Rating: 
Summary: Real, Touching, Wonderful, Entertaining, a True Experience!
Review: I found as I read this book that I related to it more than any book I'd ever read. My life has so many things in common with this book that it's shocking. Out of all the books I've read, I enjoyed reading this one the most. The Hispanic, small town, and real life flavor in this book creat a really memorable reading experience. This is truely a wonderful book!
Rating: 
Summary: Heart Breaking
Review: A Parrot in the Oven is a novel written by Victor Martinez. This novel is emotional because of the description of the way a boy lives his life with a family full of turmoil and issues. It is about a boy name Manuel Hernandez who has trouble with his family mainly because of his father and mother. Manuel loves to play baseball and also wants to learn to be responsible. He also tries to make the best out of everything for his family. In the novel a Parrot in the Oven, the author uses excellent characterization by explaining the way the narrator and many other characters live their lives and the personality of the characters. Victor Manuel also describes the protagonist's friends and family mates as well as he would describe the main character. The author also makes the story clear and easy to understand for the reader. This makes the reader enjoy what he or she is reading. The author gets right to the point and shows the main conflict through the main character. I feel that a Parrot in the Oven is a magnificent book. I would recommend this book to a person with family issues similar to Manual's in the story and also to kids who get pushed around a lot and are taken for granted because of their disabilities. This book is excellent to read.
Rating:
Summary: Review in the Oven
Review: The book Parrot in the oven ,by Victor Martinez is an outstanding book! The whole story is about a poor Mexican boy named manny, his life in a poor neighborhood and his struggles to fit in and be cool. This book is just like a real-life story! If you don't believe me read on. Two reasons why I love this book is one the book is first person and two the family is imperfect. Like I said the book is in first person so if you like a fist person book you'll love this one. By seeing the world through manny's eyes you get a real feel for all the characters and his life. Another reason I like this book is because the characters are so imperfect. So it makes the book so unpredictable and suspenseful. So as you can see this is an easy book to like. Well as you can see this a great book but all books have mistakes. The mistake in Parrot in the Oven is at the start the book is really slow and uneventful. But this good for it allows you to really see and get to know the characters for who they are. All in all I thought this was a superb book and I hope you will to, if you read it.
Rating:
Summary: Columbus Community
Review: This was a well wrote book using real life situations. I believe this book wanted to seperate it's self from other books. Most books revolve around a climax and happy ending while this one didn't really have either. I liked how the author let's you see what it is like as a child living in such hard condicions. I suggest everybody should read this book not because it was the most exciting book, but because it helps you understand a different culture.
Rating:
Summary: Must Read
Review: This book is very good. I recomend it to people who want to know some of the presures that young people have in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Growing up with cultural differences and expectations
Review: I was suprised to have read a young adult book that was so true to itself that defied a category. Martinez shows us the conflicts of being poor, from a minority, and trying to grow up around circumstances that are difficult at best. In the traditional sense, life has it own rules, but they often clash with those rules imposed by its sorrounding community and we are all enriched by learning of other's experiences.
Rating:
Summary: Fiction that's not fake
Review: This powerful novel is a must read. There is not enough literature for young adults that deal with Mexican American themes and Martinez does a fantastic job. Manny is a human, yet endearing character whose seemingly random experiences are not unlike the situations of many teenagers. Too often novels center around a big climax that seems unrealistic to the readers, but is nonetheless exciting. Parrot in the Oven is exciting without Hollywood-type enemies or conflicts, and satisfying without an obviously happy ending. Martinez's descriptions are amazingly vivid, placing the reader directly in Manny's shoes, or at least along for the ride. I was engrossed from the first page; even the backside blurb didn't disappoint me! Thumbs Up, way up!
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Summary: Su vida es nuestra vida
Review: Parrot in the Oven is a series of vignettes about Manny Hernandez, a Latino teenager coming of age. Martinez offers vivid and unforgettable accounts of Manny struggling to please his drunk and abusive father, falling in love, and deciding to join a gang. The reader ponders if Manny will see the light or remain in the dark like a "parrot in the oven that complains how hot it is in the shade".What teenager does not experience ups and downs with their family and peer relationships? Manny will resonate close to home for many. This book is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Really interesting story that makes a great read
Review: This is a look into the life a young boy named Manuel, not just 'mi vida', but the lives of everyone around him and how they affect him. Manuel lives in Spanish projects with his dysfunctional family. I was really delighted by this book. While it is somewhat depressing all around, focusing on the hard life of a young boy, it is funny as well. The events of Manuel's life are very well-written. The story is expertly told, and while it is just one part of one person's life, it seems very significant, as a view into the less-mentioned part of America. This is one of my favorite books, and it is certainly one to add to your collection. Rose, age 12 (we're not all that stupid)
Rating:
Summary: The story of a boy growing up
Review: In the novel "Parrot in the Oven", Victor Martinez writes about a young boy who is struggling in life. The young boy, Manuel (Manny) Martinez, is having to deal with testing his own courage through his initiation into a gang. Manny is having to go through a lot of excitement of growing up. There is a lot of pain and tension that Manny goes through during his time of growing up. His father spends most of his time at the pool hall wasting money. Manny's brother goes from job to job and his mother is always cleaning at home. Manny isn't getting the attention he needs at home and turns to something else: His gang. Manny wants to be smart and important, someone of respect. Manny is confronted by many obstacles while he is growing up. Manny is always on the run. Whether or not he sees tomorrow, Manny will just have to find out. Victor Martinez, being of the Hispanic race, has written this novel for people who might not know what kind of pain and suffering there is for someone who doesn't have love and attention and is Hispanic. Martinez uses his own feelings, feelings that maybe he's experienced himself or those of someone he knows. Victor Martinez knows what he is writing about and what he is trying to get the reader to know. Not only does Martinez puts feelings into it but he adds some excitement. He makes the reader want to read more. Martinez expresses his voice in writing this novel. Martinez writes with love and compassion that makes this novel even better.
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