Hoyt Street: An Autobiography

by Mary Helen Ponce

The author recounts her life growing up in a Mexican-American neighborhood in Pacoima, California

338 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1993

Reviews

[Judy M Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expansive, highly detailed view of one Chicana's childhood in the 1940s. In Pacoima, San Fernando Valley. Quite wonderful. It could have a better narrative flow, sometimes as a reader I wanted to know more clearly what each chapter's tale was about. Otherwise at times the level of detail can overwhelm. Nevertheless, an impressive memory book with scenes described to a tee and memorable old ladies, the viejitas, and the big sisters. As I read I thought of my grandparents, all Mexican Anerican and living in Los Angeles city at the same time. My parents would likely be the same age as the author. I felt at home in this book

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best memoirs I've ever read.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Helen Ponce tells of a happy barrio life in pre and WWII era Pacoimo, CA, near Los Angeles. It is her own story, telling of her parents' coming to live in the United States from Mexico, her many brothers and sisters, some born in Mexico, those who died and those who lived. Life was not perfect in the barrio, but it was a secure place of comfort and acceptance and much love even with the conditions she was sometimes embarrassed by. The memoir chronicles her life until early teens and it is written with a child-like honesty and matter-of-factness. She tells of migrant children, pachucos and pachucas and everyone on either side. The details she remembers are AMAZING! The Catholic Church was a major factor in her life and I love her depiction of Fr. Mueller, the "German-American priest who spoke Spanish by choice. He smiled a lot and never stopped working." He was modern and the girls all saw him as "hep"; in reality he was an innovator and a great influence on the community. I also love the "Trinidads", three women who lived at the Church! I feel as though I know well all the people in little Mary's life. She had some wonderful teachers too; however, all was far from perfection. The "Others" were "out to sanitize, Americanize, and delice us," is one school memory. She also says, "our generation of Mexican-Americans was intimidated by the Anglo world, especially at school; where at times we felt like second-class citizens, with our funny customs, hard-to-pronounce names, and bad English." So the community was well aware of prejudice but this story does not dwell on it and certainly does not come from a bitter place, rather it comes from her fond memory of Hoyt Street. This is a light-hearted, often funny, important memoir.