AN EXCELLENT DEBUT. TO THE REVIEWER WHO COMMENCED HER REVIEW PRAISING ALVAREZ AND BASHING PEREZ.... JUST BECAUSE PEREZ AND ALVAREZ ARE BOTH DOMINICAN DO NOT EXPECT PROFOUND SIMILARITIES. PEREZ WRITES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE YOUNG LATINAS, POOR DOMINICANAS, NOT MORE AFFLUENT DOMINICANAS LIKE JULIA ALVAREZ'S FAMILY. I LOVE BOTH AUTHORS BUT THEIR STYLES ARE DIFFERENT, EACH STANDS ON ITS OWN. PEREZ FOCUSES ON THE EXPIRIENCES OF A TROUBLED, POOR IMMIGRANT FAMILY. THIS IS NOT YOUR RUN OF THE MILL POOR KIDS GROWING UP IN THE GHETTO, ITS FRESHER, ITS MORE REALISTIC. IT POINGIANTLY PORTRAYS ONE FACET OF THE DOMINICAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK.

AS YOU CAN TELL FROM HER NOVEL NOT ALL DOMINICANS LIVE IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, ARE RAISED BY SINGLE MOTHERS OR INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFICKING.

THE PROTAGONIST SHARES THE SPOTLIGHT WITH ALL OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS AND OFTEN FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND ONLY TO REMERGE AND ADD FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

THE NOVEL TOUCHES ON UNIVERSAL TOPICS: WOMEN'S GENDER ROLES, LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, POVERTY. ITS WONDERFUL, ITS REAL THERE ARE NO SUGAR COATED HAPPY ENDINGS. THE NOVEL IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE IT USES SURREALISM TO PROJECT A REALITY....... READ THE NOVEL! A VERY REALISTIC , POWERFUL PORTRAYAL OF A HARD LIFE.

Perez brings us into a world that is familiar even if we've never been there with this stunning first novel. A gorgeous book. Her New York is tangible and familiar, yet fresh and unique. I loved the insight into a culture I didn't know - two, really, Dominican and 7th Day Adventist.

I can't wait to read more. I wish I had discovered her later in her career, so I could go out and buy more and keep inhaling her melodic language, her world.

As a fellow Dominicana and also a graduate of Cornell University I could relate in more ways than one with Ms. Perez and many of the struggles that she related in this novel. The manner in which she expressed the life situations and approaches taken to ameliorate her familial situations was priceless. It is a book worth reading not once but over and over again. Although there were some loose ends that needed to be tied up, I still felt like it was a book that made a point and conveyed a very powereful message. A message that is especially meaningful to Latinos whose parents were not educated here and who are dealing with the schizophrenic nature of living within to cultures...I am very happy to see Loida joining in with Julia Alvarez and Junot Diaz as yet another one of a group of prominent Dominican writers...and yet another (Junot as well) Cornell graduate.

There is an enormous amount of detail in some apparently unimportant topics (for example on how to get a green card for your maid) and very little on very important ones (for example on labor certification). The topic of labor certification is a subsection in the chapter for "Live-In Domestic Workers" !

This book may be good if you are trying to get a green card for your maid, though.

i wish going to usa to be with my brother hosam

I believe this book may be of interest to many readers.
First of all, it explains how visitors from abroad can legally prolong their stay in the USA. It's possible to apply for an extension of one's visitor's status without leaving the USA. And this book guides well through this procedure.
Secondly, those who are interested in applying for a green card, should find the most suitable category if they want to succeed. The book describes qualifications and outlines the application process for each of them.
Many people don't know that they may be inadmissible for one or another reason even if they otherwise meet all the green card applicant requirements. Someone already in the US, and still may not be allowed to proceed if he or she falls into one of the inadmissible categories - as a violator of immigration rules in the past or for health reasons, for example. Some people find this out only after passing a medical exam. But you may want to learn about the regulations in advance. The book covers this issue in detail, including who and how can apply for a waiver of inadmissibility.
Another sensitive chapter is on cancellation of deportation. How and in what cases this may be done...
Also, you'll find some important information on how and who is eligible to claim status as a refugee or political asylee.
In all, I think the book is pretty informative and filled with practical advice. It's also easy to read and understand.