Search - When I Was Puerto Rican

This book is about the authors chaotic childhood in Puerto Rico and then her move to Brooklyn, New York. She writes about her journey through the public school system, the prestigious High School of Performing Arts and attending Harvard University on a scholarship. I felt drawn into her story as she wrote about being caught in the agonizing web of dual identities, an experience many immigrants to America face. This excellent coming of age autobiography is written by a producer of documentary and education films. Esmeralda Santiago has also written for the New York Times, the Boston Globe and many mass market magazines like Good Housekeeping and Home and Gardens. I found her writing to be very engaging. This book is highly recommended for the readers interested in the immigrant experince and for the educators. There is an excellent movie verson of the sequal to WHEN I WAS PUERTO RICAN called ALMOST A WOMAN.

I read this a long while back, but I still remember my over all impresion of the book as being a wonderfully enlightening read. The author has a very readable style and you really " go with her" in her rememberances of a childhood in P.R. Very warm, very honest writing.

I recently visited Puerto Rico so really enjoyed this book. Lots of insight into her life and changes when moving from country to city and then to another country.

Great book! This author is fabulous in her description of life as a child in Puerto Rico.

This book was a great read, A story about the authors childhood growin up in Puerto Rico then moving to NY. Being from Puerto Rico myself I found it so easy to relate to some things and it brought back many memories.

Beautiful book! Well written! ( My family is from Puerto Rico and reading this book took me back to my childhood living in P.R. because at 19 years old I came back to my birth place,which is the New York. Many years since that happened, and I missed the island so much.) You don't have to be puertorican to enjoy this book. Believe me you will read so fast and you will enjoy it! Esmeralda is the best!