Monday, April 8, 2019

Review: GETTING TO REAL by Doris Rangel



Viva, San Antonio!



At her reluctance, Jennifer decided to take her mother in, which, therefore, made her hire a contractor to remodel and expand her home.



“Until her mother moved in, her life was perfect. She loved her job. She loved her house. She loved the things in her house. What more could she ask?” (11)



Gabriel Trujillo, one of the crew members working on the house, never could figure out “what was it about brown skin that made some Anglos judgmental and afraid?” (14)



What surprised Jennifer the most was that Gabriel didn’t seem to recognize her. After all, she hadn’t seen him in 10 years.



Story was easygoing, quaint, and relatable. As a Latina, I enjoyed the Hispanic culture as not much of it is featured in works of fiction. For me, it is a real treat. I am forever always seeking out Latino themes and characters in books.



Writing was well-versed and modest. The pace was rather slow as the two engage in bi-cultural jabs and racial misconstructions. Although I wasn’t that captivated by their story, it was still nice to see them get along despite their differences.  I think most Latinos would be able to relate to Gabriel—the directionless “bad boy” that actually showed potential and a real gift. Reading the past events showcasing Gabriel’s academic challenges and a teacher that never gave up on him was reminiscent of Jaime Escalente and his calculus class. Gabriel needed to “stand and deliver.”



Full of drama and quiet emotion. A touching, multicultural tale on the two-edge sword of pride.



My rating: 3 stars

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