better late than never...

im really captured by this story and especially the bluntess as to how it is told. This novel, although coming from a distinct hybrid point of view, is actually something a lot of immigrants can relate to. Having immigrated twice i can relate to all the girls in a sense, and the problems they've gone through. From traditional ethnic values to religion, all of these topics play an important role in the upbringing of a child, and especially when that child goes through adolescense. When children and parents grow up in different worlds, points of view are going to clash. Also i found that losing and reviving your heritage is an important theme in this novel. A lot of novels that we've covered have been about being in lost in between two worlds and not finding oneself, and although this book can relate to it, i find that the women go through a process of self realization. yolanda with wanting to be called yolanda and not any of her nicknames. I think the hardest thing with children and parents from different worlds is understanding the cultures. We see when different themes are brought up like dating, sex, babies, drugs, and even being immersed into the "white" world. my parents still dont understand anything. and even if they're white they havent got a clue about "north american" cutltural norms and they've lived her for 15 years.