I’d like to read some books, fiction or nonfiction, where the main character(s) are Mexican-Americans. I’d also like it if the book used spanish phrases throughout the book. For example, the characters speak spanish so they speak every once in a while. Can you recommend any books like this?
"The Circuit" by Francisco Jimenez is one such book.
Elegy on the Death of Cesar Chavez – Rudolfo Anaya
Making Face, Making Soul/Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Feminists of Color – Gloria E. Anzaldua
A Place to Stand – Jimmy Santiago Baca
Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders – Alicia Gaspar de Alba
Occupied America: A History of Chicanos – Roldofo Acuna
Aztlan: Essays on the Chicano Homeland by Rodolfo Anaya and Francisco Lomeli. It’s not really the kind of book your asking for, but it’s a great book to read to understand the changes in mexican american life socially and politically.
Hope you live in California, or that these are well known, because here are my choices:
All of these are by Art Rodriguez.
East Side Dreams
Forgotten Memories
The Monkey Box (this one takes place mostly in Mexico)
Those Oldies But Goodies
These are by Gary Soto.
Buried Onions
The Afterlife.
Mexico by James A. Michener. (part of it is in America, and the main character is Mexican-American.
Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez
These are excellent Mexican-American books. Hope you’ll like them. Remember, some of these books can only be found in California.
VIVA LA RAZA!
I would recommend anything by Francisco Jimenez. I am, however, entirely biased. He’s an alumnus of my high school and he allowed me to interview him earlier this year. =)