Puppet: A Chicano Novella

by Margarita Cota-Cárdenas, Barbara D. Riess (Translator), Trino Sandoval (Translator)

Originally published in Spanish and now in its first bilingual edition, Puppet is a complex, challenging, and ultimately compelling narrative. It tells the story of Petra (Pat) Leyva and how she comes to terms with the murder of Puppet, a Chicano youth, and the subsequent police cover-up. Already an underground classic, Puppet will appeal to readers interested in the politics of the Chicano movement and in racial and feminist politics in the United States. The bilingual edition will be welcomed by professors who teach American Studies, Chicano Studies, and Chicana literature.
"Breaches not only new but unique directions in the Chicano novel."--Francisco A. Lomelí, University of California, Santa Barbara
"They will be talking about Puppet for years to come."--Juan Rodríguez, Texas Lutheran University

Paperback

First published June 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first glance, Puppet is a confusing narrative, switching between tense, realities and narrators. Whilst some may find this a negative, this is a clear formal presentation of the protagonist Petra’s inner turmoil. The fragmented narrative reflects the fragmented mental stability and identity of the young chicana who is struggling with issues of nationality, race, and gender. A good read - my only complaint would be that the bilingual version seems to have a purely marketing purpose, as the Spanish phrases are 99% of the time repetitions of the English, placed directly after the corresponding phrase, rather than a true reflection of code-switching used by Spanish-English speakers.

[Josh Massey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very difficult read, but nonetheless, a very rewarding glimpse into Chicano/a culture and literature.