Juan Garcia Esquivel, a Mexican music innovator, who grew up in Tampico, Mexico. He became curious about music at six years old. By ten years old, Juan was captivated by music. When his family moved to Mexico City, he found work playing piano at Mexico's first 24/7 radio station. When he finally felt ready to create his own music, he became a leader for an orchestra. Defying convention, he created music that made people laugh and planted images in their minds. Juan’s space-age lounge music—popular in the fifties and sixties—has found a new generation of listeners.

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras is about a man named Jose Guadalupe Posada, Lupe for short, and his passion for printing. At Don Trinidad Pedroza’s print shop, he learned lithography and engraving. Don Trinidad asked Lupe to make some drawings for a small newspaper. Readers laughed at his cartoons for making fun of politicians that went against his beliefs and they even caused some of the politicians to lose at election time. Everyone began to call Lupe by the name Don Lupe. He decided to open his own print shop and create illustrations for books and pamphlets. Don Lupe met a man, Antonio Vanegas, who introduces him to a wide range of topics. These topics included scary creatures, fires, miracles, violent crimes, heroes, bandits, cockfights, and bullfighters. Don Lupe began illustrating many of these tales with the man renamed Don Antonio for over twenty years. Their print shop became busiest around Dia de Muertos celebrations (Nov. 1-2). People purchases pieces of theirs to serve as decorative items, the most famous images being calaveras. Don Lupe died on January 20, 1913. Years later, famous historians and artist wondered who created such wonderful images. He is now called Posada, which is the way he signed his work.

Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote: A Migrant's Tale is a story of a young rabbit, Pancho, and his journey to find his papa. There was no rain to feed the crops where the rabbits lived. Papa rabbit had to travel north to find work in the great carrot and lettuce fields. One evening, papa rabbit does not return home. After packing his papa’s favorite meal of mole, rice and beans, warm tortillas, and fresh aguamiel, Pancho sets out to find him. Along the way he meets a coyote who decides to assist Pancho on his journey. After each hurdle they cross, the coyote asks Pancho for an item of food to keep him going. Pancho allows it every time, telling himself it’s alright as long as he gets to his papa. When Pancho runs out of food, the coyote decides to eat the young rabbit instead. Luckily papa rabbit comes running through the doors and saves him. They return home to a feast waiting for them.

The Princess and the Warrior tells the story of an old legend about two volcanos. The warrior, Popoca, desperately wants to marry a princess named Izta. The two fall in love, but the princess's father would only allow the marriage if Popoca could defeat Jaguar Claw. Popoca and his men set out to fight, winning most of the battles. Jaguar Claw realizes he needs to devise a plan to steal what Popoca cherrishes most, Izta. He sends a messenger to deliver news to her that Popoca and his men were killed in battle. The messenger gives the princess a drink that sends her into a deep sleep. Popoca returns home and despite his attempts to revive the princess, she does not wake up. He carries her to the top of a tepetl and lays her on a xochitl bed. Snow begins to fall, but Popoca does not leave Izta’s side. Now there are two mountains, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. Popocateptl gives off smoke and ashes from time to time, as an attempt to wake his sleeping princess.

Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family's Fight for Desegregation is the true story of the Mendez's family and their fight for desegregation. The story is told through Sylvia Mendez eyes, a soon to be third grader whose mother is Puerto Rican and father is Mexican American. When told that his children must attend the “Mexican school” which is farther away and in poorer conditions, Sylvia’s father take up a fight for civil rights and organizes other Latino families in what would become a landmark court case.The book follows Mr. Mendez's journey for desegregation which began with a small petition that no one would sign to a Court case in which the school and school board showed that they denied enrollment to Mexican students because of the color of their skin and other stereotypes.

Soldier for Equality: Jose de la Luz Saenz and the Great War is the true story of José de la Luz Sáenz (1888–1953.) Luz was born in the United States, he and his family experienced prejudice because of their Mexican heritage. When World War I broke out, Luz volunteered to join the fight and joined the Army. Because of his ability to quickly learn languages, he became part of the Intelligence Office in Europe. However, despite his hard work and intellect, Luz often didn’t receive credit for his contributions. Upon his return to the US, he joined other Mexican-Americans whom he had met in the army to fight for equality. His contribution, along with others, ultimately led to the creation of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which is the oldest Latino civil rights organization. Soldier for Equality is based in part on Luz’s diary during the war.

Undocumented: A Workers Fight Undocumented tells the story of Juan, an undocumented workers who immigrates to the United States from Mexico in order to provide for his family. Juan is undocumented and takes a job where he works very hard but doesn’t even get paid minimum wage. Struggling to survive Juan risks everything and stands up to his boss for what he thinks is right. Undocumented was inspired by the life of a friend Duncan met in New York City.