How Tia Lola Came to Stay

Rating:
Summary: Tia Lola warms Vermont
Review: How Tia Lola Came to Stay is a delightful story about a 10-year old boy going through major changes in his life and how he learns to deal with these changes. Miguel has moved to a small town in Vermont from New York City because his parents are getting a divorce. His mother has a new job as a counselor at a college, and Miguel and his little sister, Juanita, have to start a new life with her. It is hard for Miguel to be the only Latino in his class and he misses his father. He tries not to say too much about his feelings, as he doesn't want to upset his mother. Even so, he is not thrilled when she tells him that her aunt, Tia Lola, is coming from the Dominican Republic to help take care of them while they get settled. She doesn't speak English and Miguel and Juanita only speak a little Spanish. Tia Lola arrives like a burst of sunshine on a cold, gray Vermont day. She brings good food, love, laughter, and a spice for life. She is not worried about fitting in and everyone loves her, though Miguel cannot help but be embarrassed by her at first. Through her colorful approach to life she helps Miguel and his family figure out how to cope with all the changes in their lives and comes up with a plan to help Miguel make friends.
How Tia Lola Came to Stay touches on subjects that are relevant to children today. Divorce, moving, family dynamics, learning to fit in are topics with which many children have to deal. Julia Alvarez does a nice job of sprinkling the dialogue with Spanish words and finding authentic reasons to translate them in the text. Tia Lola's joyful way of living life comes through in the situations and language Alvarez uses. Miguel's maturation through the book is gradual and believable as he works through his feelings about what has happened to his family. All in all this book is a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Tia Lola warms Vermont
Review: How Tia Lola Came to Stay is a delightful story about a 10-year old boy going through major changes in his life and how he learns to deal with these changes. Miguel has moved to a small town in Vermont from New York City because his parents are getting a divorce. His mother has a new job as a counselor at a college, and Miguel and his little sister, Juanita, have to start a new life with her. It is hard for Miguel to be the only Latino in his class and he misses his father. He tries not to say too much about his feelings, as he doesn't want to upset his mother. Even so, he is not thrilled when she tells him that her aunt, Tia Lola, is coming from the Dominican Republic to help take care of them while they get settled. She doesn't speak English and Miguel and Juanita only speak a little Spanish. Tia Lola arrives like a burst of sunshine on a cold, gray Vermont day. She brings good food, love, laughter, and a spice for life. She is not worried about fitting in and everyone loves her, though Miguel cannot help but be embarrassed by her at first. Through her colorful approach to life she helps Miguel and his family figure out how to cope with all the changes in their lives and comes up with a plan to help Miguel make friends.
How Tia Lola Came to Stay touches on subjects that are relevant to children today. Divorce, moving, family dynamics, learning to fit in are topics with which many children have to deal. Julia Alvarez does a nice job of sprinkling the dialogue with Spanish words and finding authentic reasons to translate them in the text. Tia Lola's joyful way of living life comes through in the situations and language Alvarez uses. Miguel's maturation through the book is gradual and believable as he works through his feelings about what has happened to his family. All in all this book is a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Tia Lola Comes Alive
Review: I borrowed this book from the library to read to my seven year old for cultural reasons. We were chuckling by Chapter 2 and rolling with laughter by Chapter 4. By the time we finished it, I had ordered two copies, one for me as teach and parent, the other as a Christmas gift for an 11 year old.

The book deals with divorce, moving from city to country, younger siblings, being culturally and ethnically different with tears, frustration and laughter.

What impressed me most was the author's ability to paint vibrant pictures in our minds. I taught five week Literacy Workshop unit to 2nd graders (just as appropriate for older students) introducing "mind pictures" or visual images that an excellent author creates with words. The students writing, and awareness in reading, changed dramatically using this book. It was universally loved by the class.

Rating:
Summary: Expected more from Julia Alvarez
Review: I did not enjoy this book. I've read all of Alvarez' other works and enjoyed them all. Unfortunately, Julia's talent does not transcend age groups. She should stick with historical fiction for adults.

Rating:
Summary: A triumphant tale.
Review: I just read and enjoyed this book in one sitting and had to sign on to comment. At first, I was a little unsure if I would like it (the present tense third person was a surprise), but after only a paragraph or so, I was hooked. I won't try to sum up the story (you can read the description for yourself) but only say that Alvarez was spot-on in her descriptions of how it feels to be the child of divorce, how it feels to be Latino, etc. I would also recommend this book to middle-grade boys who like baseball and those readers who don't like an extreme conflict (there are problems for the main character here, but Tia Lola takes care of many of them, and the effect is comforting).

I think it's unfortunate that a reviewer gave this one star on the basis that the book did not live up to the author's other adult works. I read many many children's books (and try to write them myself) and giving this book one star is simply unfair. I have not read Alvarez' other works (I probably will go seek them out after this!), but if they're THAT much better than this book, then they must be outstanding!

Overall, a sweet and charming read that made me wish I had a Tia Lola too!

Rating:
Summary: Very much enjoyed this story!
Review: I just read and enjoyed this book in one sitting and had to sign on to comment. At first, I was a little unsure if I would like it (the present tense third person was a surprise), but after only a paragraph or so, I was hooked. I won't try to sum up the story (you can read the description for yourself) but only say that Alvarez was spot-on in her descriptions of how it feels to be the child of divorce, how it feels to be Latino, etc. I would also recommend this book to middle-grade boys who like baseball and those readers who don't like an extreme conflict (there are problems for the main character here, but Tia Lola takes care of many of them, and the effect is comforting).

I think it's unfortunate that a reviewer gave this one star on the basis that the book did not live up to the author's other adult works. I read many many children's books (and try to write them myself) and giving this book one star is simply unfair. I have not read Alvarez' other works (I probably will go seek them out after this!), but if they're THAT much better than this book, then they must be outstanding!

Overall, a sweet and charming read that made me wish I had a Tia Lola too!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Piece
Review: There is always someone in our family that stands out. There is also someone that's an influence.

Rating:
Summary: HOW TIA LOLA CAME TO STAY
Review: THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A FAMILY AND TIA LOLA. THEY LIVE IN VERMONT AND TIA LOLA LIVES IN DOMINICAN REPLUBLIC.ONE DAY SHE COMES TO VISIT THEM FOR VACATION.TIA LOLA DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH SO MIGUEL AND JUANITA HAVE TO TEACH TIA LOLA HOW TO SPEAK.WELL I DID LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS INSPIRING TO ME. SHE HAS TO LEARN ENGLISH SO THAT SHE CAN COMMUNICATE TO OTHER PEOPLE.THIS BOOK IT IS THE SAME AS MY LIFE. I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR OPPUTUNITIES THAT THIS COUNTRY OFFERS. I HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH TO SPEAK TO OTHER PEOPLE. IT WAS HARD. THIS BOOK REFLECTS THE LIFVES OF AN IMMIGRANT. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO SOMEONE ELSE.

Rating:
Summary: How Tia Lola Came To Visit Stay
Review: This book will inspire the hearts of children everywhere, it is relevant to many children today. Its focus is around a family that has just been split apart by divorce. Miguel and Junita have to suffer from this divorce by moving away from their father in New York to live with their mother in Vermont. Miguel and Juanita do not want their Aunt Lola to come. Little do these children know, that when their Aunt Lola from the Dominican Republic comes to visit they grow to like her and do not want her to leave. Aunt Lola speaks only Spanish, Miguel and Junita speak some Spanish (enough to get by). Not only do these children have to learn to fit in in a new school, but also learn to make their Aunt feel welcome. Miguel thinks that Aunt Lola has special powers that allowed him to be on the baseball team. A child's imagination can can run wild in this novel. This book if filled with Spanish, which can help a young reader learn a different language. A trip to the Dominican Republic inspires the children to want to learn more about Aunt Lola's culture. They were surprised at how much they looked like their relatives, even though they are Americans. The story is filled with a lot of twists, especially at the end. I recommend this book to any child who is interested in different cultures.

Rating:
Summary: A moving multicultural story
Review: Tia Lola has just arrived from the Dominican Republic with her bright dresses and odd habits, and Miguel is not so certain her odd ways are attractive or acceptable. Her habits make him stand out from his Vermont classmates and as hard as Miguel tries, he can't keep her hidden from his new friends. Her odd habits change his life in this moving multicultural story.