THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

   Here is the story of San Antonio's "Sonia Sotomayor" -- Maria Antonietta Berriozabal!    MARIA, DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS  is part memoir, part political dossier. It is a tale of hardship and joy; acceptance and prejudice; poverty and politics. It is also a tale of a strong Latina woman, fortified with the love and support of her family, who enters the world of politics to better herself and her community. Maria’s journey is the fulfillment of the American Dream – for herself, her family and her community. Readers cannot help but cheer Maria’s amazing courage and fortitude. She is a role model for Latinas everywhere. Wings Press BOOK SUMMARY: Like many immigrants, Maria Antonietta Berriozabal’s family left Mexico for a better life in the United States. The family’s trek is long and arduous, but full of hope and faith. The family settles in Laredo, Texas, where Maria is born and raised. From an early age, Maria learns about poverty and prejudice, but she a

   Tony is a bit too young in age for his character to be believable, but his journey is one faced by many a Latino with two religions, two cultures, two identities. The way to survive is to explore each and take the best of all. The reader is not sure that such a young boy can truly understand that. Book Summary: Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. She is a curandera , one who cures with herbs and magic. Under her care, Tony will begin to discover his heritage and discover himself in the pagan past, in his father's wisdom, and in his mother's Catholicism. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who delivered Tony into the world-and will nurture the birth of his soul. BLESS ME, ULTIMA has been made into a motion picture. Unfortunately, distribution is limited right now to the West Coast, but fans are working on bringing it east. AUTHOR BIO: Rudolfo Anaya is a Mexican-American writer and educator from New

   The Latina Book Club welcomes Maria Mitchell, author of PAINTED SECRETS and MAGNOLIA CRISTIANA ST. CLAIRE. Are you craving adventure? Just a simple deviation from routine? Are you are a person who takes your responsibilities seriously, but every once in a while your mind wanders off into a fantasy that you believe in real life could never happen? You can make adventure happen by creating events in your life. Yes, you are master of you. I am speaking of your passions that lie dormant inside your heart. You can learn to oil paint, dance, perhaps study a new language. You can do anything you put your mind to and don't let anyone tell you differently. Adventure may conjure up thoughts of travel, seeing new places, meeting new people and eating new foods. Travel is a strong sensory adventure of new things never to be forgotten. It can beg you for more. But don't over maximize the concept of adventure. A new adventure can be as simple as going to the other Farmer'

   “In Mexico they say when someone you love dies, a part of you dies with them. But they forget to mention that a part of them is born in you— not immediately, I’ve learned, but eventually, and gradually.” –Sandra Cisneros It doesn’t matter how old you are, when your mother dies, you feel like an orphan. You can be 5, 15, 30, 53, and the loss of your mami will hit you hard. Such is what happened to critically acclaimed author Sandra Cisneros. When her mother died, she felt like “a glove left behind at the bus station.” And it takes a visit from a friend and her cat to shake Sandra from her depression. From that visit, Sandra came up with this wonderful story. In HAVE YOU SEEN MARIE?, the missing “person” is the cat. As Sandra and her friend Roz search for Marie, they travel all over the San Antonio talking to neighbors and strangers alike. Unfortunately, no one has seen poor Marie, but on her journey Sandra soon realizes that others have also lost loved ones and

I was in Ponce, Puerto Rico , this past November for my cousin Anita's birthday party.  I love visiting my home town and rediscovering it all over again.  New this time around, lions!  Which really should not come as much of a surprise since Ponce is named for Ponce de Leon, hence the lions all over the city.   Below are some lions I found in the main Plaza, all beautifully decorated and colorful.  I could not decide which was my favorite.   You try.  And, for a view of my Ponce and its main attractions, enjoy this video . --mcf The original leon from the Plaza Fountain Golden Glory Look at the mask on his coat Black and White and Spectacular The Red Mane is clear even through the fountain Ponce es Ponce. Lo demas es parking.