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A review by debz57a52
Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I listened to this on audio.
Don't date Rosa Santos is a delightful teen drama, with the added twist of it being steeped in Cuban (and Latin) culture through it's dialogue, traditions, food, and multi-generational family relationship dynamics. Rosa is a child who has been raised to believe she will curse any man she loves just by being near the sea. This is a problem, since she lives in a seaside town. However, with the help of her friends, friendly townspeople, family, and a love interest, she is able to orchestrate a delightful street fair, more representative of her family's Cuban roots than usual, and raise enough money to save the harbor from developers. Yay for the 17yo who saves the town!
So that's my first complaint - she is surrounded by what appear to me to be able-bodied adults who have bought or rented homes, traveled outside their Florida towns, had children, run businesses for generations, graduated from college, etc.... and you're telling me that they couldn't run a town fair without a 17yo at the helm? Or they couldn't take up a monthly collection? Really?
Also, while I appreciate the fact that there is such diversity in the town that is respected (brief descriptions of her married gay neighbors and their baby girl, various dark- or white-skinned people, people who may or may not have traditional religious beliefs), but it does seem a little far-fetched. In small town Florida. I've never lived in Florida, but I have friends who do (both long-time residents and newly-transplanted people), and most will admit that there is an undercurrent during interactions with people who "are not like us," but that seems absent in this novel. That's fine - the author wanted to take on other things, blah, blah.
However, as a novel with Cuban roots, I did find the magical realism,especially once they got to Cuba, entirely charming, if hard to believe, and fun to follow.
Basically, if you're looking for a fluffy teen novel with a few moments of serious drama, especially one that honors Cuban customs and the search for one's heritage, this is a good one to pass the time with.
Don't date Rosa Santos is a delightful teen drama, with the added twist of it being steeped in Cuban (and Latin) culture through it's dialogue, traditions, food, and multi-generational family relationship dynamics. Rosa is a child who has been raised to believe she will curse any man she loves just by being near the sea. This is a problem, since she lives in a seaside town. However, with the help of her friends, friendly townspeople, family, and a love interest, she is able to orchestrate a delightful street fair, more representative of her family's Cuban roots than usual, and raise enough money to save the harbor from developers. Yay for the 17yo who saves the town!
So that's my first complaint - she is surrounded by what appear to me to be able-bodied adults who have bought or rented homes, traveled outside their Florida towns, had children, run businesses for generations, graduated from college, etc.... and you're telling me that they couldn't run a town fair without a 17yo at the helm? Or they couldn't take up a monthly collection? Really?
Also, while I appreciate the fact that there is such diversity in the town that is respected (brief descriptions of her married gay neighbors and their baby girl, various dark- or white-skinned people, people who may or may not have traditional religious beliefs), but it does seem a little far-fetched. In small town Florida. I've never lived in Florida, but I have friends who do (both long-time residents and newly-transplanted people), and most will admit that there is an undercurrent during interactions with people who "are not like us," but that seems absent in this novel. That's fine - the author wanted to take on other things, blah, blah.
However, as a novel with Cuban roots, I did find the magical realism,
Basically, if you're looking for a fluffy teen novel with a few moments of serious drama, especially one that honors Cuban customs and the search for one's heritage, this is a good one to pass the time with.