"This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression… Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal."— Booklist
"Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations."— Kirkus Reviews
"An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories."— School Library Journal
"The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. "— Children's Literature
"Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish,' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia’s life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter."— El Paso Scene
"Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia —an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read." — MCR
"Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books."— Alan Review
"Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novel—well-written, informative, entertaining and above all—believable. If Little House on the Prairie were set on a New Mexico farm near Hatch during the Depression, it would be this book."— New Mexico Magazine
Cecilia Gonzales has big dreams of leaving her family's farm, going to the big city after graduating from high school, and getting an office job. The sequel to the award-winning Cecilia's Year, this tale continues Cecilia's adventures as she embarks on her freshman year at the modern (for the 1930s) high school. Her mother still disapproves of Cecilia's dreams, so the 15-year-old goes out of her way to help out at home. The year holds many surprises, including a new baby at home and a love interest. The book chronicles the journey of discovery as Cecilia makes important decisions about family and responsibility. Hispanic phrases and proverbs are sprinkled throughout, lending authenticity. Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. While not as strong as Cecilia's Year, nor as inspiring as Esperanza Rising, this quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books. 2005, Cinco Punto Press, 230 pp., Ages young adult.
—Melissa Moore
In this sequel to Cecilia's Year (Cinco Puntos Press, 2004/VOYA April 2005), Cecilia Gonzales realizes her dream of going to high school in a town near her small farm in New Mexico. As she struggles to fit in with the town kids whose hair is cut short in the popular 1930s bob and who use words like "snazzy," she also struggles against her mother's expectation that she become a good farm wife. Wearing the wrong shoes and pining for first love, Cecilia begins her universal journey into adolescence with her eyes on the future and a strong commitment to her morals. Despite many setbacks, including a family illness and the death of a sibling, Cecilia manages to achieve scholastically and earn the respect of her teachers and classmates. In the end, Cecilia is given a choice to forward her education in El Paso or to stay home and continue at her high school. The main problem with this book is that there is nothing very surprising in the story. The issues that Cecilia faces have been confronted in every coming-of-age novel. The dialogue tends to be sentimental and stilted, and many characters seem one-dimensional. Cecilia herself, based on the authors' mother, seems to be idealized in that she represents all virtue, rarely showing negative emotion or struggling with temptation. The glimpses into historic farm life are interesting, as is the glossary of Spanish proverbs used in the text. Libraries with large Latino or Chicano literature collections may be interested in this title. VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2005, Cinco Puntos Press, 230p., Ages 11to 14.
—Angela Semifero
The sequel to Cecilia's Year tells the true-life story of Cecilia Gonzales during her freshman year of high school, growing up in 1930s rural New Mexico. Cecilia is excited about attending school and learning what life is like outside her adobe home. Conflict arises because her mother, a conservative, antiquated Catholic, does not approve of her daughter's desire to read books, become educated, and live in the city. Furthermore, Cecilia's love interest, Johnny, has moved far away and she has not heard from him in months. In some regards the characters feel flat and not real or true-to-life. "I'd better go . . . start my chores so I'll have more time to do my homework." And in some ways Cecilia acts in a feminist manner by fighting her mother to attend high school, yet on other occasions she acts like a victim of her circumstances, as if she is unable to make the best of her situation. Overall, the book is poorly edited as many sentences are repetitive and unnecessarily wordy. However, the authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. Spanish is intermingled throughout the text, and the conclusion holds a translation of proverbs used in the story. 2005, Cinco Puntos Press, Ages 12 up.
—Elizabeth Sulock
Gr 6-10-This sequel to Cecilia's Year (Cinco Puntos, 2004) tells of the teen's first year in the local high school in the Rio Grande Valley in the 1930s. Devastated when she learns that her crush is attending school in El Paso, Cecilia longs to live in a modern city. She continues to pine for Johnny throughout the novel, and readers will be relieved when the two are finally reunited in the last chapters when Cecilia accompanies her aunt on a brief visit to El Paso. An excellent student, she works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the sentimental retelling of family stories. Captioned black-and-white photographs are included at the beginning of each chapter. A brief endnote brings readers up-to-date on the life of the real Cecilia.-Linda L. Plevak, Saint Mary's Hall, San Antonio, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
In this sequel to Cecilia's Year (2004), the authors continue their fictionalized biography of their mother, growing up in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico in the 1930s. Chapters begin with Mexican proverbs and period photographs, as they relate Cecilia's move from a one-room schoolhouse to riding the bus to high school in town, waiting all year for a letter from her first love, housing and befriending Dust Bowl-stricken Oklahomans and feeling the effects of a whooping-cough epidemic. Cecilia's main struggle, however, is with her mother, who insists on following older Mexican traditions. While the story gushes with sentimentality, it also conveys "snazzy" lingo, superstitions, savory meals and other interesting occurrences of the time, rural life and Latino culture. An author's note about the real Cecilia and her life after high school, as well as a list of Mexican proverbs and English translations, follows the text. Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations. (Fiction. 10-13)
