Rating: 
Summary: Why I gave it 4 stars
Review: I bought this book and devoured it in a few days, I simply couldn't put it down! However, in all fairness, I had to give it 4 stars because it falls short of being truly inclusive of the diversity of Latino experiences.
For the most part, this book had me laughing, crying, underlining and highlighting passages, nodding my head in agreement, reading outloud to my fiance... So much of it mirrored my own experiences as a Latina in America!
I loved it that Sandra Guzman spoke about racial identity, body image, education, mentoring, leadership - there are too many worthy topics to list! This book would have been a life-saver for me in my teens!
Unfortunately, I did have a big gripe with the book. It seemed to homogenize all Latinos, as if there's one "right" way to be Latino. This is something I have encountered in my own life as well, mostly from non-Latinos, and it shouldn't be supported and perpetuated by a Latino author. We are vastly diverse as a people but once in America, we manage to find common ground to unite, to help one another, to move forward, to make progress. And that IS our strength. Pa'lante mi gente!
Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I must say that I have to disagree with some of the other readers' reviews. The Latina Bible does speak to the variety of Latin American women that exist in this country. As a matter of fact, when I read it, I felt as if Sandra Guzman wrote this book especially for me. I can relate to practically everything she wrote in her book. I am a very light skinned/Dominican/Puerto Rican/American young woman and everything Ms. Guzman says holds true for me as well as for most of the people that I am in contact with on a daily basis. I would reccommend this book to my dark skinned family members as well as my light skinned family members because it doesn't really matter what color your skin is. Whether you are Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Spanish, or Salvadorian, I can guarantee that you will love this book because most of us grew up with many of the latin traditions mentioned. And as far as the "Spanglish" is concerned, many of us do speak that language. It is a mix of the old world and the new world. I find it appealing to hear phrases that I and many of my Latina sisters use on a daily basis. I love this book, it has changed my life, and if you do not read it you will be missing out.
Rating:
Summary: Bravo Sandra Guzman!
Review: I recommend this book a million times over to all my Latina [and non-Latina] friends! This book acts like a big sister, giving advice on just about any aspect of life. Topics range from the masturbation, to religion, to marrying outside la raza. Even at it's most serious moments, it is a fun read.
This is the type of book that I like to have handy and pass on to my friends. I often open it up and read parts of it to them, and we always have a good time relating to the many situations. Having been born without older siblings around, this book, in my opinion, was a God-sent!
Rating: 
Summary: Contrived
Review: So much of my life has been an attempt to fit into my latina roots and fit into my american roots. Being one of those white blue eyed latina's that never truely has fit into either side this book was a God(dess) send. I loved it the book really opened my eyes to why I am the way I am and More importantly it helped me to view my relationship with my mother, husband and children differently. If you are a latina woman, who has found fitting in difficult at best this book is for you! get back to your roots and let that latin pride take hold. 5 stars are simply not enought.
Rating:
Summary: Latina Power
Review: The book came along at a time when I needed that shot in the arm to get excited about being Latina and recognizing I'm American, too. Being in my 40s, I was amazed that we are still fighting the same battles economically, culturally and spiritually when I was growing up and attending college. Being in the 21st century, I assumed things had changed for Latinas. The book brought to my attention that we still need to seek our uniqueness in straddling two worlds. It was enlightening to read the statistics in all the different categories mentioned. I wish there was a timely resource to keep those statistics in the foreground of our minds. In black and white, it shows that collectively as a group---we do have POWER. The book brought back memories and a time of reflection for me. It's all tied to being Mexican-American. The book speaks to the issues that need to be discussed openly on all levels as we evolve with one another. The chapters on sexuality, health, marrying outside of our culture, spirituality, and personal success are the most outspoken ones in the book. That is where Latinas are breaking away from cultural and religious traditions. We need to know we can still keep our culture, but evolve into the person God meant us to be. The book will be a keeper in my library. It was refreshing to read a book with a contemporary Latina flair to it. Hopefully, this book will open dialogue among all ages of Latinas in order to nuture, strengthen and support one another.
Rating:
Summary: Making the connection with traditions and new outlooks
Review: The book is especially important for any Latinas seeking a way to connect their wonderful traditions with mainstream American perspectives. It is a tool for assesing your own values and how to apply them to today's society. The author gives us a sense of complete worth and value, she inspires you to use those Latina qualities to shine and excel no matter where you go. The Latina's Bible also provides strategies for effectively shifting existing paradigms.
Rating:
Summary: Making the connection with traditions and new outlooks
Review: The book is especially important for any Latinas seeking a way to connect their wonderful traditions with mainstream American perspectives. It is a tool for assesing your own values and how to apply them to today's society. The author gives us a sense of complete worth and value, she inspires you to use those Latina qualities to shine and excel no matter where you go. The Latina's Bible also provides strategies for effectively shifting existing paradigms.
Rating:
Summary: So many things are wrong with this book
Review: This book is excellcent! It is a good resource tool that has been highlighted, marked, and dogeared. It has opened a whole new line of communcation between my mother, my sister and I. As a 31 year old teacher, who was born in the United States many of the customs that were mentioned in the book closed the generation gap between my mother, my sister and I. It has even helped my Latina students to understand thier relationship with thier mothers or fathers and be more patient!!! This book helped me understand the traditional culture of my parents. I think that this book should be a tool for all Latinas that need are bicultural and still are trying to identify themselves. This book has typical Latina stories that we can at some point identify with. WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Straight Shooting
Review: This is a book that you read and then lend to friends without them asking to borrow it! Lots of statistics, lots of clear explanation of things from a "big-picture" standpoint. Latinas, you carry more far-reaching influence than you think! Many positive words are said in this book. It's honest and relevant. In respect to elements of lifestyle, this book's scope is really broad. Latinas come from more countries than I'd almost bet you would think, so it doesn't cater to any one ethnicity, and it doesn't leave any nationality out. Who it does leave out, however, is perhaps women of zero and first-generation Americans of Latin descent-those that the book helps you to cope with! Such people may be more strongly inclined to maintain traditional dispositions, and thus may freak at what's said.(that's why YOU have to read it!) This book is geared towards women that live life acculturated to American society, rather than those assimilated to it or that have next to nothing to do with it (you'll know the difference once you read the book) Young women, especially, need to read this.
Rating:
Summary: It's about time!
Review: This is a wonderful book, collecting bits of wisdom and experience -- and told from a uniquely Latin point-of-view. In reading this book I thought one thing: it's about time! Highly entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable from cover-to-cover. Also recommended: THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez. Latinos unite!
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