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What Can't Wait by Ashley Hope Perez, Carolrhoda Books, 2011, 234 pp, ISBN: 0761361553
Marisa is the good daughter: cooking for her father and brother, babysitting whenever her sister asks, giving half of her paycheck to the family each month.
But Marisa dreams of going to the University of Texas to study engineering, and ber calculus teacher thinks that Marisa is actually smart enough to make it happen.
But her father has all but forbidden her to go to college.
Her mother doesn't want her to leave home.
Her sister needs her to be a full-time babysitter for her niece.
So college can wait. Family can't, right?
Review:
What Can't Wait really struck a chord with me. I saw so much of myself in Marisa's calculus teacher. Ms. Ford was constantly pushing Marisa, telling her not to make excuses, emphasizing that college was her "ticket out." But as the reader of Marisa's story, I knew that she was barely keeping it together - that she was bound by duty and loyalty to her family, and most especially to her niece. I actually found myself getting angry at Ms. Ford for not cutting her some slack. Why couldn't she try to understand what Marisa was going through? At the same time, I kept flashing back to conversations that I had with my own students. Pushing, pushing, and pushing them to do their best, to be the best - even when I had no idea what they were up against outside of the confines of our school. But then at the same time, wasn't Ms. Ford ultimately right? No matter how valid an excuse is, it's still an excuse. At some point, everyone has to decide for themselves "what can't wait," and then follow through and live with that decision.
Ashley Hope Perez has written a novel that is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes uplifting, and always 100% realistic. She has given her readers a candid look at what it might mean to be a part of a Mexican family. She has infused the Spanish language into nearly every paragraph, making her readers feel like they are truly listening in to Marisa's world. She has forced me to reexamine my own though
4 Comments on What Can't Wait, last added: 2/18/2012
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I love that this book talks about Mexican-American culture and a girl that struggling outside school, so realistic! That's awesome that it helped you grow as a teacher too! Thanks for the awesome review Katie!
Thank you so much for this stellar review, Katie. For the record, WCW was partly my way of making up for all the times--especially my first year teaching back in 2004--that I pushed my students without first asking, "what's going on with you?" I think of this as my TFA book because, in the end, even Marisa realizes that she has to figure out how to accomplish her goals in spite of her crazy life. It's dedicated to my scholars, without whom I never would have published a novel. "Meet" some of my students on my website here: http://www.ashleyperez.com/blog/item/81-coming-home-to-my-first-readers
Thank you for your work for "my kids." I have massive teacher/librarian love. And I'm also always happy to talk about TFA's role in my journey.
Abrazos!
This sounds amazing too. Another example of how the children of immigrants sometimes face unique challenges. Our family ties and responsibilities are very high and it's hard for us to balance that sometimes. Awesome find!
How cool, an author response!
I just wanted to say that TFA in Baltimore sounds hardcore, although I may be basing that completely on "The Wire"!