A Charmed Life / Una Vida Con Suerte (Bilingual Spanish/English)
Felicia siempre se siente muy pequeña cuando ella y su mamá caminan por las enormes casas y los hermosos jardines hasta la casa donde su mamá trabaja como señora de la limpieza. “Necesito que te portes bien”, dice su madre, recordándole todas las cosas que debe y no debe hacer.
Pero Felicia se aburre y, a pesar de las advertencias de su madre, comienza a explorar. Encuentra un dormitorio lleno de juguetes. ¡Cómo deseaba que su casa se viera así! Desde una ventana ve un atractivo columpio en el patio trasero y pronto rompe todas las reglas de su madre.
Cuando la señora Fitzpatrick sale, Felicia no puede evitar preguntarse si la mujer sabe que estaba deambulando por la casa. Para su sorpresa, la pelirroja le ofrece limonada y galletas en lugar de una reprimenda. Pronto los dos se dan cuenta de que, aunque viven en mundos diferentes, tienen algo en común. Este libro ilustrado bilingüe se prestará a conversaciones sobre esperanzas, sueños y diferencias entre las personas.
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Publishers Weekly
In a story likely to leave readers thinking about class and privilege, a Latina girl named Felicia accompanies her Mama to a gated mansion, where she works as a housecleaner. Felicia can't resist exploring, peeking into a nursery and swinging on a backyard playscape, where the house's pregnant owner joins her. Mrs. Fitzpatrick discusses her great-grandparents' immigration from Ireland and gives Felicia a charm bracelet--Felicia adores it, though text and art reveal her mother's discomfort with the gift. Barbieri draws clear parallels between the struggles and aspirations of immigrants past and present, while Fields's illustrations practically glow with the promise of the "charmed life" Felicia desires. Her mother's wistful closing line, "Yes, Felicia, you will have a very charmed life," hints at the lengths to which parents will go for their children. Ages 4-8. (May)
Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
K-Gr 2--A bilingual, slice-of-life tale about a Latina girl that subtly explores class and immigration. Felicia accompanies her mother to her housekeeping job at a gorgeous mansion. She's given a list of dos and don'ts, but the restless child would rather wander around the house instead of coloring in her book. While playing outside, she is met by the homeowner, Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who greets her with a plate of cookies and lemonade. "I wished my house looked like this./Como me gustaria que mi casa se viera asi," the little girl tells her mother's employer. Touched by Felicia's remarks, the woman looks down at her pregnant belly and brings the protagonist a charm bracelet. She relates to Felicia her own family's immigration from Ireland and advises her never to stop believing that she will have a better life. The link between the two families' stories presents U.S. history's fluctuating and diverse population in an age-appropriate, if oversimplified, way. Race and language barriers aren't addressed, but the sentiment behind the message is a positive one. The sun-tinged illustrations give the text an added level of charm, and the characters' expressions often offer another layer to the storytelling, especially when Felicia's mother initially disapproves of the lavish gift. The charms on Felicia's bracelet appear throughout, which gives the title a fun twist. The narrative is a bit text-heavy, and the quietness of the work will deter some readers. VERDICT A gentle title that will hopefully spur conversation about privilege, immigration, and families. Best used in a classroom setting or one-on-one.--Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Household employees
Spanish language materials, Bilingual
