Esmeralda Santiago

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="21d005a0dvldtc.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC00" FACE="Arial" ><B>PT3 Readers are Leaders</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0099FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FF3300" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="PT3 Readers are Leaders"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="home.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reading Room"><U>Reading Room</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web Sites about Books"><U>Web Sites about Books</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Web Reading"><U>Web Reading</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Authors"><U>Authors</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Writings on the Web"><U>Writings on the Web</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Writings on the Web"><U> Writings on the Web</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Recommended Reading for students"><U>Recommended Reading for students</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id101.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Multicultural authors"><U>Multicultural authors</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id104.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Multicultural Booklist"><U>Multicultural Booklist</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Naomi Nye "><U> Naomi Nye </U></A>   |   <B>Esmeralda Santiago</B>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Maya Angelou"><U>Maya Angelou</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michael Dorris"><U>Michael Dorris</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rosa Guy"><U>Rosa Guy</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U>--Type Title Here--</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFCC00" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Esmeralda Santiago</div> <div> Celeste N. Byrd<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I>, by Esmeralda Santiago</div> <div> Adolescent Literature</div> <div> University of Arkansas at Little Rock</div> <div> Dr. Barbara Stanford<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Click picture<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div>  <A NAME="graphic1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="graphic1_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>~hbr/fall99/santiago.html"~hbr/fall99/santiago.html"</div> <bR> <div> <B>Esmeralda Santiago</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://voices.cla.umn.edu/authors/esmeraldasantiago.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://voices.cla.umn.edu/authors/esmera"><U>http://voices.cla.umn.edu/authors/esmeraldasantiago.html</U></A></div> <bR> <div> This site contains biographical information, works by the author, works about the author, and links related to Esmeralda Santiago. </div> <bR> <div> <U>Esmeralda Santiago.com</U><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> You can use this link to contact Esmeralda Santiago. It also has biography information, lists of books and media, news, information about appearances, and a mailing list so that you can speak directly to Santiago.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/keynotepg.htm#SantiagoTalksAboutHerMemoir" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/keynotepg."><U>http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/keynotepg.htm#SantiagoTalksAboutHerMemoir</U></A></div> <bR> <div> This site provides readers with information directly fromSantiago about her life and writing <I>When I was Puerto Rican</I>. It also provides links to other Caribbean writers. </div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.iluminated.com/esmeralda.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.iluminated.com/esmeralda.html"><U>http://www.iluminated.com/esmeralda.html</U></A></div> <bR> <div> This site, provided by Amazon.com is a listing of books by Esmeralda Santiago and also links to other female writers in this genre. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=0679756760&view=rg" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/displ"><U>http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=0679756760&view=rg</U></A></div> <bR> <div> This site from Random House Books gives information about <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I>. The information provided is a brief plot summary, a list of 13 discussion questions, and biographical information about Esmeralda Santiago. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Click picture</div> <div>  <A NAME="graphic4"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div>  <A NAME="graphic5"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/puerto-rico.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/puert"><U>http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/puerto-rico.html</U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.ehi.com/travel/carib/puerto/hot map1.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ehi.com/travel/carib/puerto/h"><U>http://www.ehi.com/travel/carib/puerto/hot map1.html</U></A></div> <bR> <div> The two sites above are selected maps of Puerto Rico. They give the viewer a better view of the island. </div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://splendidtable.org/recipes/soup asopao.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://splendidtable.org/recipes/soup as"><U>http://splendidtable.org/recipes/soup asopao.html</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Santiago mentions food several times in the book, <I>When I Was Puerto Rican. </I>This site gives a page from a cookbook that she edited. Looking at this site is a fun way to think about the food that was mentioned. </div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://hallbiography.com/ethnic national/60.shtml" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://hallbiography.com/ethnic national"><U>http://hallbiography.com/ethnic national/60.shtml</U></A></div> <bR> <div> This site provides a variety of reviews of <I>When I Was Puerto Rican.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/guides/2000/1/00.01.03xhtml" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/gui"><U>http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/guides/2000/1/00.01.03xhtml</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> This site is an excellent source for lesson plans about teaching Esmeralda Santiago’s <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I>. It is recommended for AP English grades nine through twelve. </div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.humanities-interactive.org/learing exercises/voces lat lit curriculum.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.humanities-interactive.org/le"><U>http://www.humanities-interactive.org/learing exercises/voces lat lit curriculum.htm</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Here is a site for teachers with some learning activities that celebrate Latino literature. It is a thought-provoking site for teachers to look at before teaching <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I>. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/ci235/eport2000/mhenegha/UP.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/ci235/epo"><U>http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/courses/ci235/eport2000/mhenegha/UP.htm</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Here is a unit lesson plan for teaching <I>When I Was Puerto Rican.</I> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.ethnologue.com/show courntry.asp?name=Puerto+Rico" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ethnologue.com/show courntry."><U>http://www.ethnologue.com/show courntry.asp?name=Puerto+Rico</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> This site breaks down the languages of Puerto Rico. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.touristquickguide.com/tourismtopics/culture.shtml" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.touristquickguide.com/tourism"><U>http://www.touristquickguide.com/tourismtopics/culture.shtml</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Access this site to find out a few quick facts about Puerto Rico’s natural attributes, society, politics, history, and culture. </div> <bR> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/weblinks.htm#Writers" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/weblinks.h"><U>http://www.drew.edu/temp/mcaw/weblinks.htm#Writers</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Great site with several links to other Caribbean writers, lectures, history, music, art, health and medicine, environment and development, organizations, and weather! There is a multitude of information easily accessed by the links provided. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Should <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I> be taught in secondary schools?<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I> would be an excellent book to teach in classes such as reading/writing workshops. According to the Fry Readability Chart, it is a ninth/tenth grade reading level. There are many words that are written in Spanish making it more difficult for the non-Spanish speaker or reader. This book is also an excellent choice because it can be taught as a cooperative unit. An example would be while reading <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I>, the history teacher could be teaching about Puerto Rico to give the students a better understanding of the culture the main character, Esmeralda (Negi), was accustomed. </div> <div> It would behoove the teacher who has chosen this book to make sure s/he knows the class well. There are many adult themes that are alluded to and some curse words that could cause disruption in the classroom. If these issues are addressed properly, <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I> could be taught not only for the literary elements such as style, plot, character development, but also as a way to enhance the students vocabulary and higher level cognitive process exemplified by Bloom’s taxonomy. </div> <bR> <div> Review:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Esmeralda Santiago uses the art of literature to summarize her life in a way that many young people can relate to. The students may be able to relate to taking care of younger siblings, living in a broken home, living in a poor neighborhood, overcoming adversity, or finding acceptance. </div> <bR> <div> The main character, Esmeralda, has many highs and lows. Her nickname, Negi, is short for “Negrita” which means dark skin. Negi was the oldest of seven children (later 11). She was in a responsibility role by default. She also had to deal with seeing her parents in a very tumultuous relationship. Mami and Papi kept falling in and out of love with each other and this hurt Negi beyond what she could handle at times.</div> <div> Growing up in Mancun, Puerto Rico Negi and her siblings could run through the grass, eat fruit at will from the plenteous trees, and hear the birds sing beautiful tunes. The conditions were undesirable. The house was a small tin house without running water or electricity. Even so, Negi loved it there. However, the tumultuous relationship between her parents sent her to Santaruce without Papi. The family lived in various houses in Santaruce resulting in changing schools many times. Negi liked school; it was one thing that she was good at. </div> <div> After Papi came searching for his family, they moved back to Mancun. However, they did not stay. Negi and her family moved to New York as a result of a leg injury sustained by her brother Raymond. The doctors in Puerto Rico said that his leg was so infected that they would have to cut it off. Mami decided to check out her options where her mother lived; New York. </div> <div> In New York, Negi faced a new set of struggles. She would attend school in a very different place. She did not know the language very well and she did not know which direction her life would take.</div> <div> When she was younger, Negi had wanted to be a jibaro. Now in New York, when asked the same question she had no idea. After deciding that she wanted to be on television, the school guidance counselor set up an interview. This was done because of Negi’s outstanding academic standing. She was accepted to and graduated from a very prestigious performing arts school in New York.</div> <div> The book ends on a day that Esmeralda (Negi) went back to visit the school where her life had changed. As a scholarship student at Harvard University, she was filled with nostalgia as she ran into her mentor and finally looked into the room where her interview had taken place. </div> <div> Santiago wrote:</div> <div> "When I began writing this book, I had no idea it would result in a dialogue about cultural identity. But as I've traveled around the country talking about it, people tell me that, while the culture I'm describing may not be the same as the one they grew up in, the feelings and experiences are familiar, and some of the events could have been taken from their own lives. It has been particularly poignant to speak to immigrants who have returned to their countries, only to discover how much they have changed by immersion in North American culture. They accept and understand the irony of the past tense in the title, the feeling that, while at one time they could not identify themselves as anything but the nationality to which they were born, once they've lived in the U.S. their "cultural purity" has been compromised, and they no longer fit as well in their native countries, nor do they feel one hundred percent comfortable as Americans” (Reading Books Center, Vintage Books).</div> <div> In conclusion, the book <I>When I Was Puerto Rican</I> would be an excellent choice to teach to ninth or tenth grade English students. Students may read about the achievements of Esmeralda (the character) and Esmeralda (the writer) and come away with a respect for Latina literature and culture. </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>