By Robert J. Alvarado
Publisher: Sunstone Press (Sante Fe)

The author begins with a preface detailing the castration and shooting of two Mexican men by ruthless and rowdy cowboys – an excellent start to grab the reader’s attention from the onset! Read more ›

By Monica Brown
Illustrations by Sara Palacios
Publisher: Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee & Row Books, Inc. (New York)

Overview:

Monica Brown has done it again. She has created another magnificent Children’s book that will delight the reader from the beginning to the end. It is a wonderful book that takes the reader on an eight-year old girl’s birthday journey with a modern and inventive twist for an almost-impossible wish. Read more ›

This story is fiction; however, the author indicates he was inspired to write this book after reading the study “Trafficking in Puerto Rico: An Invisible Challenge” by César A. Rey Hernández, Ph.D and Luisa Hernández Angueira, Ph.D. According to the author, many of the crimes and the raids on slum communities for this story were depicted from this study as well as the use of articles from the newspaper “El Nuevo Dia” and Wapa TV. The author’s roots are in Utuado and Fajardo, Puerto Rico, which gives him great insight into the culture and settings for his book. Read more ›

As I read the book’s title, I assumed I would be reading a book full of suspense and the author delivered. I was immediately taken into a story filled with intrigue, a twist turning plot, and intricate characters that kept me biting my nails to the very end. Remember that old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover?” It this case, you must. The title is captivating and right in line with the rest of the book. I should have guessed as it appears that the author caught the writing bug by discovering Edgar Allan Poe at the age of twelve. Read more ›

This E-book is a culmination of thirteen short stories capturing the experiences of undocumented immigrants as they navigate their lives through a winding network of employment, schools, unscrupulous lawyers, not understanding English, and much disappointment. Read more ›

Mundo Cruel is a 91 page book containing nine short stories detailing sadness, absurdity, cynicism, and moments of compassion in a small community of Puerto Rico. Although the stories carry a gay theme, the author does a great job of not making it the main focus, but rather weaves it into the stories as an aside. What stands out is the overall human familiarity of people caught up in the everyday pulse of life.

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The author does a great job of telling a story about a little girl who is curious to learn about her mother’s age and birth. The story is told using poetry, rhyme, as well as the use of Mexican American history. Read more ›

This book, scheduled to be out in March 2013, is a superb book addressing bullying in our school system. At first, the title draws you in and as you begin reading the first chapter, it continues to deliver. It depicts a slice of life that some of us can identify with; beginning a new school year and not being part of the ‘in’ crowd. To add to this disaster, a kid you don’t even know wants to ‘Kick your Ass.’ If this isn’t a formula for a good story, I don’t know what is. Read more ›

The author has created a great fiction story around the 1970 death of the famed LA Times reporter Rubén Salazar. A year later, the fictional character Alejandra Marisol is tasked with writing a commemorative article on him. The story immediately becomes interesting and the plot takes on a life of its own. Quickly the reader is introduced to sinister characters and events and the intrigue thickens. The story does begin a little on the slow side, but then it picks up speed and you can’t put it down. The author does a great job of using this specific event to tell another story that is darker than the death of Mr. Salazar – if you can imagine that! Read more ›

These three women have put together a wonderful cookbook detailing Mexican Cuisine recipes that have been passed down through generations. This book would clearly stand up against some of the greats that we’ve all come to love throughout the ages such as the “Betty Crocker’s Cookbook” or “The Joy of Cooking.” It is as wonderful as the “Wheat Belly Cookbook,” or “The Italian Slow Cooker,” on various bestseller lists for 2012 and 2013. Why this book hasn’t been included on one of these lists is beyond me. Read more ›