Growing up Latino in America means speaking two languages, living two lives, learning the rules of two cultures. Cool Salsa celebrates the ...
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reviews
Mar 12, 2011
Jennifer
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Cool Salsa is a collection of poetry that the editor compiled to celebrate the influence of Spanish language and Ibero-Latin American heritage in hopes to “…contribute to an even greater appreciation and understanding of Latinos in cities…” She stays consistent to this theme with strong poetry selections that are sectioned into categories such as School Days, Hard Times and A Promising Future. The poets come from all nations including Cuba, Argentina, Mexico and Guatemala. The poems vary greatly
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Nov 13, 2010
Kelly
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I liked this book. I don't speak or read spanish, but my husband does. He often read over my shoulder. The poems spoke of the issues that Hispanics face in America. There was one particular poem that I loved. It was about how the Hispanic people stayed in their side of the town. One day, these kids decided to be rebels and go to the other side of town. They got beat up and made each other promise to not tell anyone about what had happened. The poems also talk about two cultures mixing and how i
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Feb 11, 2012
Adam
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Cool Salsa is a good book that gives you the English and Spanish version of poem. This not only reaches out to more than one type of reader, but also allows the students to become familiar with other languages at a younger age. This books explaines every day life and challenges that a Hispanic faces in America. While reading the poem you feel the different emotions that the author pured into their writing. Some of these feelings were love, hate, anger, and fear. This was an interesting book
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Apr 19, 2009
I loved this book! It wasn't only English poems that were translated from Spanish poems but it was a bilingual book including both the english and spanish versions. This book describes everyday life of a Hispanic in America. Many feelings of fear, anger, love and drama are presented through these poems written by several authors. Although i may not be fully hispanic i can definitely relate to some of these these and it makes me laugh at how accurate they are with the terms and phrases that are u
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Jul 05, 2009
Lindsey
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This collection is a treasure among poetry, not only for its rich collection of voices and poignant social commentary on being Latin in America, but for its brutal honesty and courageous content that reveals both the beautiful and horrendous aspects of American culture as well as the Latin culture that these poets have left behind. All of the voices teach educational lessons to the readers, and bring an edge about the realities of living in America that can only be told accurately through the mo
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Mar 21, 2011
Jessica
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Me encantaban muchísimas las poemas "The Changeling", "The Monster", "Bato Loco", "La Novia", "'Race' Politics" y "Smokey". Me gusta esas más que las otras poemas.
The things in quotes are the poems I like the most :)
The things in quotes are the poems I like the most :)
Nov 19, 2010
Pedro
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I enjoy reading about my culture it brings good memories. Lori M. Carlson wrote terrific poems of traditional Hispanics heritage in this book.
Aug 26, 2011
Jeane
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Although I'm sure this is a good book, since I'm not big on poetry in the first place, and since I could not relate to any but two maybe three poems in this book, I really didn't enjoy it. I think that it's good that this was a nice bilingual poem book, and that every poem is written in both English and Spanish, but some of them I thought were a little outdated.
Nov 20, 2010
Gabriela
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Many Latin cultures are depicted in this book and poems that made me look back and find ways to connect and identify with them.
May 05, 2009
I like the English and Spanish versions of poems in here. It has been a well read book during my classes.
Apr 10, 2011
Daniela
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Creative poems. I need to purchase this book so that I can do some work with them at the library.
Mar 06, 2011
Kristen
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loved the diversity amongst the authors, yet they all shared the same culture and emotions.
Jun 14, 2008
this book is full of poems in english and in spanish. the poems are written by many different people and express who they are and what they feel about their latin american culture and background. i really like the poem "A Puerto Rican Girl's Sentimental Education" by Johanna Vega. it shows the difficulty of trying to fit in a school where you cant really understand what they are telling you and they cant care less of who you are as a person in a foreign land. most of the poems are ni
Sep 25, 2007
Cynthia
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I'm enjoying this book of poetry immensely. Earlier this summer I aslo read Red Hot Salsa which was also edited by Lori Carlson.
My favorite poems are... Good Hot Dogs by Sandra Cisneros. Niggerlips by Martin Espada is very powerful. The Calling by Luis Rodriguez is a very beautiful piece as well. Love Poem For My People by Pedro Pietri has a line I love If you want to feel very rich look at your hands that is where the definition of magic is located...
My favorite poems are... Good Hot Dogs by Sandra Cisneros. Niggerlips by Martin Espada is very powerful. The Calling by Luis Rodriguez is a very beautiful piece as well. Love Poem For My People by Pedro Pietri has a line I love If you want to feel very rich look at your hands that is where the definition of magic is located...
Feb 14, 2008
Doug
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This is a great book of poetry. The author/editor has picked out some great poems that try to describe the life of South American immigrants into the USA. She does a beautiful job of helping describe their lives, goals and ambitions and also how they often meet pain, frustrations and uncertainty.
My favorite poems are "Learning English" and "Translating Grandfather's House"
My favorite poems are "Learning English" and "Translating Grandfather's House"
Sep 02, 2008
Crystal
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Cool Salsa expresses many aspects of the Latino culture including family ties, celebrations, sorrows, and diversity. The poems share an assortment of vibrant flavors. Some poems are in English, some in Spanish and some have a mixture of both, but translations are provided for most in this spectacular glimpse of Latino life.
Jun 27, 2010
Cynthia
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The poems are full of the sounds, colors, tastes and emotions of Latino life. Reading the poems in both English and Spanish give a new dimension to the experience. It is a wonderful collection that the author followed some ten years later with Hot Salsa.
Jun 27, 2010
Ramona
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I continually return to this little book of poems described as "the sights, sounds, and smells of Latino culture in America" (back cover). There are familiar names here: Sandra Cisneros, Luis J. Rodriguez, Gary Soto, Martin Espada.
Nov 21, 2010
Anita
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Brought memories of my childhood - worries, sadness, and happiness. This book is a keeper.
Nov 11, 2010
Anita P.
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I really enjoyed reading all the poems in this book. I think many kids could find pieces of their families in these poems.
May 30, 2009
Carolyn
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Bilingual poetry, how cool is that? Not to mention it gives my highschool spanish a work out.
Dec 10, 2007
Melissa
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This was a book of poems I had to read for my master's program... I'm glad I did. :)
Feb 15, 2011
Milagros
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I really liked all the poems in this book. They appear in both English and Spanish.
Feb 15, 2011
Mary
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Should be read by all. Fantastic culture jumps from the pages all about our families.
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