Synopses & Reviews
Ceciliaandrsquo;s Year is the first title in Cinco Puntosandrsquo; new series, Latino YA Fiction. This lovely young adult novel follows in the classic tradition of Little House on the Prairie.
Fourteen-year old Maria Cecilia Gonzales is a dreamer. Sheandrsquo;s smart, for one thing, and she loves to read. Her books carry her far away, beyond the purple and blue mountains of the farm community she lives inandmdash;to high school and then on to a job in the big city.
But something stands in the way of her dreams. Cecilia is the second of six children and her oldest brother Elias doesnandrsquo;t like to study and isnandrsquo;t interested in going to high school. And, since itandrsquo;s the 1930s, just after the Depression, and since Cecilia and her family live in the quiet Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, Ceciliaandrsquo;s stern mother wonandrsquo;t let her go to high school unless Elias goes. That would cause Elias to lose face in their tight-knit community. And anyway, Ceciliaandrsquo;s mother thinks her daughterandrsquo;s highest aim should be to run a homeandmdash;to cook and sew and to raise children. Eliasandrsquo; only ambition is to be a farmer and no amount of cajoling by Cecilia seems to change his mind.
As Cecilia struggles to fulfill her goals, she experiences a deep appreciation for her family and the first tender feelings of romantic love. Susan and Denise Gonzales Abraham have woven the story of Ceciliaandrsquo;s dreams into the months of the year, the land and the crops, and the routine life on a farm. The real Cecilia is Susan and Deniseandrsquo;s mother. This, their first novel, is a tribute to her and to the deep roots of their family in rural New Mexico. The sisters live and work as educators in El Paso, Texas.
Review
"Cecilia Gonzales is nearly 14, a book-loving, excellent student, and dirt poor. She lives in rural New Mexico on her family's farm with five siblings, her parents, and an aunt. It's a hard life, just barely post-Depression--the children go barefoot, receive an orange or nuts for Christmas, and work hard from a very early age--but it's supported by family closeness and respect for traditions. Cecilia dreams of leaving the farm, going to high school, and working in a big city, but her mother is intent that she should become a farm housewife. Told in brief episodes tied to the months of the year, this tribute to the authors' mother will attract readers who enjoyed books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Alma Flor Ada. The authors describe a way of life now extinct in the urban U.S., but which some readers growing up in rural areas or immigrant families may recognize. Vintage sepia-toned photos open each chapter, and a Spanish glossary of proverbs will aid the non-Spanish-speaking reader."—Booklist
"Covering a year in the life of a Depression-era girl in a Hispanic household in rural New Mexico, this book is a tribute to a quiet heroine. As children of the real Cecilia, the authors offer an episodic account of a 14-year-old who desperately wants to go to high school at a time when most girls were expected to work at home. The cultural details are vivid and integrated into the story, providing a rich context and a snapshot of an entire community. A concluding note tells what happened to Cecilia as an adult. This fictionalized biography succeeds on several levels. Each chapter takes place during one month and has the feel of a complete short story while carrying readers along as Cecilia's determination to be something more than a good farm wife and mother bumps up against tough opposition. Spanish proverbs and family photos round out this vivid story of one young woman's determination to follow her dream." — School Library Journal
"Cecilias Year is a young adult novel about the dreams of a Latina girl living in rural New Mexico. She dreams of traveling far beyond her farm community, to experience high school and a job in the big city she knows through books, yet her mother feels her highest goal in life should be to run a home, cook, sew, and raise children. Written as a tribute to the authors mother, Cecilias Year explores the tribulations of growing up and determining ones own destiny, in a heartfelt manner sure to resonate with anyone striving to find their place in the world." —Midwest Book Review
"The conflict is evident from the first page. An avid reader stealing time away from her numerous chores, 14-year-old Cecilia, who lives in rural New Mexico, wants to go to high school, while her mother thinks book learning is unnecessary to someone destined to be a farm wife—sort of a Mexican Little House on the Prairie. The action centers on the seasons of the year, the hard work required from everyone on the farm for survival as each month passes, and how each persons life is tuned to the rhythm of the seasons and the harvest. A further aim of the novel is to reveal the folk beliefs, customs and interdependence in the Hispanic community throughout the year.
Spanish phrases are sprinkled liberally throughout the text and then loosely translated into English. The authors say that this book is about a real girl (their mother), who grew up to leave the farm and had many international adventures, mingling with presidents during a long career. This is an excellent book for young Latinas, showing the richness of their heritage, and a good way to introduce all girls to the variety of backgrounds that make up American life." —Kliatt, marked for review as a book of exceptional material
"Generational Differences within Hispanic Culture
This young adult novel presents Maria Cecilia Gonzales, a fourteen-year-old dreamer. Cecilias mother does not understand her daughters desire for more education and a job in the big city. Mrs. Gonzales believes Cecilias highest aim should be to cook, sew, and raise children. Mama sees the books her daughter reads as 'trouble,' while Cecilia views them as 'treasures.' The gripping question raised early in the novel is whether Cecilia will be allowed to attend high school, thus furthering her education.
This novel offers a perspective of family dynamics and their consequences on peoples actions and reactions, the generational debates between parents and children, and the encompassing love that allows children to grow and mature into the adults they wish to become. Likewise, the story presents a fascinating look at the Hispanic culture surrounding the Gonzales family. Highly recommended for all public and private libraries." —Review of Texas Books
"This story follows 14-year-old Cecilia through one year of her life on a rural New Mexico farm. She is an ambitious and intelligent Latina who dreams of graduating from high school, then living and working in the grand cities she has never seen. However, her mother will not allow her to attend high school unless her older brother, Elias, also passes the entrance exam. Mama is of the mindset that young women should not be seen as smarter than men, that a ladys place is in the kitchen, raising her husbands children.
Cecilia has a deep love of her family, her heritage, and her hometown. She and her family are very close-knit, and they draw support from each other to make it through the hardships that face them. Illness and the possible foreclosure of their farm bring this family even closer together. Cecilia must also work through issues that all her children her age face, such as romantic relationships with boys and jealousy of her wealthy cousins.
The authors paint a beautiful and vivid canvas of life in rural New Mexico and Latino traditions. Cecilias struggle is one that most young people face. This is the point in life when they must have the strength to spread their wings and find their own place in the world, despite what anyone else may expect from them. This book will speak to anyone with a dream and the courage to follow it into the dark places where it will almost certainly lead the dreamer." —New Mexico Kids!
"It is the 1930s and Cecilia is growing up in the quiet Rio Grande valley. Cecilias fondest dream is to go to high school. But barriers include her older brother who doesnt like to study and doesnt want to go to high school, so Cecilia wont be able to go either. Fans of Anne of Green Gables or the Little House series will like Cecilia." —Yellow Brick Road
Review
"Told in brief episodes tied to the months of the year, this tribute to the authors' mother will attract readers who enjoyed books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Alma Flor Adaand#133;Vintage sepia-toned photos open each chapter, and a Spanish glossary of proverbs will aid the non-Spanish-speaking reader."and#151;
Booklist"This book is a tribute to a quiet heroineand#133;Spanish proverbs and family photos round out this vivid story of one young woman's determination to follow her dream." and#151; School Library Journal
"Ceciliaand#8217;s Year explores the tribulations of growing up and determining oneand#8217;s own destiny, in a heartfelt manner sure to resonate with anyone striving to find their place in the world." and#151;Midwest Book Review
"This is an excellent book for young Latinas, showing the richness of their heritage, and a good way to introduce all girls to the variety of backgrounds that make up American life." and#151;Kliatt, marked for review as a book of exceptional material
"This novel offers a perspective of family dynamics and their consequences on peopleand#8217;s actions and reactions, the generational debates between parents and children, and the encompassing love that allows children to grow and mature into the adults they wish to become and#133;Highly recommended for all public and private libraries." and#151;Review of Texas Books
"The authors paint a beautiful and vivid canvas of life in rural New Mexico and Latino traditions.and#133;This book will speak to anyone with a dream and the courage to follow it into the dark places where it will almost certainly lead the dreamer." and#151;New Mexico Kids!
"Fans of Anne of Green Gables or the Little House series will like Cecilia." and#151;Yellow Brick Road
Synopsis
The first title in Cinco Puntos' new series, Latina YA Fiction, is the story of the authors' mother. Fourteen-year-old Maria Celcelia Gonzales is growing up on a farm in 1930s New Mexico. She dreams of attending high school and moving on to a job in the big city. But something stands in the way of her dreams.
Synopsis
A young girl with big dreams grows up on a farm in 1930s New Mexico
About the Author
Susan and Denise Gonzales Abraham are daughters of Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, the title character of Cecilia's Year. The sisters were born and raised in El Paso, and they both graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a B.S. in Education. Denise Gonzales Abraham received a master's degree in reading education from Arizona State University. She has taught Spanish, English, reading skills, and English as a second language in Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, and is currently an elementary school librarian with the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso. She lives with her son James Carlo and seven cats.