Shimmering fragments of poetry, fiction, fable, and essay reflect a kaleidoscopic vision of burgeoning adulthood as seen through the eyes of the young protagonists in El año de nuestra revolución, the Spanish-language edition of Judith Ortiz Cofer's award-winning collection, The Year of Our Revolution.Among the memorable heroines to emerge from this landmark collection is María Elenita, aka Mary Ellen. As she embarks upon the journey from innocent adolescence to young womanhood, her imagination moves from thoughts of school and Supergirl to dreams of rock music, rebellion and first love. Donning the uniform of the opposition- tie-dyed T-shirts, Indian headbands and noisy jewelry with the aroma of patchouli incense wafting about her, Mary Ellen mounts her season of insurgency during which she awakens to sensuality with her "boy-poet" Gerald and the "soldier-boy" Pito. Ultimately she learns the high price to be paid for matters of the heart.In a work suitable for mature older teens and young adults, Ortiz Cofer crystallizes what María Elenita's saddened Mamá calls "the worst year in the history of parents and children . . . the year of our revolution."
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Booklist
"This will be an invaluable resource for ethnic studies classes; it will also be a wonderful reading experience for literate teens able to savor the author's use of language."
Children's Literature
- Maria E. Gentle
This collection of poetry, fiction, and myth is one of the best collections geared to young people but definitely not for their exclusive use. In other words, adults can reminisce about the year of their own revolution. Cofer takes us to her barrio in the turbulent 1960s and shows us what it was like to grow up in that era. Even though most of the stories are narrated by Maria Elenita or Mary Ellen, this is not very clear at the start. We learn of Mary Ellen's journey from innocent adolescence to realistic young womanhood. Mary Ellen faces the trials and tribulations faced by any young woman that has roots in two worlds, in this case, her Puerto Rican roots and her adopted American soil. The alienation from her parents who do not understand her is common to every teen no matter what their heritage. The feel of the 60s is strong and vibrant, and Mary Ellen's voice rings true. From the very beginning, with the poem "Origen," the reader discovers that one is in for a treat. In "Origen," in just nine lines, the reader questions our reason for being, one's origin. The vignette titled "Mary Ellen" is a real gem as well. This book deserves a place in every public and high school library.