How Tia Lola came to visit stay by Alvarez, Julia

Recommended for Grade 7

(Page last edited 10/09/2017)

• Title: How Tia Lola came to visit stay
• Author: Alvarez, Julia
• ISBN: 0375802150
• ISBN 13: 978-0375802157

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Description:

When Miguel's Tía Lola comes from the Dominican Republic to Vermont to help out his Mami, who recently got divorced, Miguel is embarrassed by his unusual aunt: her beauty mark keeps changing places on her face, she drapes her lace mantilla across their windows, and she paints their house purple. Tía Lola's English is nonexistent--but how come she has no trouble making friends? And are the meatballs she puts in Miguel's lunchbox responsible for his making the baseball team? In each of these intertwining stories, Miguel finds his life changing in unexpected ways as he discovers himself.

Review (From Amazon.Com):

With her brilliantly hued flower-print dresses, her maracas and tambor, and the migrating beauty mark over her lipsticked mouth, Tia Lola stands out in Vermont like a tropical bird in a snowstorm. Her nephew, 10-year-old Miguel, just wants to fit in to his new home. He and his mother and sister have just moved here from New York following his parents' divorce. With his black hair and brown skin, it's hard enough already without the flamboyant antics of his friendly, nutty aunt, visiting from the Dominican Republic. But even while she is dancing her merengues in front of his new friends and painting the white farmhouse purple, Tia Lola is also weaving a magical spell of love and support that Miguel and his wounded family sorely need. Miguel's growing appreciation for his crazy aunt's ways, and the entire town's admiration and respect for an outsider who, without even speaking the same language, wins the hearts of all, is a funny, uplifting story.

Julia Alvarez is the author of many award-winning novels, including How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies, and the picture book The Secret Footprints. She writes with a warmth and humor that crosses all boundaries. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

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