Category: Class Novel
Author: Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango
Publisher/Year: Delacorte / 2011
Genre: International, Young Adult
Pages: 368pp
Summary: Virginia lives in the mountains outside of Quito, Equador. Her family is very poor. They live in a dirt hut on a plantation working for a Spanish "Mestizo" landowner. Her family gives her to a different Mestizo family to work as a maid/nanny but there is never any money transaction made. Virginia grows up as a child-slave in this family's home until she is old enough to stand up for herself and get out of the situation. While she lives there she endures lots of abuse and yet she secretly teaches herself to read and studies every book that comes into the house. Later she learns to embrace her culture and be proud of her people despite the experiences she's had.
Comments: This was an excellent book. It was heartbreaking to read about Virginia's experiences and yet so inspiring. She is truly and amazing woman with an incredible story. Each memory and vignette contributed to create a wonderful story. I could see the whole thing so clearly in my head from the honey oozing out of her family's dirt walls, the bumpy sacks filled with wiggling hamsters, and the teeth bits stuck on Doctorita's dentist tools.
Classroom Application:
Lexile: 890L
Age:
This would be an excellent book to talk about Identity and Image. Virginia struggles with who she is and what culture to identify her with. Who you feel you are is sometimes different than how other people see you as well.
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