tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794406356268252166.post6831049480095184415..comments2024-03-24T14:24:12.716-07:00Comments on De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children: Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak SpanishUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794406356268252166.post-47380540904624073132020-11-13T13:13:51.182-08:002020-11-13T13:13:51.182-08:00Thank you for your comment and question, Alyssa. M...Thank you for your comment and question, Alyssa. Marcus is the “narrator,” and we see all of the other characters exclusively from Marcus's adolescent perspective. He is the one who grows and changes.<br /><br />Marcus’s younger brother, Charlie, is a complex, well developed character. He’s a curious, outgoing, likable kid who goes to school, has a lot of friends, and has specific interests and specific dislikes. Although Charlie and Marcus are very close, Marcus doesn’t hover. <br /><br />However (and this is probably a weakness in the story), we don’t see Charlie or any of the other secondary characters growing or changing much; rather, we see only through their actions. It’s a problem with some middle-grade novels that all of the secondary characters are devices for the growth of the main character. <br /><br />In my several readings, I specifically looked for disability tropes in Charlie’s character. Had I found any, I would have noted them and I certainly would not have recommended this book. If you decide to read it, I’d like to know your thoughts.<br />Beverly Slapinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12822325956522105620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794406356268252166.post-61640129971309139862020-11-13T05:52:37.330-08:002020-11-13T05:52:37.330-08:00I've been thinking of reading this book, as it...I've been thinking of reading this book, as it sounds like it has a lot of things it does well. I bought a copy last year. But I've been hesitant to pick it up because of Charlie.I'm not sure I have the patience to read yet another book where the character with Down syndrome is a constantly happy cheerleader for the protagonist, without an arc of their own. People with Down syndrome are as complex and layered as anyone else, and I get so very tired of media representation that boils them down to the "cheerful, outgoing" stereotype. Is there more to Charlie than you mentioned in your review, or is that pretty much it?Alyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09037704562341818478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794406356268252166.post-88968657362613446072020-08-22T20:52:04.652-07:002020-08-22T20:52:04.652-07:00This sounds like a lovely book! It mirrors the rea...This sounds like a lovely book! It mirrors the reality of many Latinos born in the US who don't manage Spanish very well.Thanks for sharing!Marianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062963247767468995noreply@blogger.com