THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

( Also, Today, Nov 30 --Raul will be discussing the Latino Vote on HITN cable TV. See bottom of this post for more details.) AMERICA LIBRE By Raul Ramos y Sanchez Grand Central Publishing To watch Book Trailer, click here . To read the Book Review, click here . Q:   You started writing AMERICA LIBRE in 2004. Your America has an ex-black president and a lot of civil unrest due to prejudice against Hispanics. That’s about 4 years before Obama was even on the Democratic Ticket’s radar, before the Texas border wall, before the Arizona immigration controversy. Where did you get the idea for the book?            A:   For over 20 years, I’ve made a living in advertising. In that business, it’s important to spot trends. And one of the trends I noticed were early reports from the 2000 about the explosive growth of the Latino population in the United States. As a student of U.S. history, I sensed this might create trouble. Because many times in the past, when immigrants have arrive

(Part II: Q&A with author Raul Ramos y Sanchez will be posted tomorrow, November 30 .  Join us!) AMERICA LIBRE By Raul Ramos y Sanchez Grand Central Publishing Like the thirteen English colonies huddled along the coast of North America in 1776, the countries of Latin America will one day reach an epiphany of consciousness and unite into a single nation. This is their inevitable destiny. –Jose Antonio Marcha, JUSTICIA Hispanics in America have come to accept the way things are, not because they’re fair or just, but because it’s the way things have been for a very long time . –Josefina Herrera Being Latino was something he’d simply learned to endure with dignity, like a handicap. The revelation shamed him . –Mano Suarez During WWII, the U.S. government imprisoned many Japanese-Americas in concentration-liked camps, even as many of them fought in the war. The government did it in the name of homeland security. Could it happen again on American soil? Could one group of p

As you celebrate Thanksgiving with your loved ones, think also about how to celebrate Reading. I love to read. I love to discuss books with friends. I love to be adventurous. Luckily my New York City bookclub allows me to be all those things. For example, I am a member of the Comadres, Compadres & Friends Bookclub in New York City. Our book for November was Daisy Martinez’ cookbook, DAISY: MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. Now you may wonder how a bookclub can discuss a cookbook and if it makes for good reading. I’m here to tell you that we did and it does. Not only did we discuss the cookbook, but we went one step further and asked all the members of the book club to bring a dish that they cooked using one of Daisy’s recipes. We had a feast! There was rice with corn; chicken with garlic; empanadas with corn; empanadas with carne; watercress / pear/ pomegranate salad; Peruvian salad (with garbanzos and colored peppers); and of course, pumpkin flan.  The picture on the left is one of

BEBA AND LITTLE SISTER ISLAND / BEBA Y LA ISLA NENA Author: Rafael Landron Illustrator: Maria Antonia Ordoñez Translated by: José Rafael Landrón Campanita Books, an imprint of Editorial Campana Language: English and Spanish Official Release Date: November 19th, 2010 PRESS RELEASE New York, Nov. 4, 2010 - Campanita Books announces the release of its latest bilingual children's book, BEBA AND LITTLE SISTER ISLAND. Featuring Beba the manatee and her many friends. A fable inspired by the true story of how the people of Puerto Rico saved "Sister Island" Vieques from environmental destruction. This wonderful story, penned by talented new writer Rafael Landrón and gorgeously illustrated by award winning artist María Antonia Ordóñez, is a timeless tale of courage, solidarity, love and justice set in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean. Beba, a young manatee, is summoned by her friends to travel and discover the origin of the thunderous noise they keep

   RETURN TO SENDER By Julia Alvarez Yearling Book, 2009 “It should be easier being a Mexican than being an alien from outer space.” –Tyler “ America is a whole hemisphere, north and south. We are all -American! Raices mexicanas y flores norteamericanas… a bouquet with Mexican roots and North American flowers .” –Mari "It’s not wrong in the eyes of God. Sometimes, a country has these laws that have nothing to do with what’s right or what’s best for most of the people involved.” –Tyler’s Dad Julia Alvarez is best known for her adult books HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENT and IN THE TIME OF BUTTERFLIES, but there is another Julia that I am just discovering… the one that writes children books. She wrote RETURN TO SENDER as a way of helping both the children of Vermont and those of the Mexican migrant workers arriving to work the farms cope with their new situation. The name comes from the dragnet operation carried out by the Department of Homeland Security’s

   DAISY’S HOLIDAY COOKING Delicious Latin Recipes for Effortless Entertaining By Daisy Martinez Atria Paperback November 2010 Daisy’s authentic recipes are easy to make, easy to eat, and sure to please .   –Rachel Ray Whether you’re cooking for six or for six hundred, the secret to a successful party is organization, organization, organization!   –Daisy Martinez Daisy’s new cookbook is a welcomed addition for the holidays. She has organized her cookbook by themes. For example, Cozy Festive Fall Dinner, Thanksgiving Buffet, Open House Decorating Party, Christmas Eve Dinner, Elegant New Year’s Dinner and New Year’s Day “Linner” (that’s the meal between lunch and dinner). Each themed-date comes complete with a menu, step-by-step user-friendly recipes, definitions of Latino foods and products, possible variations of the recipe, substitute ingredients where possible and preparation schedules. Plus, throughout the book, Daisy lets you know what can be made ahead of time s

   By Caridad Ferrer Thomas Dunne Books Release date: November 23 I've never been in love.   Aymadredediosomigod.  I couldn't believe I'd said it. But what else could it be? This odd, terrifying feeling of falling down Alice's rabbit hole into this unknown world.  That made me want to laugh and cry and want to throw up and wrap myself in everything Jonathan represented all at the same time.                                                                    --Soledad Reyes Does anyone remember that Brooke Shields movie, “Endless Love?” What about Donny Osmond’s “Puppy Love?” They were both about the wonder of first love – the joy of that sweet first, the heated passion, the intensity of emotion. Teens and hormones are a combustible combination and that is what Caridad Ferrer has given us in WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE; Her daring third Young Adult novel about a dancer and a musician, who discover love amid the competitive atmosphere of the drum and bugle corps.