Currently, I’m reading a quasi-, semi-fictional memoir – I’m paraphrasing the author’s own words – about a Mexican American family road trip from Chicago to Mexico City.   I bought a Spanish-version, used copy of Sandra Cisneros’s novel Caramelo here on the streets of Mexicali.  In English the title is Caramelo.  Jaja.  I already had that one on my shelves.   I’m about 140 pages deep – in two languages – and I now think the title refers to the color and texture of the special silk rebozos Sandra’s grandmother used to weave with her ink-stained fingers.  According to Sandra these rebozos were wound so fine that a complete garment could slide through the open band of a wedding ring.   Or, if you dig deeper into the novel, the title might describe the skin of a young daughter of a Mexican washerwoman. Sandra’s (semi-fictional)  Mexican grandmother treated the poor girl with all the love and respect you would show for a mangy street dog.  Sandra’s narrator constantly refers to the grandmother as la abuela enojona.  It’s self-evident why.  The narrator’s name is Lala, and she believes the skin of the young girl is so creamy and beautiful, that it makes you sick just to look at it.  This novel is so fun, and Sandra’s descriptions are so breathtaking – I’m sure there will be much more Caramelo on the pages ahead. 

But, I’m not writing a book report here. I'm looking for a class novel that will have an impact on the hearts and minds of my students. Many of them may share in the same experiences that Sandra weaves throughout her book. From the first pages, the Reyes family of Chicago packs up the house and heads south to Mexico City for the summer.  For Lala – her real name is Ceyala – the trip is an eye opener to her past. There is a lot of candy, tearful music, and the unraveling of deep, dark secrets. How could there not be?  Brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins are practically sitting upon one another in the car for 12-16 hours at a time. Over time Lala learns a lot about her family that she didn't know before, and a whole lot more about herself. 

We are midway through the semester, and my students are writing their community profiles.  I’ve encouraged them to begin with someone they know from their lives that will lead them to a larger issue.  I read student assignments for hours on a nightly basis.  I’m seeing intimate knowledge about the challenge of running small business, raising special-needs children, drug and alcohol abuse, single parenthood, etc.  I have more than a few “Sandras” in the class that write abut families living on both sides of the border.  We’re writing bout racism, sexism and social justice.   The personal nature of their writing brings important meaning to our class discussion boards.  After the semester, I hope my students will figure out a way to save their writing in a safe place.  I will do my best to publish their work in a professional journal. They may want to revise and reshape this writing years from now when they are ready to write their memoirs.

It's hard to choose a nice sample from this book to share.  There are so many! I have a feeling when Sandra first began writing this book, she may not have had the clearest idea where she was going, but I’m happy she integrated historical perspective.  We all need it.  Several chapters are dedicated to family stories reaching back to the Mexican Revolution. From the detailed descriptions and familiar dialogue, it’s clear the author did her research.  If I ever have the opportunity to read a few excerpts in class, I can see how the mention of the historical figures in this book might connect with my students.  My students will not recognize the name of Bette Davis – Que Lastima for Them – but Sandra refers to the legendary actor in a brief discussion of the first and only full-blooded Indian to rule Mexico   The name of Mexico's first president, Benito Juarez, is also the name of Mexicali's busiest boulevard.  I drive home from work everyday down a street called Madero.   Bette enters the conversation for having starred in Hollywood film production Juarez with Paul Muni and John Garfield.  Bette was awesome  – isn't she always – playing Carlota the wife of Emperor Maximiliano.  Paul Muni plays el presidente, and John Garfield is Porfirio Diaz.  Below, I've uploaded a clip from Youtube to show how two dark-skinned Jews saved Mexico's democracy.  Viva Juarez!  Viva Sandra!