White Bread Competition

by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez

Book Overview

The picturesque city of San Antonio, Texas with its rich Mexican-American culture provides the ideal backdrop for the linked stories in this award-winning collection. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1558852107
• ISBN13: 9781558852105
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Pinata Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

White Bread Competition

Those of you who like to know real things that happen in different communities you should read htis book, this book is very descriptive, challenging and it even has spanish words in it. I believe that the book White Bread Competition makes me understand that there are some challenging people but you should continue to work hard on what you want to do. I love this book it showed me how to encourage myself to do what I want to do and to do it the best way that I can. Listening to others opinions is still helpful but when they want you to quit it's too hard to say no to something that you really want. I recommend that this book will make you feel as of you are living the story.

Not only for children!

The first few chapters, along with the title, are a bit misleading. This wonderfully weaved tale teaches and entertains anyone from 8 to 80. Each reader will find a particular chapter that applies to him or her in some very specific way. A reader who says otherwise is a liar. Many of today's touchiest social subjects and taboos are addressed, but in an incredibly entertaining way. I would highly recommend this book to any of my friends.

A stunning debut

White Bread Competition is an artistic tour de force. Ms Hernandez's writing shows a deep understanding of human behaviour, and considerable insight into the the complex issue of racism and prejudice. This is a stunning and satisfying book and the author is a novelist and poet of great gifts. This should be required reading not only for children, but also for their parents.

A unique and compassionate book; fresh and vibrant.

The novel relives in fresh vibrant prose the anguish for young Latinas of growing up in a white world. The story of Luz, who wins a spelling competition against all the odds: adolescent jealousy, adult malice, racial prejudice on the part of the school administration, is an inspirational one. It is to the author's credit that she doesn't overwork the racial theme; rather, she examines the live of her own people: generational conflicts,sibling rivalries, the roles of Chicana women; family obligations, traditions and prejudices. We enter the mind of an eccentric grandmother, the artist mother, a Mrs. Whitting who tries to hide her own "white trash" background. In one story ironing becomes a motif as mother and daughter "iron out" their differences and discover commonalities--and love. The Texas setting is vivid and detailed, and the characters wholly believable in their diversity. The white bread versus tortilla metaphor threads its way brilliantly through the book. I think both schoolchildren and adults will derive nourishment from this unique and compassionate book. "Familia," the author concludes, "They can make you crazy and they can give you what it takes to get ahead."

Chicanas are heard in this book

Even though Jo Ann's White Bread Competition is placed in the young adult section, it is also for adults. It should be placed in the adult section because it shows the full spectrum of the Chicana Familia. The characters show perseverence in their pursuit of their goals. Though the stories are ten individual short stories, there runs a thread that connects them, the same way family members are connected to each other. This book has been used in the college classroom successfully, both in Chicano Literature courses and as a supplement in other English classes. I recommend it be used in Puente classes. There is much in the book that will spark spirited classroom discussions.