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124smilehd's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Fun short read about a Mexican American boy going to japan to learn the culture in a homestay visit. Some wacky antics happen along the way that gives the book a very light-hearted and almost cartoonish feel. The author sort of overuses chicano slang, very much a product of its time, and did get annoying after a while but it also felt like something an over-excited 14-year-old would do.
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
rebecita's review against another edition
2.0
I picked this up as a timekiller at work today. With respect to Mr. Soto, who is a talented writer and promoter of Chicano lit, it was pretty forgettable. It's one of those shiny happy multicultural stories with 70s slang but excessive references to Hammer. Back in 92 (when I read stacks of these heartwarming PC tales) a cross-cultural book about kids from backgrounds neither white nor black filled a big need, but that's sort of the sum of the plot. From what I can tell, any coming of age took place in the previous story. If you take anything from this sequel it will be how to say things like "Hey carnal, let's shake hands raza style and then go practice kempo at the dojo. I sure miss those frijoles in the barrio, but these nigirimeshi are heavy, ese." (This isn't QUITE a direct quote, but it's close, and it's easy to make your own cultural exchange madlibs from the glossary in the back.)
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