Call Me Maria: A Novel in Letters, Poems and Prose - NEW REVIEW

Author: Judith Ortiz Cofer

Fifteen-year old Maria lives in the New York City barrio with her father in order to get an American education, while her mother remains at home in Puerto Rico. As Maria learns what it means to be Puerto Rican in America, she is caught between two worlds: Puerto Rico, where she was born, and her new home, New York. Through a beautiful combination of prose, letters and, poems, Maria finds her inner voice and is able to express herself beautifully. Although not much of a formal plot exists, Maria does struggle with the conflict over island versus gritty urban life, growing friendships and eventually becoming trilingual, speaking English, Spanish and “Spanglish”. Although sometimes lacking in focus, this would be a beautiful read aloud for any class examining the emotions of recent teenage immigrants, insight into life in the barrio as well as a comparison to life in Puerto Rico.

Year Released: 2004
Grades 5-7

Call Me Maria