¡Yo!

Yolanda Garcia, also known as Yo, leaves an impression on those who know or meet her. Each person, in turn, describes how Yo has impacted his or her life in such a way that the reader gets to know Yo without actually meeting her.

It's worth reading the stories of Yo's family, friends, and acquaintances to find out how this is so vividly, affectionately, and cleverly done Each chapter is a mini-novel unto itself.

This is a collection of short stories about Yolanda Garcia (we first met her in How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents) told from the perspectives of various peoople in her life. The stories are often humourous with a tinge of sadness, revealing Yo's journey from precocious child, to a rebellious teen, to a somewhat confused and unfocused adult. We come to see that she is a challenging daughter, a loving a sister, a courageous and loyal friend and lover, an idealistic activist, and ultimately, an artist. The book still brings tears to my eyes, even after double-digit readings.

Each chapter looked at Yolanda from a different character's point of view so you saw her through many different eyes and at different times of her life. I didn't like it nearly as much as How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents which has the same characters, but it was an enjoyable read.

A book I read 13 years ago and still remember.