PART TWO OF ESMERALDA'S BIOGRAPHY! THE BEST ONE YET! THIS ONE DETAILS HER ARRIVAL TO NEW YORK CITY AS A YOUNG GIRL AND THE CLASH OF CULTURES SHE EXPERIENCED ONCE THERE. THE LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND THE STRUGGLES SHE FACED AS A "FOREIGNER" IN THE BIG APPLE. ALTHOUGH, PUERTO RICANS ARE BY BIRTHRIGHT AMERICAN CITIZENS SINCE PUERTO RICO IS A US TERRITORY WITH US CITIZENRY. IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF MY OWN TIME GROWING UP IN BROOKLYN! LOVE IT! HAVE READ IT THREE TIMES ALREADY.

THIS IS PART ONE OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF PUERTO RICAN WRITER ESMERALDA SANTIAGO! IT IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME WORK. SHE DESCRIBES THE PUERTO RICO OF YESTERDAY.....A HUGE CONSTRAST TO THE PUERTO RICO OF TODAY. HAVE READ IT THREE TIMES ALREADY.

This book was such a wonderful story. Santiago uses vivid language to lure you in as a reader. Anyone who is the oldest can relate to Negi's feelings about her siblings. Moreover, she struggles with her parents relationship. One does not have to be Puerto Rican or a girl, to understand how she feels! We need more stories like this for our young teens. ( )

The book Almost a Woman by Esmeralda Santiago, takes place in New York as the main character, Negi, grows up. The character is very believable and reading from her point of view lets the reader in all her thoughts and into the story. You feel as if you are growing up along with her.
Negi moves to New York from Puerto Rico and deals with poverty, lack of privacy, racism, and feeling homesick.
She lives with seven younger siblings and a strict mother in a 3 room apartent. As she gets older she becomes an aspiring actor, a dancer, and dates many guys. She becomes independant after being in the shadow of her mother all her life and gets involved in American ways. The ending of the story leaves you hanging, by never telling the decision Negi makes, but its an intersting book. The thing I liked about this book was the topic. However I disliked that it had some Parental Advisory scenes. It was a great book but, I wish it hadnt ended so soon. ( )

Moving. Fast read. ( )