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CG ShopAmor and Summer Secret's Book Review |
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| Written by CG Girl |
| Friday, 09 October 2009 20:28 |
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Book Review for Diana Rodriguez-Wallace’s Amor and Summer Secret’s Diana Rodriguez Wallach has written a tale of culture, unexpected friendship, and summer romance. Published by Kensington Publishing, Diana’s debut novel follows the journey of her fifteen-year-old protagonist Mariana Ruiz as she spends the summer, by parental mandate, with distant relatives in Puerto Rico. The title Amor and Summer Secrets gives the reader a hint of the novel’s bicultural theme. Diana, like any good writer, must write about what she knows because Mariana’s father is Puerto Rican and her mother is Polish, just like her own parents. Although Mariana only relates to the culture of her predominately white suburb Spring Hills, PA. She doesn’t even know of her Puerto Rican familia until the summer her parents ship Mariana and her older, more rebellious brother Vince off to live with them for the entire summer. To Mariana, this means missing her best friend Madison Fox’s sweet-sixteen birthday blowout to spend her summer freedom with people who don’t even speak English! When she arrives in Puerto Rico, she meets her fifteen-year-old cousin Lilly, the only English-speaking relative. It isn’t all fun and games at the beginning; Mariana struggles to let go of her life in Spring Mills. While Rodriguez-Wallach’s narrative includes the usual love and friendship topics, she provides a setting of juxtaposed cultures that pulls the reader into Mariana’s life, and lets you ride her rollercoaster of a summer. Diana develops Mariana’s character not only by introducing her to new experiences, new language, and new food, but also by allowing her to experience different rites of passage from different cultures. Mariana misses her best friend’s sweet-sixteen bash (just wait until you read it, you’ll be mad you missed it too!), but in turn, she experiences her cousin Lilly’s Quinceañera. Spending time immersed in this different culture, Marina begins to accept Puerto Rico as a part of her; she stops believing Spring Mills is the center of the world. These experiences, doubled with the truth Mariana uncovers about her family’s past, makes her summer full of unexpected twists and turns. Diana introduces Mariana as a typical teenager spending time talking to friends on the phone, going to concerts, and dealing with annoying siblings. By the end of the story, she brings Mariana to the point in young adulthood when she realizes there is more to life than her daily routine, that her parents aren’t always right, and that sometimes she will have to open herself up, do something unexpected, in order to really experience all life has to offer. Diana Rodriguez-Wallach created relatable characters, drama et al, an undulating story, and lessons that will be taken to the heart. The best part of the story is that it doesn’t end when you’re done with the book! There are sequels--Amigas and School Scandals came out in November, and Adios to All the Drama is hot off the press January 2009. But be sure to pick up Amor and Summer Secrets first for $9.95. I totally recommend you go out and buy this book; it’s perfect to help start planning for your next summer! Mucho Gracias Diana for a great read!! -Rachel Classen |
