In the Name of Salome

( "The story of my life starts with the story of my count...)

"The story of my life starts with the story of my country... ." Thus begins Julia Alvarez's epic fictional account of the real-life Salomé Ureña-the "Emily Dickinson of the Dominican Republic." Born in the 1850s, in a time of intense political repression and turmoil, Salomé's fervent patriotic poems turned her-at seventeen-into a national icon. In the Name of Salomé is equally the story of Salomé's daughter, Camila, who grows up in exile, in the shadow of her mother's legend. Shy and self-effacing, Camila's life is in stark contrast to Salomé's. While her mother dedicated her brief life to educating Dominican girls to serve their struggling new nation, Camila spent her career explaining the Spanish pluperfect to upper-class American girls. But when, at age sixty-six, Camila makes a decision to leave her comfortable life behind and join Castro's revolution in Cuba, she begins a journey to make peace with her past-and bring the lives of two remarkable women full circle. Spanning more than a century, In the Name of Salomé proves Alvarez equally adept at capturing the sweep of history and the most intimate details of women's lives and hearts. It is Alvarez's richest and most inspiring novel to date.

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Saving the World (Shannon Ravenel Books (Paperback))

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In the Time of the Butterflies

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How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

(The Garcías—Dr. Carlos (Papi), his wife Laura (Mami), ...)

The Garcías—Dr. Carlos (Papi), his wife Laura (Mami), and their four daughters, Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofía—belong to the uppermost echelon of Spanish Caribbean society, descended from the conquistadores. Their family compound adjoins the palacio of the dictator’s daughter. So when Dr. García’s part in a coup attempt is discovered, the family must flee. They arrive in New York City in 1960 to a life far removed from their existence in the Dominican Republic. Papi has to find new patients in the Bronx. Mami, far from the compound and the family retainers, must find herself. Meanwhile, the girls try to lose themselves—by forgetting their Spanish, by straightening their hair and wearing fringed bell bottoms. For them, it is at once liberating and excruciating being caught between the old world and the new, trying to live up to their father’s version of honor while accommodating the expectations of their American boyfriends. Acclaimed writer Julia Alvarez’s brilliant and buoyant first novel sets the García girls free to tell their most intimate stories about how they came to be at home—and not at home—in America.

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Finding Miracles

(MILLY KAUFMAN IS an ordinary American teenager living in ...)

MILLY KAUFMAN IS an ordinary American teenager living in Vermont—until she meets Pablo, a new student at her high school. His exotic accent, strange fashion sense, and intense interest in Milly force her to confront her identity as an adopted child from Pablo’s native country. As their relationship grows, Milly decides to undertake a courageous journey to her homeland and along the way discovers the story of her birth is intertwined with the story of a country recovering from a brutal history. Beautifully written by reknowned author Julia Alvarez, Finding Miracles examines the emotional complexity of familial relationships and the miracles of everyday life. From the Hardcover edition. Book Details: • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: 5/9/2006 • Pages: 288 • Reading Level: Age 12 and Up

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Once Upon a Quinceanera: Coming of Age in the USA

(Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a “p...)

Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, a “phenomenal, indispensable” (USA Today) exploration of the Latina “sweet fifteen” celebration, by the bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of Butterflies The quinceañera, a celebration of a Latina girl’s fifteenth birthday, has become a uniquely American trend. This lavish party with ball gowns, multi-tiered cakes, limousines, and extravagant meals is often as costly as a prom or a wedding. But many Latina girls feel entitled to this rite of passage, marking a girl’s entrance into womanhood, and expect no expense to be spared, even in working-class families. Acclaimed author Julia Alvarez explores the history and cultural significance of the “quince” in the United States, and the consequences of treating teens like princesses. Through her observations of a quince in Queens, interviews with other quince girls, and the memories of her own experience as a young immigrant, Alvarez presents a thoughtful and entertaining portrait of a rapidly growing multicultural phenomenon, and passionately emphasizes the importance of celebrating Latina womanhood.

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Where Do They Go?

(Bestselling novelist (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Acc...)

Bestselling novelist (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents) and children's (The Tia Lola Stories) author Julia Alvarez's new picture book is a beautifully crafted poem for children that gently addresses the emotional side of death. The book asks, "When somebody dies, where do they go? / Do they go where the wind goes when it blows? ... Do they wink back at me when I wish on a star? Do they whisper, 'You're perfect, just as you are'? ..." Illustrated by Vermont woodcut artist, Sabra Field, Where Do They Go? is a beautiful and comforting meditation on death, asking questions young readers might have about what happens to those they love after they die. A Spanish-language edition of the book, ¿Donde va a parar?, is available in paperback.

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De cómo las muchachas García perdieron el acento (Spanish Edition)

(Cuando las hermanas García —Carla, Sandra, Yolanda y Sofí...)

Cuando las hermanas García —Carla, Sandra, Yolanda y Sofía— y sus padres huyen de la República Dominicana buscando refugio de la persecución política, encuentran un nuevo hogar en los Estados Unidos. Pero el Nueva York de los años sesenta es marcadamente diferente de la vida privilegiada, aunque conflictiva, que han dejado atrás. Bajo la presión de asimilarse a una nueva cultura, las muchachas García se alisan el pelo, abandonan la lengua española y se encuentran con muchachos sin una chaperona. Pero por más que intentan distanciarse de su isla natal, las hermanas no logran desprender el mundo antiguo del nuevo.           Lo que las hermanas han perdido para siempre —y lo que logran encontrar— se revela en esta novela magistral de una de las novelistas más celebradas de nuestros tiempos.

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A Wedding in Haiti (Shannon Ravenel Books (Paperback))

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The Woman I Kept to Myself

(The works of this award-winning poet and novelist are ric...)

The works of this award-winning poet and novelist are rich with the language and influences of two cultures: those of the Dominican Republic of her childhood and the America of her youth and adulthood. They have shaped her writing just as they have shaped her life. In these seventy-five autobiographical poems, Alvarez's clear voice sings out in every line. Here, in the middle of her life, she looks back as a way of understanding and celebrating the woman she has become.

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Something to Declare: Essays

(“Julia Alvarez has suitcases full of history (public and ...)

“Julia Alvarez has suitcases full of history (public and private), trunks full of insights into what it means to be a Latina in the United States, bags full of literary wisdom.” —Los Angeles Times From the internationally acclaimed author of the bestselling novels In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents comes a rich and revealing work of nonfiction capturing the life and mind of an artist as she knits together the dual themes of coming to America and becoming a writer. The twenty-four confessional, evocative essays that make up Something to Declare are divided into two parts. “Customs” includes Alvarez’s memories of her family’s life in the Dominican Republic, fleeing from Trujillo’s dictatorship, and arriving in America when she was ten years old. She examines the effects of exile--surviving the shock of New York City life; yearning to fit in; training her tongue (and her mind) to speak English; and watching the Miss America pageant for clues about American-style beauty. The second half, “Declarations,” celebrates her passion for words and the writing life. She lets us watch as she struggles with her art--searching for a subject for her next novel, confronting her characters, facing her family’s anger when she invades their privacy, reflecting on the writers who influenced her, and continually honing her craft. The winner of the National Medal of Arts for her extraordinary storytelling, Julia Alvarez here offers essays that are an inspiring gift to readers and writers everywhere. “This beautiful collection of essays . . . traces a process of personal reconciliation with insight, humor, and quiet power.” —San Francisco Examiner and Chronicle “Reading Julia Alvarez’s new collection of essays is like curling up with a glass of wine in one hand and the phone in the other, listening to a bighearted, wisecracking friend share the hard-earned wisdom about family, identity, and the art of writing.” —People

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How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay (The Tia Lola Stories)

(A delightfully entertaining story of family and culture f...)

A delightfully entertaining story of family and culture from acclaimed author Julia Alvarez. Moving to Vermont after his parents split, Miguel has plenty to worry about! Tía Lola, his quirky, carismática, and maybe magical aunt makes his life even more unpredictable when she arrives from the Dominican Republic to help out his Mami. Like her stories for adults, Julia Alvarez’s first middle-grade book sparkles with magic as it illuminates a child’s experiences living in two cultures. Book Details: • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: 8/13/2002 • Pages: 160 • Reading Level: Age 9 and Up

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Yo!

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Before We Were Free (Laurel-Leaf Books Readers Circle)

(Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in ...)

Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her Tío Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the government’s secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillo’s dictatorship. Using the strength and courage of her family, Anita must overcome her fears and fly to freedom, leaving all that she once knew behind. From renowned author Julia Alvarez comes an unforgettable story about adolescence, perseverance, and one girl’s struggle to be free. From the Hardcover edition. Book Details: • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: 4/13/2004 • Pages: 192 • Reading Level: Age 12 and Up

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Return to Sender

(An award-winning, moving, and timely story about the fami...)

An award-winning, moving, and timely story about the families of undocumented workers by renowned author Julia Alvarez.   After Tyler’s father is injured in a tractor accident, his family is forced to hire migrant Mexican workers to help save their Vermont farm from foreclosure. Tyler isn’t sure what to make of these workers. Are they undocumented? And what about the three daughters, particularly Mari, the oldest, who is proud of her Mexican heritage but also increasingly connected to her American life. Her family lives in constant fear of being discovered by the authorities and sent back to the poverty they left behind in Mexico. Can Tyler and Mari find a way to be friends despite their differences?   In a novel full of hope, but with no easy answers, Julia Alvarez weaves a beautiful and timely story that will stay with readers long after they finish it.   Winner of the Pura Belpré Award Winner of the Américas Award An NCSS-CBC Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies   “A must-read.” —Kirkus Reviews   “Communicates in compassionate and expressive prose the more difficult points of perhaps the most pressing social issue of our day.” —San Antonio Express-News “This timely novel, torn right from the newspaper headlines, conveys a positive message of cooperation and understanding.” —School Library Journal   “The plot is purposive, with messages about the historical connections between migrant workers today and the Indians’ displacement, the Underground Railroad, and earlier immigrants seeking refuge. . . . The questions raised about the meaning of patriotism will spark debate.” —Booklist   “A tender, well-constructed book.” —Publishers Weekly

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The Secret Footprints

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En el tiempo de las mariposas (Spanish Edition)

(In 1960 in the Dominican Republic, three young women from...)

In 1960 in the Dominican Republic, three young women from a pious Catholic family were assassinated after visiting their husbands who had been jailed as suspected rebel leaders. The Mirabal sisters became mythical figures in their country, where they are known as Las Mariposas (the butterflies). Three decades later, Álvarez brings the Mirabal sisters back to life in an extraordinary novel. “Un libro importante… emocionalmente sobrecogedor. Álvarez nos hace un regalo cargado de rara generosidad y coraje.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune Ellas eran las cuatro hermanas Mirabal—símbolos de una esperanza desafiante en un país ensombrecido por la dictadura y la desesperación. Sacrificaron sus vidas, seguras, y confortables, en nombre de la libertad. Ellas eran “las Mariposas,” y en esta novela extraordinaria, Patria, Minerva, Maria Teresa, y Dedé nos cuentan, a través de las décadas, sus propias historias. Desde anécdotas sobre lazos para el pelo y secretos enamoramientos al contrabando de armas y las torturas en la cárcel. Con ellas aprendemos los horrores cotidianos de la vida bajo el dictador dominicano Trujillo. A través del arte y la magia de la aclamada e imaginativa novelista Julia Álvarez, la dramática y vibrante vida de estas martirizadas mariposas toma forma en una historia cálida, brillante y desgarradora en la que se nos muestra el incalculable coste humando derivado de la opresión política. “Un regalo de amor sinfónico y espléndido… un magnífico tesoro para todas las culturas y todos los tiempos… una novela que celebra la corriente de vida que fluye entre las mujeres, conectándolas y dándolas coraje para luchar por la justicia y la resistencia, y corazones para amar y perdonar libremente… Julia Álvarez es una escritora asombrosa.”—St. Petersburg Times “Maravilloso… una narración enriquecedora… entrelaza hábilmente la realidad y la ficción hasta alcanzar un sobrecogedor clímax.”—Newsweek “Una novela con un tremendo poder… un libro bello y valiente.”—West Coast Review of Books

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