Forgive me for playing the race card, but I can't help but wonder whether Victor Martinez's race, and the race of his characters, helped this book win the National Book Award. Surely there were more worthy candidates than this. I admit it had some interesting bits and some beautifully rendered phrases, but Parrot in the Oven lacks what is essential to novel: a plot. There was no driving force in the story, no climax. Just a series of loosely connected short scenes that never went anywhere. Some people like that. I'm not one of them. ( )

Set in a dusty California town, Martinez employs a series of compelling, frequently troubling vignettes to illuminate a Mexican American boy's coming of age.

Parrot in the oven: mi Vida by victor Martinez is one of the best books i have ever read. Martinez's novel focuses on the familial and social hardships of barrios for Mexican-Americans in California. He talks about the problems of alcoholism, spousal abuse, teenage pregnancy, racial discrimination, and gang violence through young Manuel Hernandez as he survives the difficulties and tries to make a better life of himself than everybody else in the barrio. Martinez narrates his story through a series of events in Manny's life and the people involved with him at home, the projects, school, work, and his Caucasian boss's home. The novel's conflict is Manny's decision to join a gang. As a teenager is really hard for him to survive.

This is a story about fourteen year old Manny Hernandez living in Fresno California with his poor family. Manny has to deal with many a father, without a job a mother who does nothing, a brother who can't keep a job very long and a sister who lost a baby, also his grandmother had recently passed away. Manny gets into big problems such as becoming involved in a gang. Also he does not have a lot of friends at school.

His family is Mexican-American his father is a drunk and his mom pretends that they live a perfect life. Manny looks up to his brother Bernard however he doesn’t think he will go far in life. Manny goes to school and has few friends. He usually only hangs around with Albert who is his close friend. He gets small jobs to earn a few dollars. At one point he becomes initiated into a gang. From his experiences with the gang he learns a lesson that he will not forget.

I think this is a very good book and i recommended to everybody, not only Mexicans. Many other minorities face the same struggles and this book is very book. It shows that even if you have a very difficult life you shouldn't give up. Also that by the mistakes you make in life you will learn and become a better person.
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