Manzano, Sonia. The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano.

Manzano, Sonia.   The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano.   Scholastic Press  205p $17.99 978-0-545-32505-9   2012      ms/hs   VG            Historical Fiction     

It's 1969 and Evelyn Serrano wants to break free from the conservative Latino neighborhood of Spanish Harlem.  When her activist grandmother comes to visit, she comes to understand what it means to be Puerto Rican.

This first novel is more than just historical fiction set in the "barrio" of Spanish Harlem.  It is a coming-of-age story with strong female characters, a sense of place and a sense of culture.  As Evelyn Serrano rebels against her conservative parents, and what she feels is a stifling community in Spanish Harlem, her grandmother, a political activist, shows her the importance of her heritage, and three generations of Latino women come to an understanding.  What makes this novel memorable are the sharply drawn and memorable characters.  A must-have title for libraries with Puerto Rican populations.  This is a memorable and satisfying multicultural and multi-generational story.         

Spanish Harlem riots of 1969-Fiction                  --Pat Naismith(3), Pat