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School Library Journal
Reviewed on June 1, 2011
Gr 7–10—Doris is the 15-year-old "not-beautiful, not-really-ugly" child of musically gifted Puerto Rican parents. She lives in the barrio of Paterson, NJ, at the far edge of the Nuyorican dream. Her escape is the rooftop, where she discusses dreams with Doña Iris and cares for the pigeons left behind when Don Juan Pablo died. Doris's mother, a talented but volatile singer, has abruptly left the family and her father travels often, promoting and playing in bands. Doris looks after herself well ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
Horn Book Magazine
Reviewed on May 1, 2011
Fifteen-year-old Doris, the "not-beautiful, not-really-ugly only child of salseros," grew up in a world of stale beer and cigarette butts, always brought along when her parents' salsa band played clubs. Mami, the "Puerto Rican tornado," hopes to hit the big time in Nueva York with her fast-talking entrepreneur of a husband, but she finds the New Jersey barrio where they end up constraining and returns t...Log In or Sign Up to Read More
