Esmeralda Santiago
Author
When I Was Puerto Rican
"It's terrific, as intimate and valuable as a chat with your best amiga, from whom you keep no secrets. Every page is full of useful information, and rich with Sandra's generous and honest desire to help Latinas understand and assert themselves."




Publishers Weekly
February 25, 2002

THE LATINA’S BIBLE:
The Nueva Latina’s Guide to Love, Sex, Spirituality, and La Vida
SANDRA GUZMAN, Three Rivers, $17 paper (352p) ISBN0-609-80696-3

Hip and chatty, with serious undertones, this "bible" will be a valuable resource for young Latina women. A Puerto Rican-born journalist and former editor-in-chief of Latina magazine, Guzman tackles media image versus self-image up front; she rejects the bureaucratic term Hispanic and celebrates the infinite variety of skin color, body shapes, hair texture regional dialects and national origins of today’s Latinas as she shares personal anecdotes and advice on a wide range of modern conundrums, from dating a non-Latino man to combating workplace discrimination. Much of the book focuses on familial and especially romantic relations with Spanglish-inflected guidance on dating, marriage, and Latino sexual mystique. There are also chapters on health, careers and spirituality and a strong emphasis throughout on professional networking and mentoring of young girls. In fact, the book is guided by a sense of community-oriented feminism. Sidebars feature illuminating statistics and thumbnail biographies of lesser-known women, such as Ileana Ros Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress and activist, Antonia Pantoja, the first Puerto Rican woman to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Though Guzman ostensibly directs her book to all Latina women, her wise-older-sister tone will probably most appeal to younger women and teens. (Mar.)

Forecast: According to Guzman, there are more than 15 million Latinas in the U.S., with the single biggest group being 35-to-40 year-olds, making the market for her book muy grande especially as a gift to daughters and younger sisters. A splashy cover will help attract buyers.




From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-This is a book for all Latinas living in the U.S.-from the newly arrived to the oldest generation. Guzman writes with much sisterly love and respect, pointing out ways Hispanic women can meld the best of Latin culture with feminist-based U.S. values. She fosters a self-reliant, take-charge attitude in her readers, while encouraging healthy relationships and communication with family. Accompanying the banter and chat are sidebars containing all kinds of statistics, factoids, and quotes. No matter their specific backgrounds, Latinas are bound to see much of themselves and their families in this book, and leave it feeling proud, understood, and empowered. Teens who are having trouble convincing their families to let them leave home and go to an out-of-state college will find Guzman's advice ingenious. Undoubtedly, YAs will be drawn to the chapters on dating and relationships: they are frank and seem to cover all bases, including domestic violence, homosexuality, and dating a blanquito (white guy). The chapter "Going Home-to Your Roots" is especially poignant. It invites readers to visit the land of their ancestors, giving tips on how to maximize the pilgrimage, and even addressing the sensitive issue of visiting Cuba. Experiences of those Latinas who have made the journey (some of whom spoke no Spanish at first) can't help but touch the heart. Humorous, serious, and fun, this book will speak to young Hispanics.
Sheila Shoup, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.




From Library Journal
Since the age of 12, Guzman, an award-winning journalist and former editor of Latina magazine, has wished for a book like this a celebration of Latinas as well as a clear and readable guide to the personal aspects of Latina life. Finally, she had to write it herself. Showing readers how to balance traditional values with new American ways, she fills every page with interesting sidebars, including facts, statistics, short biographies, web sites, and bibliographies. Love, dating, health, marriage, and spirituality are just a few of the topics covered in detail. Incorporated into the treatment of these issues are frank discussions of sexual abuse, gender inequality, and what it means to be homosexual in the Latin community. Few if any current titles embrace those concerns. Fun and informative, this is an excellent choice for public and academic libraries. Lisa Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.








· The Joy of Being Nueva Latina

· Love and Relationships: La Novia, La Esposa and the Case of the Casi-Esposa

· Latina Sexual Mystique - The Hot Tamale and Other Lethal Myths

· Talk Circles-- The Power of Latina Friendship

· Surviving Your Mother, La Familia and El Qué Dirán - Without Going Loca!

· The Healthy Latina - Cuidate Muchacha!

· Centering Your Soul: Spirituality Latina Style

· Marrying Outside La Raza: Eight Things You Should Know Before You Marry a Blanquito

· Finding Professional Success: The Get Ahead Guide for the Nueva Latina

· Secrets of Latina Dating: The Barrio Girls' Rule Revealed

· Que Bella Soy: The Beautiful Latina

· Going Home-To Your Roots

· La Futura: Taking Care of Our Little Hermanitas