TITLE: Gabriela and The Widow
AUTHOR: Jack Remick
PUBLISHER: Coffeetown Press http://www.coffeetownpress.com
FORMATS: Paperback, Kindle
PAGES: 280
PRICE: Paperback - $14.95, Kindle - $6.95
FILE SIZE: 698 KB
ISBN – 10: 1603811478
ISBN – 13: 9781603811477
ASIN: B00AYQ5582
Gabriela and The Widow is a different story about growing up. It’s about Gabriela, whose village is raided and loses her mother when she’s just thirteen years old. She has no family left due to this brutal massacre. Who will help her grow into a woman?
After the massacre, Gabriela’s journey through life begins. Walking to the nearest village, her mother dies in the Mexican jungle. Gabriela has to bury her along the side of the footpath, and then continues on the arduous journey. When she arrives, she finds herself a LaPatrona and is nothing more than a slave. The LaPatrona makes a deal with the Scarfaced Man to sell her for sex. Somehow, Gabriela escapes this but her fate in life seems to get worse and worse…until she starts to work for The Widow.
The Widow is a dying ninety – two year old woman named La Viuda and Gabriela is her caretaker. Not only does Gabriela do all the cooking, cleaning and the personal care for La Viuda, she works daily with La Viuda on The List. But La Viuda is kind to her. Something that Gabriela hasn’t known since her parents were alive.
The List is a fascinating journey through La Viuda’s life and she wants it written up before her death. Day after day, Gabriela compiles boxes of slips of paper, photographs, coins, letters and more. She listens to La Viuda’s stories about each object and writes the story down. Slowly, Gabriela gets the list written in proper order. In the process, La Viuda teaches her to be a woman and soon the two are one.
This recently published book (January 15, 2013) fascinated me with all the detail written in the book. The seamless mixing of Spanish and English helped bring this young adult book to life! Even though Gabriela and The Widow starts when Gabriela is thirteen years old, I wouldn’t recommend this book for that age since the real story starts when she’s nineteen years old.
You can find out more about the author, Jack Remick, and Gabriela and The Widow at his website at http://www.jackremick.com. Mr. Remick also has a Facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jack-Remick/229527143752712?bookmark_t=page.
If you’d like to order your own copy of this tale of Gabriela and The Widow you can find it on http://www.amazon.com. You can also purchase this book on the publisher’s website at http://www.coffeetownpress.com. Get your copy today!
DRAWING!!!!
If you would like a free copy of Gabriela and The Widow for your library, just leave a comment and contact me at sasha1119 AT yahoo DOT com.
I’ll throw everyone’s name who contacts me into a hat for a drawing of the free copy. Then I’ll contact you for your mailing address so I can mail Gabriela and The Widow out to you immediately!
5 Comments on Gabriela and The Widow, last added: 2/2/2013
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Hello Deb. Thank you for this review. When I wrote this novel, I didn't think about it as a book for or about children, but you've opened my eyes. It is just that, isn't it? A coming of age novel with a "grandmother/mother" teaching her all the way. Thanks again.
Hi Jack,
Yes, I think this book is suited for the young adult crowd. I loved reviewing this book since it showed how hard life can be for children from other cultures. It also shows that there is always hope for a better life! Thanks for visiting!
Deb
Thanks Deb for reviewing and hosting Jack Remick's book Gabriela and The Widow.
Yes, Jack, I also saw the cross-over value of this novel. I due hope parents will consider letting 16 and up read it as there is so much to learn from the relationships Gabriela has with each character and of course with the widow.
Wonderful story without the typical plot or hero's journey.
Hi Virginia,
It was my pleasure to review "Gabriela and The Widow!" It was a wonderful story and you're right. It didn't have the usual type of plot. This was a realistic journey of Gabriela's hard life.