Demetria Martinez

FROM AMAZON: In 1988, poet, journalist, and activist Demetria Martinez was indicted on charges of conspiracy for helping Salvadorans escape their country. After she was acquitted, she began writing Mother Tongue. The result is the powerful story of a young woman's efforts to help a people who were routinely "disappeared" by their government.

A nameless El Salvadoran man, fleeing torture and imprisonment, arrives in the United States - his only hope for asylum. The American woman who has volunteered to help him is searching for something to add meaning to her life. When these two lonely people meet, their haunting relationship fulfills their hearts' desires, but it also gives life to their darkest dreams.… (más)

The main thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that it was written in both Spanish and English. The beginning of the book contained a glossary with Spanish words and their English translation. This book could be used in both an English class during a Social Studies unit, or a Spanish class to teach vocabulary. The length of this book was longer than I expected, and would definitely be used for higher primary grades. I didn't enjoy the pictures because I didn't think they enhanced the story very much. While the text is in both English and Spanish, the English portion still contains some Spanish words. The pictures could have been used to help reinforce concepts and words that students may have had difficulty with, but a lot of the pictures were similar with the same color schemes and did not reflect on the action going on in the book. The characters were believable and realistic, but I did think the story went on a bit too long. Overall, I think it was a clever book that was a positive representation of Hispanic culture.… (más)

This book is a story about a burnt tortilla, and how children’s imaginations can be powerful and creative as they conjure up several images in the tortilla’s scorched markings. There are several aspects of this book that I like, but I am disappointed with the irrelevance of some of the illustrations to the text. To start, I like how the entire story is written in both English and Spanish. Opposing pages are completely filled with text in both languages, with one illustration that usually ties them together. I like how there is a glossary at the beginning of the book, which defines Spanish words that are used in the story such as anteojos, lumber, and zacate. I like how the reader needs to use context to understand the meaning of certain Spanish words. Hijitos, which I have deduced is an affectionate term for “grandchildren” or “kids”, is used throughout the book in both the English and Spanish text, but not defined in the glossary. Unfortunately, I found myself a little confused with some of the illustrations. On pages 4 and 5, the illustration is of a rat being chased by a cat, being chased by a dog, being chased by another rat. Of all that is written about on those pages, the only text having anything to do with animals is when Grandpa states “Our barnyard animals need breakfast, too.” The illustration on these pages, to me, stretches mightily to match the story.… (más)

score! 50c op shop find today.

Lyrical & poetic, it's like silk and barb wire caressing your heart. Brings to life the heartache of refugees from El Salvador and the war there in the 80's. Based partly on the authors experiences helping the underground railroad of refugees out of El Salvador, it's an easy and quick read. Contains poetry from various Latin Americans and is written via the voices of several characters and three generations and at it's heart is love and justice. Most of the details of the politics and atrocities cited are true although woven around the fictional characters. If you know nothing of the horrors committed in the Salvadoran civil war....the film "Salvador" (1986) directed by Oliver Stone & starring James Wood, is a good place to start. (if you get the DVD version with extras the 62 minute documentary "Into the Valley of Death" is also insightful. While the Salvadoran war fades into history the impact of that still resonates today with the people it has touched. With so many countries tightening their borders these days (including Australia against the influx of "boat people") one has to reflect back on situations like El Salvador and be mindful that we don't cast all refugees into an enemy role.… (más)