Customer Reviews

The Color of My Words

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I first looked for books that might be interesting to read. I would have to admit that at first glance I liked the book, because of its colorful cover, but then I went on to read the reviews and thought it a great idea to buy the book. I believe that it has been the best investment I have made in my life. I didn't like it...I LOVED IT. Its the type of book you hate to put down till your done with it, and the type you can relate to...I was born in the United States but am of Dominican origin and can truely say that this book captures what so many Dominicans have lived through the years. There have been heard times in the Domincan Republic but, but also great times. For there is nothing greater then the way Domincian families just stick together and this book gives a perfect example of how close people are in the Dominican Republic as if everyone was family. The way the author indents the spanish words that seem so familiar to me....and the way she uses quotations makes the book so easy to read. Most of all though its the detail the life experiences she explains in the book, the setting, and the loves shown throughout the book that makes it so great. So great that while reading the book it wrapped me up so much into itself. That I ended up crying not of dissapointment but of how good the book was. On how much I could relate to it from my life experience as a Dominincan girl but also as family experiences. When i suggested it to my friend and cousins they too cried of great joy for the book also wrapped them into its pages its words, but most of all into the life it had captured between the pages. I would recommend this book to anyone...For its the best book I have read so far....So if you haven't read it.....GO and READ IT NOW.....DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS GREAT BOOK....FOR IF YOU DO YOU'LL REGRET IT.

This book is a winner in every way. Readers will learn why it is important to stand up for what is right, to band together to fight unjust and unethical situations, and the power of the written word. Ana Rosa is a really neat kid who cares deeply about her family and about social justice. When the chips are down she takes action. I am not from the Dominican Republic (nor is the author, though her husband is and she lives there) and I would be interested to read what a native person thinks of this book. As an American it made me angry to read first hand about the impact of our tourist industry upon cultures that are so poor they can't afford paper to write upon. I was uplifted and inspired by the close family ties and support of this family who were financially impoverished, but enriched beyond belief in human values and compassion. This is one of those books where you can learn something about another culture while at the same time, being entertained by a really good story. I think Lynn Joseph was careful with her words in crafting the story. Ana Rosa was even a bit rebellious and "different," but her family stood behind her. Great book. Great boy characters and girl characters -- all kids who dream to be activists would enjoy this story.

I've never cried and laughed so much in the space of so few pages. Ms. Joseph has captured the heart of a writer in Ana Maria's lush, colorful words flung against the backdrop of the Dominican Republic. I have no critique or summary, only gratitude. This book wounded me sweetly.

Lynn Joseph masters the art of creating rich metaphors. Every page is full of wonderful, evocative images, such as "My mother had walked straight out of herself and left behind a stranger", and "He was the blue moon shimmering in the night sky". Ana Rosa's poems, which begin each chapter, offer an insight to what the chapter holds. The relationships between the characters, especially between Ana Rosa and her older brother Guario, are sweetly and tenderly portrayed. This is a beautifully written book, and one that can be enjoyed by both adolescents and adults.
The one weakness I found with the book was the sub-plot involving the identity of Ana Rosa's father. This seems as if it would be such a transforming revelation that it can't adequately be dealt with in just one chapter, never to be mentioned again. Such an important topic deserves a more in-depth treatment.
Overall, however, The Color of My Words is an excellent book, and highly recommended.

This book is amazing. I bought enough copies to use as a classroom novel because this is an OUTSTANDING story. The added bonus is its rich demonstration of the beauty and power of words. So often when teachers teach about 'words' it is all about building vocabulary and root words. Or we show discrete examples of similes and alliteration - terms to memorize. Here is an OUTSTANDING story full of wonderful characters, a powerful message - and rich, exciting, tasty words.
I am presently using this book as a classroom novel in all my classes. The response to this book is fantastic! Students can't get enough of it. They want to read more, talk more, discuss characters and issues, act it out... Amazing! Because of the use of similes, metaphors, alliteration, and so on - this book is a great way for my class to review for State testing and loving it.

The color of my words is a great book. Ana Rosa loves to write but can't afford to buy a notebook to put all her words and thoughts down. The only notebook she had was for school so one day she took her brohers empty work notebook and wrote all her poems in. The setting of this story is in the Dominican Republica. The plot is Ana Rosa dicovers she likes to write, she gets a notebook, and starts to write. The conflict is about how Ana wants to become a writer but can't afford to buy a notebook and her family doesn't really understand she has a passion. The main characters are Ana Rosa, Mami, Papi, and Guario. In my point of view it is a really good book to read and you can also learn about a little girls life. Last but not least the theme is about a girl called Ana Rosa discovers that she has a passion for writing poems. The Colors of My Words is a really good book and I recommend it to anyone of any age.

_The Color of My Words_ is the story of a young girl growing up in the Dominican Republic where "silence was self defense." The first chapter is called "Wash Day," and is where the main character (Ana Rosa) says "At the river's edge, I'd tell Mami all the special things I had thought about during the week." This is where Ana Rosa learns that her mother is worried for her. "Writers have died here. At least those brave enough to hurl words at our government." We are introduced to the rest of the girl's family, her Papi, brother Guario and siblings Angela and Roberto and also to the gri gri tree where she watches the world go by and daydreams. The ability of the girl to write effectively comes into the story as she describes some of what is going on around them (a humpback whale that comes into the Sosua Bay). It is inspiring to read of how her brother Guario encourages her and understands what she is trying to express. "He was smiling. My big strong brother who worried about our future, my serious Guario who almost never smiled, suddenly let out a loud whoop and grabbed me up. He spun me around and around." You come to know her and her family as well as the community of people in their village. I don't want to reveal the whole story so I will just say that through her writing we are introduced to the conflict of the time as well as to her own personal struggles. At the very end, she gets a special gift from her Mami and Papi, but you will have to read the story to find out what it is!

Twelve year old Ana Rosa spends most of her day on her Gri Gri tree writing poems and stories. But most people discourage her. Only the president is allowed to write books. Her sister, Mami, encourage her to write. Ana Rosa always feels supported by her sister, Mami. All her father does is sit on the porch drinking rum. She also has 2 brothers, Roberto and Guario, and a sister, Angela.
Ana Rosa and her family can feel the warmth and happiness of her writings. They always look at her stories taped on the refrigerator. Ana Rosa's words inspire them to dream for what they want.
This novel is Lynn Joseph's first book about her new island home in the Dominican Republic. I liked it when Lynn Joseph put Spanish words in the book because you feel like you are there with them. I also like it when she described Ana Rosa's sister, Angela, "beautiful as Cinderella."
I couldn't stop reading this book. It is full of everything that you could ever imagine. Whales, guns, cafes, etc. This book is about a girl and her family's struggle through their hard life. I think that people would not believe what these people did to protect their families and home.

As she nears her 13th birthday, Ana Rosa lives with her family in a small village on the island country of the Dominican Republic. While her father sits on the front porch getting drunk each day, her mother keeps the family together with the help of her brother. Guario is not only the bread winner of the house, but also Ana Rosa's hero and positive male role model. Ana Rosa is heartbroken when her sister appears to capture Ana Rosa's first love, Guario's best friend. But that is the least of her worries. Ana Rosa dreams of becoming a writer in a country that is politically squelched and only the president is allowed to write books. She shares this secret with her mother only and must be satisfied with writing on what few scraps of paper can be found. Eventually, however, she shares her writing abilities with her fellow villagers in the midst of community crisis as it is about to be torn down by developers. As the novel nears its end, Ana Rosa must reconcile within herself new information about who her birth father really is, as well as the untimely death of her hero brother. And of course Ana Rosa takes comfort and satisfaction in her writing.
Joseph packs a great deal of raw emotions and human qualities into her sparse writing. Told in a first person narrative, the story moves along quickly and packs a big bang at the end. The descriptive writing brings not only the island community to life and culture, but especially the characters. Anyone who has dreams of life's ambitions and even those who love to travel will enjoy this novel.

I am an elementary teacher, and I love this book. I use it as an intro into emotionally engaging with a book. I feel that connecting emotionally and really feeling what you read is the key to fostering a true love affair with books.