The
Latina Book Club congratulates Raul Ramos y Sanchez on his new book, THE SKINNY
YEARS.
We also thank him for the free e-book with many recipes from the book. Do let us know your favorite.
In celebration of Raul's new book, we are Celebrating Cuba all week long.
We also thank him for the free e-book with many recipes from the book. Do let us know your favorite.
In celebration of Raul's new book, we are Celebrating Cuba all week long.
Happy Cooking and Happy Reading!
Hard
times come to everybody, Victor. Life is what you make of it,
not what happens
to you…Don’t let the comemierdas change you. – Abuela Perez
 |
| Beck & Branch Publishers |
Colorful.
Emotional. Outstanding.
THE
SKINNY YEARS can take its place proudly alongside other notable coming-of-age
tales like BLESS ME, ULTIMA by Rudolfo Anaya; WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN by
Esmeralda Santiago; and ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE
UNIVERSE by Benjamin Alire Sáenz.
THE
SKINNY YEARS deals with lots of complex issues like identity, loss, belonging and
connection. Through our teen hero Victor “Skinny” Delgado,” Ramos y Sanchez
gives life and light to the “kaleidoscope of color, culture and creed” that was
Miami in the turbulent 1960s.
SUMMARY: Victor Delgado is eight years old when his
family flees Cuba in 1959 as Fidel Castro moves in. The family goes from being
land rich to dirt poor. Whereas the family had several maids in Havana, now the
mother works as a hotel maid in Miami, while his ex-law professor Dad wallows
in the past. Luckily, Abuela is always there to care for Victor and his baby
sister and share her own brand of wisdom; as well as his best friend Loco,
another exile with dubious connections.
Victor quickly
learns to survive in this foreign land where a fat man in a red suit replaces
the Three Kings and demons boldly knock on your door wanting treats. He learns
a new language and earns a new nickname with one swing of the bat. He obsesses
over puppy love; joins the skateboard craze with a home-made board; lives
through Hurricane Cleo; stars on the football team; runs away to join a
commune; and returns home to reconnect with his family and his future.
And as
Victor grows and changes so do his two homelands: Cuba and the U.S. Victor and
the world around him are in constant flux – Cuba and the U.S. face off during
the Cuban Missile Crisis; the Civil Rights Movement burns bright; disco balls
rule the music halls; and peace walks hand in hand with drugs.
Readers
will love the characters, the fast pace, and the realistic setting that frames
the story. It’s an emotionally packed
coming of age tale that is destined to be a classic. Bravo, Raul, Bravo.###
GET
YOUR FREE E-BOOK!
Author
Raul Ramos y Sanchez is giving away a free copy of his CUBAN RECIPES FROM THE
SKINNY YEARS, which includes some of the island’s most popular dishes like
Arroz con Pollo, Grilled Flounder, Palomilla Steak, Congri, Tostones and more.
Offer is good until the end of July.
Email info@raulramos.com and let
him know what email address you’d like the e-book delivered to.
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR: Raul Ramos y Sanchez is a
Cuban-born author, who grew up in Miami before moving west. The award-winning author
and his work have been featured on television, radio, online and in print media
across the U.S. and abroad. His works of fiction include the Class H Trilogy
(AMERICA LIBRE, HOUSE DIVIDED and PANCHO LAND).
Visit him at www.RaulRamos.com.
For The
Latina Book Club’s review of Raul Ramos y Sanchez’ AMERICA LIBRE, click here.
For The
Latina Book Club’s first interview with the author, click here.
HAPPY
COOKING!
READ
LATINO!