"An honest, unflinching narrative that captures the misery, messiness, and marvel of departing from a homeland and making yourself and your family anew . Every single character is vibrant, in such a way that all of us longing to belong will find in the novel something that might teach us a bit more about ourselves, and our possibilities. A generation of writers were empowered to pick up their pens after they first picked up this book. [Alvarez] proved that our shared island and the people we come from have rich and nuanced stories that deserve to be told." Elizabeth Acevedo, from the Foreword "It wasn''t until I read How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez that I could even conceive of the idea that a story like mine, about a young woman, daughter of Dominican immigrants, could also live in a book. As a young writer it was powerful to read Alvarez''s book. It was affirming and empowering to read a story about Dominican women who were negotiating a new language, rebelling, pissing off their parents, who were also trying to find their place in the United States." -- Angie Cruz, interviewed on PBS''s American Masters "Through poetic language and lively dialogue, Alvarez tells a tale that feels universal--about sibling bonds, about fluctuating familial relationships, and about finding one''s place, even as one''s position changes.
" -- The Atlantic , "The Great American Novels" "Powerful . Poignant . Beautifully captures the threshold experience of the new immigrant." -- The New York Times Book Review "A clear-eyed look at the insecurity and yearning for a sense of belonging that are a part of the immigrant experience . Movingly told." -- The Washington Post Book World "Extraordinary." -- The Bloomsbury Review "Simply wonderful." -- Los Angeles Times "[A] tender, charming book .
There is a charge to Alvarez''s writing, a poetic intensity, that is truly original." -- The Miami Herald "A joy to read." -- The Cleveland Plain Dealer "The Hispanic Joy Luck Club . A luminous poem, rich and dreamy as a slow samba. A+." -- Entertainment Weekly "Delightful." -- Cosmopolitan "Subtle . Powerful .
Reveals the intricacies of family, the impact of culture and place, and the profound power of language." -- The San Diego Tribune "Lovely and intimate." -- The Houston Post "Brilliant . A tour de force." -- Commonweal "One of the most delightful novels of the year." -- San Francisco Chronicle "Surprises us with vivid, poetic language." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "Elegant and earthy . A distinctive new voice.
" -- McCall''s "Heartwarming . It is a pleasure to read about these high-spirited Caribbean women." -- San Antonio Express-News "Refreshing . A remarkable climb up a family tree." -- Baltimore City Paper "[Alvarez] enchants the reader while spinning her web of wonder." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch "A warm and believable family portrait . Often hilarious." -- Arkansas Gazette "Spirited.
" -- The Nation "Exquisite . Alvarez makes magic and art of the human odyssey, finding wonder and faith amid the world''s confusion and ignorance." -- The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star "Delightful, original." -- The Washington Times "A kind of Dominican-American Little Women. " -- The Raleigh News and Observer "An impressive talent . A tragicomic voice whose accent is happily her very own." -- Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel "Alvarez writes with compassion, sensitivity and humor." -- Roanoke Times and World-News "Powerfully bittersweet.
" -- The Arizona Daily Star "Poignant and intimate . Alvarez delineates the two cultures with insight, humor and skill." -- Albany Sunday Times Union "Alvarez''s prose is straightforward yet possesses an inner fire touched with poetry and a finely tuned sense of irony and quiet revelation." -- The Memphis Commercial Appeal "An expertly witnessed and daringly constructed novel." -- The Tampa Tribune-Times "Bright, entertaining and full-bodied." -- The Oklahoma City Sunday Oklahoman "The voices that reveal this world are honest, clear, and rich." -- Winston-Salem Journal "Alvarez manages to bring to attention many of the issues--serious and light--that immigrant families face, portraying them with sensitivity and, at times, an enjoyable, mischievous sense." -- Kirkus Reviews "This unique coming-of-age tale is a feast of stories that will enchant and captivate readers.
" -- School Library Journal.