Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado [Paperback]

Gloria Anzaldua (Author), Consuelo Mendez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

A brave young Mexican American girl befriends a boy who has crossed the Rio Grande River from Mexico with his mother to begin a new life in the United States. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A straightforward bilingual depiction of the variety of responses to Mexican ``illegals'' by Chicanos already living in Texas. Though her friends' first reaction on seeing Joaqu¡n is hostility toward the young mojadito (wetback), Prietita warns them off and befriends him, planning to take him to the herb woman for treatment for the sores he hides under long sleeves. A visit from the Border Patrol hastens the event; the herb woman hides Joaqu¡n and his mother until the danger is past, then shows Prietita how to help her new friend. What's special about this simple story is the realism with which the circumstances are presented. The migra represent the law, and there's nothing negative in their depiction (``even'' the Chicano migra laughs when someone makes a joke), but Prietita's kindness is clearly what is valued here. In M‚ndez's powerful mixed-media illustrations, freely drawn graphite lines define the strong, planar faces and the poverty of the surroundings; appropriately, pervasive bleak gray is only somewhat tempered by the hot, bright colors of Latino clothing and the desert. An authentic portrayal; an excellent basis for discussion of an important issue. (Picture book. 4-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition (June 3, 1997)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 0892391308
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391301
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Mexico

More About the Author

Gloria Anzaldúa (1942-2004) was a visionary writer whose work was recognized with many honors, including the Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, a Lambda literary award, the National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and the Bode-Pearson Prize for Outstanding Contributions to American Studies. Her book Borderlands/La frontera was selected as one of the 100 Best Books of the Century by Hungry Mind Review and the Utne Reader.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cultivating Amigos, May 1, 2001

By 

Katherine Manriquez (Santa An, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado (Paperback)

Friends from the Other Side tells the heart- warming story of two children living on opposite sides of the southern US border who become unlikely friends out of curiosity and circumstance. As the two children become familar with each other, the reader also becomes familiar with cultural differences within the Latino culture itself and with the daily hardships faced by families that live near the border. The book informs and educates the reader about these children's cultural issues by keeping the reader interested in the true to life plot and using realistic culturally significant illustrations. While the story reveals that life is hard for the characters, in the end it remains a story about triumph and friendship. This leaves readers of the same culture with a sense of pride for their heritage and others feeling good after reading the book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good lesson, April 28, 2001

By 

Piyoros utungkas (Fountain valley, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado (Paperback)

this book is one of the great book. It teach many lessons to children. One is to teach children to help those who are less fortunate. Futhermore, this book teach children to be brave and made their own decision upon what is right rather than follow the crowd. I think if the book change the character's race like make Prietita a white kid and helping a mexican boy, this book will teach the children another lesson that helping is regardless of race and sex.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Children from Second Grade and Up, April 26, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Friends from the Other Side / Amigos del otro lado (Paperback)

I believe that children, when they reach second grade, begin to understand that there are people of differet nationalities in our country. Friends from the Other Side dicussed about the Mexican immigrants and how they strive to find a better life in this country. This story teaches children to appreciate what they have because there are many children who are not as fortunate. It also teaches children to criticize and make fun of others like Joaquin is wrong because they might be going through a difficult time in their lives.