Synopses & Reviews
To sixteen-year-old Tina Aguilar, love is the all and the everything.
As such, Tina is less than thrilled to return to her homeland of Santiago, Chile, for the first time in eight years to visit her father, the man who betrayed her and her mothers love through his political obsession and alcoholism. Tina is not surprised to find Papá physically crippled from his time as a political prisoner, but she is disappointed and confused by his constant avoidance of her company. So when Frankie, a mysterious, crush-worthy boy, quickly shows interest in her, Tina does not hesitate to embrace his affection.
However, Frankies reason for being in Tinas neighborhood is far from incidental or innocent, and the web of deception surrounding Tina begins to spin out of control. Tinas heart is already in turmoil, but adding her and her familys survival into the mix brings her to the edge of truth and discovery.
Romance and intrigue intertwine in Lyn Miller-Lachmanns coming-of-age story set amidst the tense anticipation at the end of the Pinochet regime in 1989. Fans of Gringolandia will recognize the Aguilar family as they continue their story of survival and redemption.
[Excerpt:]
The thought of seeing Frankie again makes me feel less alone, as if theres someone else in this country who could possibly understand my life here, between the minusválidos and the ratones that drink and dont work.”
Review
[F]or collections in need of literature with Hispanic protagonists and historical time periods not often covered in schools.”
School Library Journal
Review
"Smooth dialogue, a quick pace, and palpable suspense combine to make a compelling read. . . . A riveting story of love and acceptance amid a tumultuous political landscape."
Kirkus Reviews
"[F]or collections in need of literature with Hispanic protagonists and historical time periods not often covered in schools."
School Library Journal
"[I]ntriguingly multilayered."
Booklist
"While Surviving Santiago is a companion novel to Gringolandia (Curbstone, 2009), it can be read as a standalone. The setting in Chile creates a tense atmosphere for this historical fiction novel."
VOYA
Synopsis
Returning to her homeland of Santiago, Chile, is the last thing that Tina Aguilar wants to do during the summer of her sixteenth birthday. It has taken eight years for her to feel comfort and security in America with her mother and her new husband. And it has been eight years since she has last seen her father.
Despite insisting on the visit, Tinas father spends all his time focused on politics and alcohol rather than connecting with Tina, making his betrayal from the past continue into the present. Tina attracts the attention of a mysterious stranger, but the hairpin turns he takes her on may push her over the edge of truth and discovery.
The tense, final months of the Pinochet regime in 1989 provide the backdrop for author Lyn Miller-Lachmanns suspenseful tale of the survival and redemption of the Aguilar family, first introduced in the critically acclaimed Gringolandia.
About the Author
Lyn Miller-Lachmann is the author of
Gringolndia (a 2010 ALA Best Book for Young Adults) and
Rogue. She has an M.F.A. in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin. She is the former editor of
MultiCultural Review, and has taught English, social studies, and Jewish studies. She is the assistant host of
Vientos del Pueblo, a bilingual radio show featuring Latin American and Spanish music, poetry, and history. She grew up in Houston and currently lives in Albany, NY, with her family.