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A review by ribbitingreads
Dominicana by Angie Cruz
4.0
Dominicana by Angie Cruz was a beautifully yet painful story about a fifteen-year-old girl who has a chance to make a new life in New York. Ana Cancion, unlike her family members, never dreamed of going to America. However, when Juan Ruiz proposes and promises to take her away, she is forced to make a life for her and eventually the rest of her family.
This book made me anger a lot of the time. Sad some of the time, but I found Ana to be an incredible character. The man she married, a man she did not love and twice her age, was not the man her family thought he was. He was insecure. He took his anger out on her. He was pretending to fit in with the “whites”. But more importantly, it conveyed how far many immigrates go to create a good life for themselves here in United States. From taking free English classes to get an office job or breaking their backs in factories.
It showed glimpses of how war, specifically between the United States and Dominican Republic affect the countries. The reactions between the privileged American citizens and the dismay of the Dominicanos. This book made me think more about how we are all fighting the same battle at the end of the day. We all want a place to rest our head at without worry. Without wondering if our younger siblings and cousins end up in an early grave. Or that as women are only hope to a good life comes from marrying a man that is as old as our fathers. A chance for freedom.
This book made me anger a lot of the time. Sad some of the time, but I found Ana to be an incredible character. The man she married, a man she did not love and twice her age, was not the man her family thought he was. He was insecure. He took his anger out on her. He was pretending to fit in with the “whites”. But more importantly, it conveyed how far many immigrates go to create a good life for themselves here in United States. From taking free English classes to get an office job or breaking their backs in factories.
It showed glimpses of how war, specifically between the United States and Dominican Republic affect the countries. The reactions between the privileged American citizens and the dismay of the Dominicanos. This book made me think more about how we are all fighting the same battle at the end of the day. We all want a place to rest our head at without worry. Without wondering if our younger siblings and cousins end up in an early grave. Or that as women are only hope to a good life comes from marrying a man that is as old as our fathers. A chance for freedom.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Death, War, and Hate crime