Hispanic Heritage

A yard sale, ice skating, class pictures, and a surprise party are a few of the things that make fourth grade fun for Julio and his friends, but they must get serious about studying as the statewide end-of-year test approaches.

Sixteen-year-old Carlos Duarte is on the verge of realizing his dream of becoming a famous make-up artist, but first he must face his jealous boss at a Macy's cosmetics counter, his sister's abusive boyfriend, and his crush on a punk-rocker classmate.

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of its initial publication, and with a new introduction by the author, here is Sandra Cisnero's greatly admired and best-selling novel of a young girl growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. Acclaimed by critics, beloved by children and their parents and grandparents, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, The House on Mango...

In Northern California, Maritza Gabriela Morales Mercado struggles to deal with the third grade bully, to control her temper, and to remember to speak Spanish at home and English at school.

Benito's father, Xavier, returns from Iraq after more than a year suffering from PTSD--post-traumatic stress disorder--and yells constantly. He causes such a scene at a school function that Benny is embarrassed to go back to Southside High. Benny can't handle seeing his dad so crazy, so he decides to run away. Will Benny find a new life, or will he learn how to deal with his dad--through good times and bad?

In an autobiography she writes for class, María describes her experiences as an American with roots in Latin America, life with her hardworking mother and immigrant grandmother, and the advantages of living in two different cultures.