Us, in Progress: Short Stories about Young Latinos

by Lulu Delacre

The emphasis across this collection is on diversity of Latino experiences. The 12... read more

The emphasis across this collection is on diversity of Latino experiences. The 12 older children and teens in the 12 stories represent a number of different cultural backgrounds. All of them are living in the United States, although the specifics of their lives vary widely, from middle class to striving poor; from those whose families have been here for generations to those born here with parents who are undocumented to those who are undocumented themselves. Immigration status is a focus of some but not all of the stories, while family is a constant theme. Compelling, believable characters and situations make for stories that will be relatable to a wide-ranging audience, while Delacre’s haunting pencil portrait of each protagonist embodies her hopes: “The portraits give faces to the many young Latinos who are often invisible to mainstream America and who experience challenges similar to those described in the stories.” End matter includes notes on each story, providing context about the situation each character faces, and an English translation of the Spanish refrane at the start of each story (a succinct summary statement, almost like a moral). (Age 11 and older)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2018

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