Call Me Maria

By Judith Ortiz Cofer

Book Overview

From the award-winning author of AN ISLAND LIKE YOU, winner of the Pura Belpre AwardMaria is a girl caught between two worlds: Puerto Rico, where she was born, and New York, where she now lives in a basement apartment in the barrio. While her mother remains on the island, Maria lives with her father, the super of their building. As she struggles to lose her island accent, Maria does her best to find her place within the unfamiliar culture of the barrio. Finally, with the Spanglish of the barrio people ringing in her ears, she finds the poet within herself. In lush prose and spare, evocative poetry, Cofer weaves a powerful novel, bursting with life and hope.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439385776
• ISBN13: 9780439385770
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Orchard (NY)
• Length: 127 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 11 to 15 years
• Grade Range: Grades 6 to 10

Customer Reviews

Maria learns what it means to be Puerto Rican in America

Fifteen-year old Maria lives in the New York City barrio with her father in order to get an American education, while her mother remains at home in Puerto Rico. As Maria learns what it means to be Puerto Rican in America, she is caught between two worlds: Puerto Rico, where she was born, and her new home, New York. Through a beautiful combination of prose, letters and, poems, Maria finds her inner voice and is able to express herself beautifully. Although not much of a formal plot exists, Maria does struggle with the conflict over island versus gritty urban life, growing friendships and eventually becoming trilingual, speaking English, Spanish and "Spanglish". Although sometimes lacking in focus, this would be a beautiful read aloud for any class examining the emotions of recent teenage immigrants, insight into life in the barrio as well as a comparison to life in Puerto Rico.

book report for child

I appreciated that the book came when ordered. I would have liked more notice that the requirement from UPS was get a signature but we didn't even get a notice it was delivered. I saw it was by looking up my order. thank you

Delightful story

This book is the story of Maria who goes to live with her father in NYC while her mom stays behind in Puerto Rico. In poems and prose, she writes her feelings about not fitting in, her outrageous friends and neighbors, the boy on her street, and other observations in her life. I think this book was written well and really easy to read while remaining interesting. Maria has relatable feelings and emotions that move the story along.