Santiago's artful memoir recounts her childhood in rural Puerto Rico and her teenage years in New York City; also available in a Spanish-language edition, $11 *-75677-9
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

As president of her own film company, Santiago has won praise for her writing and producing. In this, her first book, she tells of her childhood in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and of her family's move to New York when she was 13. Her rich prose recreates the tropical splendor of Puerto Rico, the harsh conflicts between her parents, and the squalor of Brooklyn. While she shares unique personal experiences, Santiago also expresses the universality of growing up. Her memoir ends dramatically with her audition for New York's High School for Performing Arts. A poignant look at a girl's coming of age and taking control of her own destiny, Santiago's story reflects that of Puerto Rico: to be a part of the United States, yet distinct and somehow detached. Recommended.
- Gwen Gregory, U.S. Courts Lib., Phoenix
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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76 Reviews

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4.6 out of 5 stars (76 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Heart Felt, Jun 4 2004

By	Sabrina (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

I just finished "When I was Puerto Rican." I thoroughly enjoyed the book and connected with the author. Being the oldest female child in my family, I have felt the way that she did. The book takes you back through your adolescence and makes you exam life.

Another plus to the book is how much culture it has. I enjoyed learning about the culture, the food, the dichos (sayings). I am pretty familiar with the Mexican Culture but the Puerto Rican has a completely different vibe and I enjoy it. Esmeralda's experience in New York is what so many people dream of. She makes me proud of her and I feel that I know her so intimately. That is what I love about her writing. Thank you for being so honest with your readers.

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5.0 out of 5 stars When I was Puerto Rican, Jun 2 2004

By A Customer

The book of "When I was Puerto Rican by; Esmeralda Santiagon was really great. It's shows the way she lived in Puerto Rico her life was easy she lived with her mother and her uncle that would always help them out, she also lived with six cousins. She got older she wanted to get married with this guy that she liked but her uncle wanted to get married with this older guy. She didn't want to but if she didn't her uncle would have to go to this counselor camp. That's when she decided to run away she wanted to go to America.
She wanted to come America and have a better life but sometimes cominh to america is so easy. She also wanted to come and find her dad that was a soldier. Esmeralda books are really amazing because she puts you in her shoes and she takes you with her in her journeys. She shows how hard it was for her to live in the situation she did. Not knowing anything about her culture. This book is a really good book if you want to know whether she goes to America and finds her dad and gets a better life.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, May 17 2004

By	Guy L. Gonzalez "Malcontent" (Bloomfield, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is, without question, the best autobiography I've ever read. Santiago's writing is vibrant, fluid, and concise. Her evocation of life in PR as Americanization slowly seeps in is deadeye brilliant, and her transition to life in the margins in Brooklyn is heart-rending. She never uses a hammer to make her points, choosing the subtle, the offhand, the seemingly innocuous instead.

Edwidge Danticat should take notes. Ernesto Quinones should be embarrased.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Santiago dazzles in devastating, illuminating ethnic memoir
One of the most difficult challenges facing a memoirist is the task of making her particular story resonate with universal truths. Read more

Published on April 22 2004 by Bruce J. Wasser

4.0 out of 5 stars Seeing into another culture
When I was Puerto Rican is the story of a young girl's childhood in Puerto Rico. The story follows Esmeralda Santigo through her hardships and joys of growing up along with her... Read more

Published on Feb 29 2004 by baydavis

5.0 out of 5 stars When I was Puerto Rican
When I was a Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago is great traditional Puerto Rican story that brings back many wonderful memories of stories that my grandfather has told to me and... Read more

Published on Feb 23 2004 by Juseenia Mercado

4.0 out of 5 stars When I was Puerto Rican
When I was Puerto Rican is a breath-taking novel by Esmeralda Santiago. Her story tells the true tale of Santiago's life while she was growing up in a rural Puerto Rican city. Read more