by Julia Alvarez
(New York: 2001)
($15.95 in U.S. - $23.95 in Can.)
Miguel Guzman's Tia Lola may be a little bit magic or a little bit crazy-who's to say?
She's just arrived from the Dominican Republic with her maracas, her mantilla, her bright dresses, and her unusual spices, and she's got Mami and Juanita, Miguel's younger sister, dancing the merengue. Mami and Juanita think she's fun, but Miguel's not so sure. Not if having her around makes him even more different from his Vermont classmates, who've already nicknamed him "Gooseman." It's been hard enough moving from New York City - leaving Papi behind - so Miguel hopes he can keep Tia Lola top-secret until maybe, just maybe, he can make some new friends. Sometimes, he even secretly wishes she'd go back to the island.
But then he wouldn't have the special treats she's putting in her lunchbox, which he's sure helped him make the baseball team. And if she goes back to the D.R., she won't be able to be the team manager. And she really needs his help to learn English so doesn't keep using all the words she knows at once: "One-way-caution-you're-welcomed-thanks-for-asking."
So he begins changing his wish into a new one, and finally he even figures out a clever way to make it come true.
From renowned author Julia Alvarez comes delightful entertaining and rich book full of warmth and humor. How Tia Lola Came to Visit Stay will have readers wishing for a Tia Lola of their very own.