November 9th, 2009 in Book Review | No Comments »
Title:Gringolandia
Author:Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Pub. Date: May 2009
Publisher: Curbstone Press
Age Range: Young Adult
ISBN-13: 9781931896498
ISBN: 1931896496
After reading the first page of the book I was hooked. It was so eventful and i loved going on the journey that Lyn took me on. I’ve never read anything like Gringolandia, it’s sad to think that stuff like that really happens. Gringolandia is a real eye opener.
I found the characters to be real and also powerful. Daniel when through alot….it was sad, i mean right from the beginning, I don’t know what i would do without my father let alone try to pick up the pieces. You can tell he’s just trying to make the best of it and live a ‘normal” teenage life. But in the back of his mind that incident just changed everything. It’s so haunting to think about.As i kept reading sometimes i would take a little pause because some of the scenes were just painful to read, especially the ones about Marcelo. I wanted to just jump in the book and defend him.
Overall it was an awesome book.I couldn’t put it down. I’ve grown to love all of the characters and loved Daniels voice as the story was told. I look forward to more of Lyn’s books. I think everybody should read Gringolandia because it was soo amazing.
Rating 4.5/5 hearts
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November 5th, 2009 in Book Review | 1 Comment »
Lyn Miller-Lachmann writes a heartfelt story with Gringolandia. It is completely honest and gripping. It follows the story of a family who was a victim of the political situation in Chile in the 80s. Gringolandia really brings a new light to readers. Part of what is so intriguing about Gringolandia is that while politics are a major piece in the story, they aren’t overpowering in the story. Gringolandia focuses more on how politics can tear a family apart, and that in itself is really something.
Gringolandia alternates perspectives slightly between being told from Dan’s POV and Courtney’s POV. I really liked how it switched up a bit, and how you hear Courtney’s story as well. You also hear Marcelo’s confessions of what happened, and they just break your heart! You see all the characters change: Marcelo on the verge of going over the edge, Courtney determined, Tina unsure.
Gringolandia is so powerful and emotional. It is a book that will stick with readers.
November 2nd, 2009 in Teen YA Book Tour | 1 Comment »
Gringolandia on it’s fourth day of its YA Book Tour at
Melanie at Melanie’s Musings http://www.melaniesmusings.net/
Though haunted by memories of his father’s arrest in Pinochet’s Chile, Daniel Aguilar has made a new life for himself in the United States–far from politics. But when his father is released, Daniel sees what years of prison and torture have done. Trying to reach his father, Daniel, along with his “gringa” girlfriend, finds himself in the democracy struggle of the country he thought he left behind.
Gringolandia was an intensely captivating read.
The characters, especially Daniel, were all intriguing to watch as they dealt with this person who is nowhere near the one they remember. Watching Daniel struggle to equate this person who once laughed and smiled with this new father who is sullen and demanding after the torture he experienced is tough. Yet I couldn’t blame Daniel’s father for the rough transition everyone is experiencing. Who would not be changed after being hideously tortured?
Then we realize that Daniel’s dad is completely serious about returning to Chile, even after everything that has happened. He refuses to leave a battle half-fought, even if it puts him and his family in grave danger. I have never studied Chile’s political history before, so I had no idea how anything would end. Gringolandia definitely kept me guessing.
This book is, as I said before, a captivating read, and I highly recommend you check it out.
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