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Product Description Fiction. Latina American Studies, This novel takes place in the picturesque city of San Antonio, Texas, with its rich Mexican-American culture providing the ideal backdrop for the interconnected stories in this intriguing novel for young adults/teenagers. Luz, the young Latina protagonist, will represent her state in the upcoming national spelling bee and her participation signifies a substantial milestone of her community's sense of pride and achievement. However her success triggers a variety of emotions from her family and community as they come to terms with how they feel about Luz as a Latina participating in a national spelling bee. This is the first full-length book by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernadez who previously had her stories published in journals including Rock Falls Review, Rain Dog Review, and Atom Mind. From School Library Journal Grade 8 Up-Luz Rios, 14, wins the spelling bee at South San High School and, with it, the opportunity to represent San Antonio in a national competition. The pride and joy that resound in the girl's extended Mexican-American family is short lived, however, when Luz is accused of having had possession of the list of words prior to the competition. A school-board meeting is called to determine whether the runner-up, an Anglo girl, should compete in her place. In what almost turns out to be a major miscarriage of justice, it is revealed that one of Luz's Latino friends made the false accusation. This confession comes at the conclusion of an improbably hysterical board meeting. Hernandez uses this plot to reveal the many forms that discrimination may take. The story is told through a series of vignettes, many of which are revealed through the perspectives of Luz and her younger sister, their mother Rosaura, and her mother, Aura. Hernandez is, in fact, at her best in telling Aura's story. This hard-working, cigarillo-chomping abuelita fears for her beloved granddaughter who is competing against white students. One of the zaniest moments in the book occurs when all of the aunties show up on the day of the national spelling bee to coif and curl, puff and powder Luz into a young woman they can be proud of when she steps up to spell. The text is liberally sprinkled with Spanish words; there is no glossary. The language is sometimes crude and the characters are often disagreeable. Still, the essence of Chicano culture is effectively portrayed and the book will find an audience with young readers. Sylvia V. Meisner, Allen Middle School, Greensboro, NC Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal A collection of interrelated stories makes up this first published effort of Hernandez. While the major competition facing young Latina Luz is representing her school in an upcoming spelling bee, she faces several other contests that are actually far more important. Luz's younger sister, Justina, struggles with her own ambivalence regarding Luz's success, while Luz's grandmother Aura confronts her fears about how Luz's success will influence the future and perhaps further the loss of Mexican American traditions in their home, San Antonio, Texas. The most significant competitions, however, remain Luz's. She must simultaneously fight the racist reactions and obstructionist tactics of Anglos and the burden of representing her community, or "la Raza." Hernandez's technique for showing the internal dialog of Luz's mother, Rosaura, and her grandmother Aura in "Mixing the Ingredients" is somewhat confusing, but overall the book is a worthy first effort.?Faye A. Chadwell, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Gr. 7^-12. When freshman Luz Rios wins the school spelling bee, three generations of Hispanic women explore mixed emotions about what the event means to their family, friends, and San Antonio community. Later, pervasive undercurrents of racial discrimination rise to the surface as Luz is accused of cheating, and
