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maisconyelo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
genesiscollado's review against another edition
2.0
Lo leí porque fue un regalo cuando estaba en el colegio hace 10 años. Quizá si lo hubiese leído en aquel entonces me hubiese gustado más. Es un libro para niños muy simple, la traducción le quitó mucho a la historia. Fui generosa y le 2 estrellas porque trata de dominicanos en nyc
katiehearn08's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
peterpokeypanda's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that feels safe. I think I would have super enjoyed it as a child, and I did as an adult. It's sweet and optimistic and good and full of love, and Julia Alvarez is a really good writer. I might change the rating to four stars later - we'll see. Depends on how it sticks with me :).
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Miguel is not happy about moving to Vermont with his mom and his sister after his parents divorce. He misses New York City (where his family doesn't stand out),his father, and his friends. Everything starts to change when Tia Lola arrives from the Dominican Republic to help his mother out. At first Miguel is embarrassed -- Tia Lola doesn't speak English and stands out in her brightly colored clothing and exuberant ways. As Miguel slowly warms up to her, he sees the whole town start to open up to their family thanks to Tia Lola's outgoing and friendly ways. Highly recommended for grades 2 & up.
knh1009's review against another edition
4.0
Very cute—sad I never read it as a kid! An easy enough read, if not for getting stuck on some of the colloquialisms
leslie_d's review against another edition
3.0
“Había una vez…” Tía Lola begins. Once upon a time....And Miguel feels a secret self, different from his normal everyday self, rising up like steam from a boiling kettle into the air and disappearing inside Tía Lola’s stories. (18)
Tía Lola has a wonderful ability to transport those around her into an other world; one filled with vibrant color, foreign languages, and hope. For the Reader, Julia Alvarez does the same. In the terribly familiar landscapes of divorce, moving homes, rental agreements, new schools, cultural/racial differences, grieving, and heartache, Alvarez does not shy away from the difficulties these things create for her characters. What she does bring is compassion, a different perspective, and some creative solutions. She does this in the form of Tía Lola.
Tía Lola is a bit of a Mary Poppins Nanny McPhee character, but for a few very important distinctions. She appears more vulnerable; she experiences homesickness, she doesn’t want to be a source of embarrassment, she wants to be needed and wanted, and she gets lost. She doesn’t translate effortlessly into situations, not in the way we’ve come to expect anyway. Two, while magical, Tía Lola seems possible. And lastly, she is here to stay. We do not need characters or people like Tía Lola for only a little while, we want and need them around forever.
Tía Lola’s (great)nephew Miguel is the primary interest of the 3rd person narrative. Unlike the following books, which move fluidly and fairly frequently through other characters’ consciousness, How Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay very rarely moves away from Miguel. He is a great character to follow, for plenty of reasons, but I like it because he should appeal to male readers, especially those boys who love sports, their dad, and their mom, is an elder brother (or brother at all), and wants to belong while also wanting to be proud of where he comes from.
Miguel is having a very hard time with his parents’ divorce. He loves his dad and enjoys his dad’s company. His mother moved them away from family and friends for work in a rural town where they are the only brown people at school. He looks and feels like an oddity. He is helpless in witnessing his mom’s grieving of her own lost relationship. He isn’t all that sure of what to do with a sister who wants their dad at family events, too. Now this strange Aunt who is kind of embarrassing and who doesn’t want to learn English comes to visit. And the visit keeps going.
Miguel soon finds that Tía Lola’s presence is a balm, and not just her stories which allow him to escape the harsh realities of his life. She isn’t about running away, but confronting hurts and fears–and finding ways to do this. Tía Lola is also an opportunity for Miguel to discover himself, both individually and culturally. Alvarez finesses some beautiful and inspiring development in her characters, whether they are a protagonist or other. She does this within a single novel, and continues this over the course of the series. Like Tía Lola, reality and its pains are acknowledged, but there is a sincere sense of optimism, a true offering of hope. When are world is very small, our solutions to problems are sure to be. Miguel and his family are gifted more tools with which to work, more venues for expression, and a more vibrant place to inhabit. Julia Alvarez and her character Tía Lola do not just bring charm and sweet humor to the communities where they would visit stay, but possibility as well.
***************
note: I read these Stories out of order (as the Library obtained them). You can, too, but they are most successful, I believe, in order. Still, Alvarez does not limit herself to formula in this series, each have their own creative aspects that hold them apart from the others. Read them all, read them with your grade-schooler, and don’t just revel in the cultural education aspects, but talk about the familial and social issues, too. Alvarez writes entertaining and informative and socially conscious really well. Enjoy.
~L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/how-ta-lola-came-to-visit-stay/
Tía Lola has a wonderful ability to transport those around her into an other world; one filled with vibrant color, foreign languages, and hope. For the Reader, Julia Alvarez does the same. In the terribly familiar landscapes of divorce, moving homes, rental agreements, new schools, cultural/racial differences, grieving, and heartache, Alvarez does not shy away from the difficulties these things create for her characters. What she does bring is compassion, a different perspective, and some creative solutions. She does this in the form of Tía Lola.
Tía Lola is a bit of a Mary Poppins Nanny McPhee character, but for a few very important distinctions. She appears more vulnerable; she experiences homesickness, she doesn’t want to be a source of embarrassment, she wants to be needed and wanted, and she gets lost. She doesn’t translate effortlessly into situations, not in the way we’ve come to expect anyway. Two, while magical, Tía Lola seems possible. And lastly, she is here to stay. We do not need characters or people like Tía Lola for only a little while, we want and need them around forever.
Tía Lola’s (great)nephew Miguel is the primary interest of the 3rd person narrative. Unlike the following books, which move fluidly and fairly frequently through other characters’ consciousness, How Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay very rarely moves away from Miguel. He is a great character to follow, for plenty of reasons, but I like it because he should appeal to male readers, especially those boys who love sports, their dad, and their mom, is an elder brother (or brother at all), and wants to belong while also wanting to be proud of where he comes from.
Miguel is having a very hard time with his parents’ divorce. He loves his dad and enjoys his dad’s company. His mother moved them away from family and friends for work in a rural town where they are the only brown people at school. He looks and feels like an oddity. He is helpless in witnessing his mom’s grieving of her own lost relationship. He isn’t all that sure of what to do with a sister who wants their dad at family events, too. Now this strange Aunt who is kind of embarrassing and who doesn’t want to learn English comes to visit. And the visit keeps going.
Miguel soon finds that Tía Lola’s presence is a balm, and not just her stories which allow him to escape the harsh realities of his life. She isn’t about running away, but confronting hurts and fears–and finding ways to do this. Tía Lola is also an opportunity for Miguel to discover himself, both individually and culturally. Alvarez finesses some beautiful and inspiring development in her characters, whether they are a protagonist or other. She does this within a single novel, and continues this over the course of the series. Like Tía Lola, reality and its pains are acknowledged, but there is a sincere sense of optimism, a true offering of hope. When are world is very small, our solutions to problems are sure to be. Miguel and his family are gifted more tools with which to work, more venues for expression, and a more vibrant place to inhabit. Julia Alvarez and her character Tía Lola do not just bring charm and sweet humor to the communities where they would visit stay, but possibility as well.
***************
note: I read these Stories out of order (as the Library obtained them). You can, too, but they are most successful, I believe, in order. Still, Alvarez does not limit herself to formula in this series, each have their own creative aspects that hold them apart from the others. Read them all, read them with your grade-schooler, and don’t just revel in the cultural education aspects, but talk about the familial and social issues, too. Alvarez writes entertaining and informative and socially conscious really well. Enjoy.
~L @ omphaloskepsis
http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/how-ta-lola-came-to-visit-stay/
readitall199's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweet middle grade story of how Miguel and his sister Juanita moved from New York to Vermont after their parents’ divorce. Soon their aunt visits from the DR. She is a friendly, kind character who enriches the lives of others. A quick read that exposes the reader to bits of DR culture and has sting themes of familia, home and belonging.