Gringolandia (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781931896498)

Daniel's papá, Marcelo, used to play soccer, dance the cueca, and drive his kids to school in a beat-up green taxi--all while publishing an underground newspaper that exposed Chile's military regime.

After papá's arrest in 1980, Daniel's family fled to the United States. Now Daniel has a new life, playing guitar in a rock band and dating Courtney, a minister's daughter. He hopes to become a US citizen as soon as he turns eighteen.

When Daniel's father is released and rejoins his family, they see what five years of prison and torture have done to him. Marcelo is partially paralyzed, haunted by nightmares, and bitter about being exiled to "Gringolandia." Daniel worries that Courtney's scheme to start a bilingual human rights newspaper will rake up papá's past and drive him further into alcohol abuse and self-destruction. Daniel dreams of a real father-son relationship, but he may have to give up everything simply to save his papá's life.

This powerful coming-of-age story portrays an immigrant teen's struggle to reach his tortured father and find his place in the world.

Author: Lyn Miller-Lachmann
ISBN-10: 1931896496
ISBN-13: 9781931896498
Publisher: Curbstone Press
Language: English
Published: 05/01/2009
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.80w x 1.00d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.5
Point Value: 10
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 131308 / Gringolandia

Award: Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature - Honorable Mention
Award: Tayshas Reading - Commended
Award: Independent Publisher Book Awards - Gold Medal Winner

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 04/01/2009
School Library Journal 04/01/2009 pg. 139
Booklist 07/01/2009 pg. 54
Voice of Youth Advocates 08/01/2009 - Recommended - Better Than Most
Multicultural Review 07/01/2009 pg. 85
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2009 pg. 681
ALA Best Books Young Adults 03/01/2010 pg. 16
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2010 - Superior,Well Above Average