Thirteen-year-old Bella wants to be a lector just like her grandfather. All day long he sits on a special platform in the cigar factory in Ybor Cit...
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reviews
Nov 23, 2007
LibrariAnne
rated it: 
I liked El Lector better than the 3 star rating might suggest, mainly because it takes on labor issues and that is apparently a tough topic to write about for children without sounding too strident. Or too ambivalent. This book veered a bit toward the didactic before reining in.
The character of Tia Lola was wonderful. There is such a tendency to characterize female workers during the Depression as downtrodden drudges in sunbonnets, but in fact, many of the younger ones were thorough More...
The character of Tia Lola was wonderful. There is such a tendency to characterize female workers during the Depression as downtrodden drudges in sunbonnets, but in fact, many of the younger ones were thorough More...
Apr 12, 2008
Jean
rated it:
The author does an excellent job of leading the reader into a time and place that has not been addressed in children's lit. The cigar factories in southern Florida were an entree into the US for many new immigrants, but the working conditions were hard for many. The idea of having a "lector" or a person who keeps the factory workers entertained and enlightened while they are working is a wonderful image. This story is set when radios are being introduced and the labor movement is be
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Apr 05, 2009
Tiffany
rated it:
I read this with my students for a field trip we're going on. It's set in historic Tampa (Ybor City). Very interesting young adult novel.
Jul 11, 2008
Krista
rated it: 
El Lector means the reader in english. Bella and everyone else in Ybor city Florida love to hear her grandfather read books. He stands at a lecturn in a cigar factory to read to the workers. This book really captures life in 1931 florida. I can't do this book justice with my review, just read it, you'll love it too.
Apr 23, 2008
Julie
rated it: 
It was interesting to learn more about what life was like in Ybor City back in the heyday of the cigar factories, but the book lacked real suspense and intrigue.
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