My first recommendation of the New Year is not a novel or a collection of stories by Latinx authors. It is not fiction, but a revealing look into the life of a woman often celebrated at the top in her class and the first in her field.
“The profoundly moving story of how one woman grew to appreciate …the painful challenges and self doubt inherent in being the ‘First and Only’…”
Valarie Jarrett, Former Advisor to President Obama
How often do we select and celebrate high achievers then send them off into the big world to find their way without role models or mentors? Campoverde describes the painful side of walking onto the campus, into a boardroom, an office or a leadership confab as the first and only representative with a specific profile. We may find it tough to be sympathetic to the trials of those we consider ‘winners’. However, the responsibilities and pressures of a highly accelerated life can disorient even the strongest champion.
“An invaluable resource for first-generation immigrant children striving for success in America."―Kirkus
Alejandra Campoverde is currently on the boards of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, and the California Community Foundation. She holds a master in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California.
Each week I bring you my recommendations for Latinx authors with the hope that your reading lists, classrooms, and libraries will continue to diversifying the voices and topics relevant to our multicultural population. Follow Diverse Voices - Bravo! and share it with your friends and colleagues.
Follow my own award-wining historic fiction trilogy featuring diverse voices in early California, 1779 - 1840. Twisted Cross, Golden Secrets, and Broken Promises. https://anitaperezferguson.com
Thank you for suggesting this book. As a non-immigrant "first and only" from a small town, I remember showing up at my first day of college wondering what people were talking about when they talked about "Greek week" which had already happened. Not knowing the territory is always a challenge.