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Liked It “Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com |
Didn’t Like It “The story starts out with Laura being in love with Marlena for around two years. They both live in Miami and are part of the Cuban group. Everything falls apart when the two are caught in bed together and Laura's mother goes nuclear, calling Laura basically every version of disgusting pervert one...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“It was kind of disgusting, You know all those things, but I felt pity for Laura she couldn't find her soul mate that's kind of sad”
Fakhria A wrote this review Monday, November 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The story starts out with Laura being in love with Marlena for around two years. They both live in Miami and are part of the Cuban group. Everything falls apart when the two are caught in bed together and Laura's mother goes nuclear, calling Laura basically every version of disgusting pervert one can imaging. Laura is expelled from the Catholic school she is attending and then, to top that off, her mother kicks her out of the house and won't allow her to return until she is a nice, straight girl with a boyfriend.
Ranko wrote this review Wednesday, October 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Fortunately, Laura has some friends she can stay with so she does that. She tries to deny that she's attracted to other girls, going so far as to try and have a 'normal' relationship with a boy. That's complicated by her meeting another girl she has fallen for really hard.
Eventually she is true to herself and her feelings.
The story does show the level of prejudice against gays, lesbians, etc, in the Cuban community, and just how strong that hatred is, even including a mother throwing her own daughter out of the house because of it. As many in the g/l/b/t community attempt, Laura tries to deny her feelings and tries to fit in and pass herself off as straight. So the story does reflect what happens to people in 'real' life.
On the other hand, the story has the feeling of being padded. The entire story could have been told in maybe half the space without really leaving anything important out. At times the story gets very close to being plain boring.”
“I like this book. The culture was interesting and really told the struggle of coming out.
Napoleon Wrasse Queen wrote this review Sunday, August 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
At times I found it confusing, but other then the book was great!
I definitely will read more her. ”“ Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
TeensReadToo.com wrote this review Sunday, July 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
How mortified would you be if one of your teachers read one of your private notes or letters out loud in front of the class? Take that mortification times one hundred, and that's what happens to Laura Amores on the last day of class. Except this letter is from her girlfriend and describes in detail their forbidden love. By the end of the school day, previous friends have deserted her, the nuns at her school have expelled her, and her mother has kicked her out of the house. At least until she changes her ways and falls in love with a boy.
Thankfully, Laura (who has many nicknames throughout the story) has a good friend in Soli and her mother, Viva. They let Laura stay with them indefinitely.
The story only gets worse for Laura. The girl she is in love with leaves Miami for Cuba. To add pain to heartache, Marlena tells Laura over the phone that she realizes their love was wrong and sinful and she is going to marry the man her family wants her to wed.
Laura struggles throughout the book to come to terms with who she is. She has dated boys in the past, but only Marlena has sent sparks through her body. Is she gay? Is she bi-sexual? Was it only Marlena that caused these feelings?
Laura meets many interesting people during the course of the story. They all help Laura define who she is and who she will become. She is determined to win back her mother's love. But in the end, is it really so important to have someone love who they want you to be but not who you are? Laura struggles with society's negative opinions of anyone not heterosexual or who is different from the norm.
Ms. Dole is a fresh new voice in the GLBTQ genre. She speaks frankly about the issue for teens to grasp and understand. The story is not always easy to read, but it's one that you'll be glad that you have. It will bring a deeper understanding of those that may seem different than you, but who just want to be loved and understood like everyone should be.
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“Great treatment of Laura's failed relationship with her mother. Focus is on Cuban mothers but many of us, in all cultures, will recognize the lack of understanding and acceptance that she portrays. Laura's character is also well developed as she wrestles with the confusion that is adolescense, exagerated by her desires that are unacceptable to so many around her. Readers will tend to understand why she makes various decisions at the times she does and will root for her to make decisions in her best interest. This is an easy reading book that speaks directly to the GLBTQ community but also does an exceptional job of describing the conflicts and frustrations felt by teens when decisions they make are made more difficult through the lack of acceptance by others who should be expected to assume supporting roles (including friends, parents, and teachers).
Serendipitous Librarian wrote this review Monday, June 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Though it may be seen as a display of diversity and attempt at realistic depiction of language in a multicultural community, some of the dialogue written in very easy reading English but with a significant blend of Spanish words and phrases may tend to limit (or frustrate) the audience. There is a glossary of Spanish terms in the back that should be advertized more clearly at the beginning of the book as many readers may not realize its existence. Similarly, the heavy use of stage direction, example, "we all kissed each other on the cheek," may be included to indicate cultural norms or describe character lifestyle but the overuse does not help to advance the story.
A definite recommendation for some readers while not even on the radar for others. Glad I read it and will read others by this author in the future.”
“It was okay. Nice portrait of the trials of a Cuban-American girl coming out, but it kinda dragged a bit, and I just wanted to kick the girl and say, "Shit, just come out already!!" ”
Candise B wrote this review Tuesday, May 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I just finished _Down To The Bone_, a wickedly funny and smart LBGT teen novel. It is a welcomed and needed addition to a genre that is sorely under represented in the media, libraries and book blogs. The issue of who we love is front and center here, and the writer doesn't deviate from the issue. That said this book isn't for gay teens only (I really wish we wouldn't overlook books just because they address a marginalized group). It is for everybody who knows and loves someone who is LBGT and I hope that people who judge members of this community will read it, too.
zawadi wrote this review Wednesday, May 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Okay, I don't want to preach here, but Laura's story, while fiction, is a reality for many teens and that reality is ugly and scary. The book opens with drama: Laura is reading a love letter from her girlfriend, Marlena in class. Not the smartest thing to do and she chides herself for it later. Her teacher snatches the note and proceeds to humiliate Laura. Now you would think a mature adult would stop when she realizes the consequences of finishing the letter aloud, but the teacher is cruel. Yes, I say cruel. Laura is expelled from school and then her mother kicks her out of their home, too. If you don't know, you cannot be Cuban and gay. The homophobia and gay bashing is vicious. Reminds me a lot of how intolerant the black community is. Still, I was surprised how intolerant the young people were. One of the things I think Dole does exceptionally well is to describe how a young person comes to term with her sexual orientation and the process of self-identifying. Laura does not call herself gay. She has loved only one girl and she is understandably afraid of associating with openly gay people. She wants a normal life even if it means not being completely honest with herself. She wants her life back. I appreciate that Dole doesn't make Laura a teen who is the exception. In other words, Laura has to figure out who she is and what she wants. She's not this super strong, assertive person who thinks she knows all the answers. Laura admits she's confused. She gets angry. She does all the things that make her believable.
The upside to Laura's story is that despite the trauma of being separated from her family (she is exceptionally close to her little brother, Pedri) she has an incredible support system. Here best friend, Soli and her mom, Viva take Laura and her dog in. She has a job and she meets new people in the gay community including Tazer, a boi. Laura makes a lot of mistakes including hurting someone in attempt to be what her mother wants her to be. In the end she does decide to live her life as who she really is. It is not the life she thought she'd have but it is a good life.
For a first book, Dole gets a lot right: pacing, crazy dialogue, you will be laughing a lot, and the language is authentic from the teens' vernacular to Viva's English. A personal plus for me was all the talk of food. I don't just love food, I love eating (all the foodies know what this means) and according to Laura, so do Cubans. Between the wicked dialogue and all the food, I could not get enough. Don't laugh. This book feeds a hunger that only a good book can. The book is huge and I wondered if that would put readers off. Not to worry, this is page turner, and while the book is thick, it's also shorter than a standard hardcover. I read the book straight through. There were only a couple of scenes I felt were heavy handed but I get the aim and the lessons won't be lost on anybody. I know most of us hate overt preaching, but this is one peer trying to let another peer know that it's okay to be who you are.
I highly recommend, _Down To The Bone_. May is Latin Book Month. If you haven't chosen a book to commemorate the month, pick up this one. It imparts what every parent wants for their children: love, self-acceptance, self-discovery and personal growth.”“teen girl in love with another girl, catholic high school, good honest look at gay teens”
EPL wrote this review Monday, September 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Mayra Lazara Dole’s wonderful first novel is a very necessary addition to the somewhat limited selection of LBGTQ literature out there (and what there is seems to be more about gay boys than anything). Necessary, because it represents a subset of the population that perhaps doesn’t have much literature to directly relate to. Laura, the main character, is a Latina (Cuban, specifically) lesbian living in Miami, but enjoyment of this great book is not limited to those that fit that profile, not by a long shot! I’m a straight white girl in North Carolina, and I really liked it.
teenbookreview wrote this review Saturday, March 29 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Laura’s life is seriously changed when she is caught reading a love letter in class. That would be embarrassing for anyone, sure, but seeing as Laura’s love letter is from a girl, and Laura goes to a conservative Catholic high school, she’s more than embarrassed–she’s expelled from school and kicked out of the house by her mother. Being a tortillera in Cuban Miami is completely unacceptable, and Laura’s mother won’t let her back–won’t let her even see her beloved little brother–until she is convinced that her daughter has turned straight. Laura can’t tell her it doesn’t work that way. Laura’s life is further devastated when her first love, Marlena, is shipped off to Puerto Rico–to marry a guy.
Luckily, Laura is far from alone. She has her little brother, when he manages to call despite their mother’s forbidding they have contact. She’s got her dog, and for those who aren’t dog people out there–that means a lot. She’s got great friends, especially her best friend, Soli, and Soli’s mom, who take her in when she has nowhere else to go. Now, if only she can come to terms with who she is, help her mother to accept her, and find her place in the world, things might just be okay.
Down to the Bone is a funny, bold, and poignant novel readers will quite enjoy. I loved the great characters, and the setting of Miami! I’ve never been to Miami, but reading these books set there (this and Total Constant Order, most recently) really makes me want to go! Also the fact that I am freezing here makes the weather there sound like heaven…
I loved this fresh, engaging, and honest book about love of all kinds, friendship, heartbreak, family, and life in general. Down to the Bone is a promising debut novel, and I look forward to Mayra Lazara Dole’s future writing.”
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