Wednesday, September 12, 2012

REFORMA Review: Down to the Bone

Down to the Bone 
By Mayra Lazara Dole
Harper Collins, 2008. 376 pages. $17.89 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-0-06-084311-3. 
Grades 7+ 
English with some Spanish

“Happy Anniversary! I never thought I could love someone sooooo much. Remember our first kiss?” The worst day of Laura’s life begins when she gets caught reading these sentiments from the love letter she received the day before.  Her Catholic School Nun catches the Cuban teen pouring over the letter and proceeds to read it to the entire class. Unfortunately, the letter is from Laura’s flyy girlfriend! Told through a striking voice which mirrors the life of many LGBTQ Latin@s, Dole’s emotionally-charged first novel follows Laura as she explores what it really means to be a tortillera (Cuban slang for a lesbian).  With so few good books on the topic, this is a welcome addition to libraries serving the needs of today’s teens.

Recommended.

Naidoo, J. C. (2008). Down to the Bone. Written by Mayra Lazara Dole. REFORMA Newsletter., 26 (3/4),18.

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