Almost a Woman by Esmerelda Santiago

Santiago, E. (1999). Almost a Woman. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 9780306820823 

 

Plot Summary 

Almost a Woman follows Santiago's When I Was Puerto Rican.  Santiago is now in New York living in a tenement with her mother, grandmother, and seven siblings.  Her father remained in Puerto Rico, and the conditions that she is living in in New York make her yearn to be back there.  Santiago is accepted into New York's Performing Arts High School, where she is able to express herself, playing the lead of Cleopatra in a play.  This jars with how she spends her time not at school, translating for her mother at all her appointments, including at the welfare office.  Despite not being allowed to date, Santiago asserts herself and sneaks away as she attempts to stake out her own identity.

Critical Evaluation 

Santiago sets up the conflict of a dual identity as she is a Puerto Rican daughter who must help her mother at home and in the city, but she is also a New Yorker, yearning to embrace this new adolescent identity.  She is continually torn between her Puerto Rican heritage and New York sensibilities as she becomes a young adult.  She finds a balance, but it is not easy, and it leads to conflicts with her mother, something that will be familiar to teen readers.

Reader's Annotation 

New to New York from Puerto Rico, Esmerelda Santiago must help her family acclimate as she struggles to find her place in the city

Author Information 

Santiago was porn in Puerto Rico in 1948.  Prior to the events in this book, Esmerelda Santiago moved around Puerto Rico with her family, usually in extreme poverty.  In New York, she eventually graduated from the Performing Arts High School and went on to graduate from Harvard.

She started writing when she worked as a documentary filmmaker, writing several biographies chronicling different periods in her life as well as historical and contemporary fiction.  There is a film version of Almost a Woman that was produced for PBS (Esmerelda).

Genre

Non-fiction, autobiography

Curriculum Ties 

History-Social Science, Reading and Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas 

As one of Esmerelda's siblings, describe seeing her taking on a lot of responsibility at home and at school, highlighting her struggle and sympathizing that she must do those things as the eldest sibling.

Reading Level/Interest Age 

Almost a Woman measures a 1030L on the Lexile Range.  It is a bit more complicated than some other book in this library and would likely appeal to ages 16-18.

Challenge Issues 

Not applicable, but if challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.

Reason Selected
Non-fiction selections always seem difficult for me, but this one, with its true coming-of-age story is an easy recommendation for young adults as there should be something for them to relate to.

References 

Esmerelda Santiago. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 2, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esmeralda_Santiago