América Is Her Name

by Luis J. Rodríguez

Set in the Pilsen barrio of Chicago, this children's picture book gives a heartwarming message of hope. The heroine, América, is a primary school student who is unhappy in school until a poet visits the class and inspires the students to express themselves creatively--in Spanish or English. América Is Her Name emphasizes the power of individual creativity in overcoming a difficult environment and establishing self-worth and identity through the young girl América's desire and determination to be a writer. This story deals realistically with the problems in urban neighborhoods and has an upbeat theme: you can succeed in spite of the odds against you. Carlos Vázquez's inspired four-color illustrations give a vivid sense of the barrio, as well as the beauty and strength of the young girl América.

Genres: Picture Books, Immigration, Fiction, Childrens, Writing, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

About the author

Luis J. Rodríguez (b. 1954) is a poet, journalist, memoirist, and author of children’s books, short stories, and novels. His documentation of urban and Mexican immigrant life has made him one of the most prominent Chicano literary voices in the United States. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican immigrant parents, Rodríguez grew up in Los Angeles, where in his teen years he joined a gang, lived on the streets, and became addicted to heroin. In his twenties, after turning his back on gang violence and drugs, Rodríguez began his career as a journalist and then award-winning poet, writing such books as the memoir Always Running (1993), and the poetry collections The Concrete River (1991), Poems Across the Pavement (1989), and Trochemoche (1998). He has also written the short story collection The Republic of East L.A. (2002). Rodríguez maintains an arts center, bookstore, and poetry press in L.A., where he continues writing and working to mediate gang violence.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring book for children. This is the story of a Mixteca girl int he barrios of Chicago who one day learns to be a poet. The poetry is her escape, and the tale covers that as well as includes vibrant pictures. A good inspirational story and perhaps a good way to provide a window or mirror reflection into parts of immigrant life.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

America is a nine year old girl Mixteca girl growing up in her Chicago neighborhood. She and her family face the everyday struggles of financial difficulties, violence in the streets, and adjusting to their new home. When a poet visits America's class, she realizes that writing poetry can be her outlet of escape. Writing allows America to realize that her life can be more than just taking care of a home and a family-it can be whatever she dreams of.

América es una niña mixteca de nueve años que crece en su barrio de Chicago. Ella y su familia enfrentan las luchas diarias de las dificultades financieras, la violencia en las calles y la adaptación a su nuevo hogar. Cuando un poeta visita la clase de Estados Unidos, se da cuenta de que escribir poesía puede ser su vía de escape. Escribir le permite a Estados Unidos darse cuenta de que su vida puede ser algo más que cuidar un hogar y una familia: puede ser cualquier cosa con la que sueñe.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful family story about creativity and bravery.

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this story about a girl who moves to Pilsen and the language barrier, judgement, and difficulty of assimilating to a new culture. Would have loved to use this when I taught in Pilsen!

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

America is Her Name is a beautiful story about a young girl who finds writing and poetry to be the perfect outlet for expressing herself and being her authentic self.

[Lauren Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Within the first few pages, I questioned if this story was appropriate for children and offered anything more than a crude situation. Between the father who works in the factory all night, the uncle that is always drinking, and a [potential] gang member who turns the corner and shoots without explained reason, I was ready to put the book down. Something told me to keep reading, and I’m glad I did. Although I would probably not read this to any grade below 3rd, for developing minds it is an inspiring story of a little girl trying to find her voice and purpose in a new city. She does not have support from family nor her teacher, yet she perseveres with the help of a guest teacher who believes that her poetry is special and worth pursuing. Upon revealing her new found passion of writing poetry, her father immediately shut her down saying that she needs to learn how to cook and clean. After engaging her mother and brothers in poetry, she gets 100% on a writing assignment at school which finally gets the attention of her father and he affirms her gift and passion for poetry America, the little girl, overcomes her problem of feeling like she does not belong or fit in in her new city of Chicago by finding an outlet she enjoys and that makes her feel accepted. The author, Luis J. Rodriguez has a background working with gang members and helping them develop a better life. Carlos Vazquez, the author, was raised in Mexico, now teaching in an adult bilingual program.

[WhizKid · Rating 1 out of 5]

On cover, "It is not enough to prepare our children for the world; we also must prepare the world for our children." - Rodriguez


Appearance- Unlike colorful, bright illustration the text seems dull and plain (Times New Romans in white background). I do not like layout/style of text at all. There is an image of a bird on every page near America(Mixteca Indian) except on the very first page where she seems to flying off the ground with pig and goat which represent times she lived in the mountains of Oaxaca. I think the bird represents something like her home.


Content- She repeatedly asks, "Will this be my life" when looking around her surroundings (the Pilsen barrio in Chicago). In her ESL class, Miss Gable(typical annoyed teacher) invited Mr.Aponte which is the turning point of the story. He is a poet who gave America a chance to speak her original voice. He also mentioned Spanish language poets such as Julia de Burgos, Pablo Neruda, Federico Garcia Lorca and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. America is inspired to write poetry every night at a kitchen table which naturally brings her families member together.

"Some people say Mixteca girl doesn't belong here. A poet, America knows, belongs everywhere.

[Chanel Mcgowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young Mixteca Indian girl named America loves to write. She finds inspiration in her everyday life. Her father discourages her writing, but her mother and uncle encourage her writing. They believe she can do big things with her words. She has a lot of potential as a writer and loves to write. I have mixed feelings about this book. I did not like the violence in it at all I felt that it was unnecessary. But at the same time the author could have been trying to display how unsafe the area she lived in was. Even then, I did not think that was the way to go about it. I also was not a huge fan of the illustrations. I can appreciate all of the bright colors since that is part of that particular culture but I did not like the lack of detail. Also, it was very frustrating to see the bird on every page and have no explanation as to why it was there. I do not think I would use this in my classroom because I feel like other books could do a better job of teaching the lesson. I believe the lesson the book was trying to teach is that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.

[Christian Espinoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

La llaman America is the story of an immigrant girl from Oaxaca, Mexico. The story follows this child as she is faced with negative stereotypes, begins to learn English and finds ways to escape the violence that lurks around Chicago streets. This strong willed child finds an outlet for her difficult transition through writing but quickly finds out that her love for writing is not supported by everyone. This book is in Spanish and was a great depiction of how hard some children have it when they first move to the United States. The illustrations have a very urban feel which compliments the urban setting. The book is a great read for anyone who is interesting in the emotional distress an immigrant child faces.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

The message of this book is simple..and well thought out, however, as a person who grew up in this neighborhood, and works there, I would not recommend it to any of my students. Why? it does not reflect them. I had my 11 year old niece, who is also growing up in Pilsen, read it, just to make sure I was not just being judgmental, and she felt that it did not relate to her. It felt like a the author only used the neighborhood as a background without really researching it- the words of an 11 year old!

[Sue Pak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named America, who hates going to school. One day a poet comes in as a guest speaker and motivates her to write in Spanish (or English). This book is great, because ELLs as well as every child can appreciate writing as a way to express themselves. The story also takes place in Chicago and talks about the problems they have there. Children may not live in the most perfect environment, and this book really shows a mode of escape.

[Alissa Jelke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very realistic and thought provoking book about a Mexican immigrant trying to find her place in America. There are many forces working against her, but writing becomes an outlet for her as well as a way out. The book can be used for a huge range of topics such as identity, acceptance, drug use, violence, education, family and immigration.

[Julie Gallegos]

Children would really like this book. Pictures are beautiful. It's a story about a Mexican-American girl and how culture impacts the views of her generation.

[veroniica:)]

I think this book is all about ummmm respecting others and umm being nice n jus dint think the neggative things but possitives things

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think that discrimintion is bad to others.

[Pizza_Food :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

DON'T TEASE PEOPLE CULTURE.

[tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

to not give up

[Michael D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for providing ESOL students with the self-esteem needed to rise above some of the challenges of acculturation and language barriers. I trully enjoyed this book!!

[Diana Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best children's books written in the last decade. I have recommended
it to the school librarians in my area as a must order..