Dancing Home
3.5/5
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About this ebook
A year of discoveries culminates in a performance full of surprises, as two girls find their own way to belong.
Mexico may be her parents’ home, but it’s certainly not Margie’s. She has finally convinced the other kids at school she is one-hundred percent American—just like them. But when her Mexican cousin Lupe visits, the image she’s created for herself crumbles.
Things aren’t easy for Lupe, either. Mexico hadn’t felt like home since her father went North to find work. Lupe’s hope of seeing him in the United States comforts her some, but learning a new language in a new school is tough. Lupe, as much as Margie, is in need of a friend.
Little by little, the girls’ individual steps find the rhythm of one shared dance, and they learn what “home” really means. In the tradition of My Name is Maria Isabel—and simultaneously published in English and in Spanish—Alma Flor Ada and her son Gabriel M. Zubizarreta offer an honest story of family, friendship, and the classic immigrant experience: becoming part of something new, while straying true to who you are.
Alma Flor Ada
Alma Flor Ada, an authority on multicultural and bilingual education, is the recipient of the 2012 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and in 2014 she was honored by the Mexican government with the prestigious OHTLI Award. She is the author of numerous award-winning books for young readers, including Dancing Home with Gabriel Zubizarreta, My Name Is María Isabel, Under the Royal Palms (Pura Belpré Medal), Where the Flame Trees Bloom, and The Gold Coin (Christopher Award Medal). She lives in California, and you can visit her at AlmaFlorAda.com.
Read more from Alma Flor Ada
My Name Is Maria Isabel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Love, Amalia Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Dancing Home
26 ratings9 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was amazing! It talks all about the importance of pooping and peeing, and it also talks about internet safety. All of this stuff shows that this book is mature and great!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A lot of heavy things in this book -- divorce, abandonment, one family adopting a cousin from Mexico who doesn't speak English, and the feelings of the girl in the host family as she watches this cousin bond with her parents over a shared culture she feels alienated from. Their friendship/sisterhood blossoms over time, and a shared appreciation for both cultures. Lovely, but slow paced and slightly heavy handed on the lessons to share.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lovely sensitive writing about what it means to be American for a fifth grade student who adjusts to her Mexican cousin moving in to be a fellow student. A bit slow moving with an emphasis on how difficult and slow it can be for a family to adjust to the most obvious problems and feelings. A very optimistic and up-beat middle reader book with lessons on acceptance, forgiving, and learning more after you already know everything.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The arrival of Lupe, Margie's cousin, leads her to realize that she can be an American and be proud of her Mexican heritage, too. A touching family story.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a great book to help with ell students because of the Spanish, yet give students a new view on a different language.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Summary:Margie is a 5th grader who is embarrassed of her Mexican roots and wants to be seen as more "American." This becomes difficult when her cousin from Mexico comes to live with her family. She becomes embarrassed of her cousin while at school, but is jealous of her while at home.Review:This book would be of interest for intermediate multicultural readers. Students of multicultural backgrounds may relate to Margie and find comfort in her reactions during the story. Dancing Home could also be a eye opening tool for children without a multicultural background. These students can get a deeper understanding of how Margie feels during school in regards to her culture. For deeper understanding children could be asked what has made them embarrassed before and how they think Margie would react.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Summary:Margie's parents were born and raised in Mexico, although as a first generation Mexican-American, she struggles to make an image for herself and identify with her American classmates at her school in Texas. Margie never speaks Spanish, and she denies her Mexican heritage. She finally convinces her classmates that she is full American, although her cousin, Lupe, visits from Mexico. Lupe's father moved North to find work, so Lupe is hopeful that she will see him one day. Lupe destroys Margie's image that she has made for herself at school, and Lupe herself has difficulty learning the English language. They both are struggling trying to identify with the United States culture. As the book progresses, the girls' individual steps are formed into a dance created by the both of them, which in return helps them feel a part of their heritage. The central message of this book is understanding the importance of loving who you are and where you come from while also embracing new experiences. Because the book is focused on a Mexican family, I really like how the book incorporated Mexican vocabulary such as "abuelita, hijita, se llama..." Margie she thinks to herself "How can I be as American as I want to be and still feel close to them?...Do my parents feel closer to Lupe because she is Mexican?" I particularly favored this part, because I feel many children who are first generation Americans can relate to this book and the obstacles Margi, Lupe, and their family faced. I could also relate to the struggle that Lupe felt when she was reunited with her father after many absent years, because I had a best friend growing up who had an absent father. Lupe felt angry and joyful at the same time, which I feel many kids can relate to who had an absent parent. I think this book is great for illustrating family, friendships, and life as an immigrant.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5For those of us working with Latino kids born in both the US and those born in Mexico, this is an excellent book showing point of view. Margie, who has worked hard to prove she's American and not Mexican, is forced to see her Mexican heritage when her immigrant cousin comes to live with them and she becomes aware of the pride she should have in her heritage.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Margie has been making every effort to embrace her now American heritage. When her cousin Lupe comes to live with them from Mexico, Margie finds that she is having to help Lupe adapt. It isn't easy since Lupe doesn't speak English very well and is having trouble keeping up. Margie is having to back track to the Mexican heritage she has been running away from. As Margie lends herself to family traditions and getting acquainted with Lupe, by sharing American experiences and embracing her culture through the eyes of Lupe she begins to better understand her heritage and its importance. Ada and Zubizarreta have done an excellent job of presenting the Mexican culture through the eyes of a child. The emotions felt through Margie and Lupe will keep young readers turning the pages to see how these two girls cope with change and the challenges it brings. Young readers will learn Spanish terms and their meaning. Parents, teachers and homeschoolers will love sharing this wonderful culture and the true meaning of family and tradition.