Reviews

Chicano by Richard Vasquez

noelle779's review against another edition

2.0

Didn't even finish the book. I thought it seemed to perpetuate the stereotypes of what people think of the typical "Chicano". Not what I was expecting.

laweirdgurl's review

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This was the first time I've ever hate-read a book. I tried this book since my library recommended it for Latinx Heritage Month and this book was one of the first ever to explore Mexican-American identity. The book follows the family over a century from the late 1800s to the 1990s and dicusses the way they deal with poverty, Anti-Mexican racisms from Americans and family drama. And I fucking hated every second I spent reading it.

This book had so many negative stereotypes that it was insulting. What worse is that on top of the unlikeable characters (white and Latino alike) the Latino characters never win. The family succumbs to poverty, domestic violence, drugs etc. 

I'm not asking for a fairy tale. I just wanted a book I liked about my people.  Needless to say I can't recommend it.