Customer Reviews

How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay (The Tia Lola Stories)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

How Tia Lola Came to Stay is a delightful story about a 10-year old boy going through major changes in his life and how he learns to deal with these changes. Miguel has moved to a small town in Vermont from New York City because his parents are getting a divorce. His mother has a new job as a counselor at a college, and Miguel and his little sister, Juanita, have to start a new life with her. It is hard for Miguel to be the only Latino in his class and he misses his father. He tries not to say too much about his feelings, as he doesn't want to upset his mother. Even so, he is not thrilled when she tells him that her aunt, Tia Lola, is coming from the Dominican Republic to help take care of them while they get settled. She doesn't speak English and Miguel and Juanita only speak a little Spanish. Tia Lola arrives like a burst of sunshine on a cold, gray Vermont day. She brings good food, love, laughter, and a spice for life. She is not worried about fitting in and everyone loves her, though Miguel cannot help but be embarrassed by her at first. Through her colorful approach to life she helps Miguel and his family figure out how to cope with all the changes in their lives and comes up with a plan to help Miguel make friends.
How Tia Lola Came to Stay touches on subjects that are relevant to children today. Divorce, moving, family dynamics, learning to fit in are topics with which many children have to deal. Julia Alvarez does a nice job of sprinkling the dialogue with Spanish words and finding authentic reasons to translate them in the text. Tia Lola's joyful way of living life comes through in the situations and language Alvarez uses. Miguel's maturation through the book is gradual and believable as he works through his feelings about what has happened to his family. All in all this book is a good read.

I just read and enjoyed this book in one sitting and had to sign on to comment. At first, I was a little unsure if I would like it (the present tense third person was a surprise), but after only a paragraph or so, I was hooked. I won't try to sum up the story (you can read the description for yourself) but only say that Alvarez was spot-on in her descriptions of how it feels to be the child of divorce, how it feels to be Latino, etc. I would also recommend this book to middle-grade boys who like baseball and those readers who don't like an extreme conflict (there are problems for the main character here, but Tia Lola takes care of many of them, and the effect is comforting).

I think it's unfortunate that a reviewer gave this one star on the basis that the book did not live up to the author's other adult works. I read many many children's books (and try to write them myself) and giving this book one star is simply unfair. I have not read Alvarez' other works (I probably will go seek them out after this!), but if they're THAT much better than this book, then they must be outstanding!

Overall, a sweet and charming read that made me wish I had a Tia Lola too!

I borrowed this book from the library to read to my seven year old for cultural reasons. We were chuckling by Chapter 2 and rolling with laughter by Chapter 4. By the time we finished it, I had ordered two copies, one for me as teach and parent, the other as a Christmas gift for an 11 year old.

The book deals with divorce, moving from city to country, younger siblings, being culturally and ethnically different with tears, frustration and laughter.

What impressed me most was the author's ability to paint vibrant pictures in our minds. I taught five week Literacy Workshop unit to 2nd graders (just as appropriate for older students) introducing "mind pictures" or visual images that an excellent author creates with words. The students writing, and awareness in reading, changed dramatically using this book. It was universally loved by the class.

In HOW TIA LOLA CAME TO STAY, Miguel and his sister Juanita are facing the twin terrors of their parents' divorce and the move from New York City to a new home in Vermont. They don?t expect anything but more hurt feelings and complications when their Tia (?aunt? in Spanish) Lola comes to ?visit" them in Vermont.

Miguel quickly realizes that his Spanish heritage is unique (to say the least) in Vermont and he wants desperately to fit in. The appearance of Tia Lola in her bright lipstick, colorful dresses, mysteriously shifting beauty mark and enormous displays of affection embarrass Miguel. He becomes fearful that this ?difference? in his household will prevent him from making the friends that would make life a little easier.

There is a surprise in store; Tia Lola is far from being a liability in the lives of Miguel, Juanita and their Mami (?Mom? in Spanish). Tia Lola is sensitive to the needs of everyone and while she speaks literally no English (at first!) she understands what she can do to ease the pain of the divorce. The funniest part of the book is when Alvarez hilariously, but without mocking, Alvarez writes about Tia Lola's attempts to learn English. Miguel meets her halfway by speaking ?Spanglish?, which is what his mother calls his own brand of language, blending English with Spanish.

Communication is the beginning of all understanding and this is where the story starts to take a turn. Tia Lola truly begins to be part of the family when she accompanies Miguel and Juanita on a trip to New York City to visit with their much-missed and beloved father. Though they temporarily lose Tia Lola in the big city due to her insatiable curiosity, the kids realize what her presence in their lives has come to mean to them.

The book ends in a warm way, exemplifying Alvarez?s desire to write a triumphant tale about the importance of knowing who you are, family ties, and the ability to make it through when it looks like the odds are stacked against you. She even includes a page entitled ? A Word About the Spanish? for non-fluent readers. And she provides a key to the special slang and pronounciation of the Dominican Republic, her homeland. She is a sensitive writer who cares for her characters as well as her readers!

(...)

This book will inspire the hearts of children everywhere, it is relevant to many children today. Its focus is around a family that has just been split apart by divorce. Miguel and Junita have to suffer from this divorce by moving away from their father in New York to live with their mother in Vermont. Miguel and Juanita do not want their Aunt Lola to come. Little do these children know, that when their Aunt Lola from the Dominican Republic comes to visit they grow to like her and do not want her to leave. Aunt Lola speaks only Spanish, Miguel and Junita speak some Spanish (enough to get by). Not only do these children have to learn to fit in in a new school, but also learn to make their Aunt feel welcome. Miguel thinks that Aunt Lola has special powers that allowed him to be on the baseball team. A child's imagination can can run wild in this novel. This book if filled with Spanish, which can help a young reader learn a different language. A trip to the Dominican Republic inspires the children to want to learn more about Aunt Lola's culture. They were surprised at how much they looked like their relatives, even though they are Americans. The story is filled with a lot of twists, especially at the end. I recommend this book to any child who is interested in different cultures.

I read this and thought it had a lot to offer. It introduced some Spanish words to the reader, and it touched on many subjects that kids, especially boys, would like: baseball, friends, the hardship of moving, feeling alone when your parents divorce. The message of be yourself, and don't be embarrassed of your heritage was cleverly disguised: it wasn't in your face, but gently told with reinforcement from the character of Tia Lola. Funny, touching and a good read. Recommend it for kids who are having a rough time adjusting to a parent's divorce, or recent move.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT A FAMILY AND TIA LOLA. THEY LIVE IN VERMONT AND TIA LOLA LIVES IN DOMINICAN REPLUBLIC.ONE DAY SHE COMES TO VISIT THEM FOR VACATION.TIA LOLA DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH SO MIGUEL AND JUANITA HAVE TO TEACH TIA LOLA HOW TO SPEAK.WELL I DID LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS INSPIRING TO ME. SHE HAS TO LEARN ENGLISH SO THAT SHE CAN COMMUNICATE TO OTHER PEOPLE.THIS BOOK IT IS THE SAME AS MY LIFE. I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR OPPUTUNITIES THAT THIS COUNTRY OFFERS. I HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH TO SPEAK TO OTHER PEOPLE. IT WAS HARD. THIS BOOK REFLECTS THE LIFVES OF AN IMMIGRANT. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO SOMEONE ELSE.

Tia Lola has just arrived from the Dominican Republic with her bright dresses and odd habits, and Miguel is not so certain her odd ways are attractive or acceptable. Her habits make him stand out from his Vermont classmates and as hard as Miguel tries, he can't keep her hidden from his new friends. Her odd habits change his life in this moving multicultural story.

I liked the YANKEES game and the big party. I thought that the spanish helped my spanish. Parts of the book got boring but it was ok. I thought Miguel was a good tuff odd characher. I thought Junita acted like a baby. Tia Lola was a very good story characher. The book was very good.

When Miguel's crazy Tia Lola comes to visit from the Dominican Republic, he instantly knows that his life is never going to be the same. As Miguel struggles with his parents' divorce and his recent move to rural Vermont from New York City, he is not sure that he needs the wacky presence of his unusual Spanish-speaking aunt added to the chaos in his life. However, he soon realizes that his flamboyant and colorful aunt is just what he needs to spice up his life and bring his family together.

How Tia Lola Came to Stay is an uplifting and funny story that upper elementary students will enjoy. Through Julia Alvarez's beautiful descriptions of Tia Lola's exotic cooking, lively music, and vibrant storytelling the reader will be captivated and entertained while learning about Caribbean culture. Possible discussion themes include: family, divorce, tolerance, culture and immigration. This funny and smart book will make a great addition to any classroom library.