Arana’s commentary isn’t particularly revelatory. What brings her book to life is the richness of voices and perspectives ... Arana covers serious ground here in brisk, accessible prose. However, in section after section, the book’s hurried pace eventually generates the feeling of being perched on a speeding tour bus.
Arana is a capable guide. She understands LatinoLand’s depth, nuance and variation as well as anyone ... Her fragmented and beautifully written narrative, which washes over readers in a series of portraits, rather than as one continuous story, is a perfect representation of Latino diversity.
Arana’s punchy writing style is engaging, informative and full of pleasant surprises ... While Arana celebrates the diversity of American Latinos and doesn’t push for any kind of assimilation, she also appeals to traditional American values when making the case for Latino acceptance ... As Arana pieces together a vibrant collage of American Latino lives, she communicates her belief that solidarity is possible among this fractured cohort.
An impressively wide-ranging overview of the turbulent history of Latine people in America ... Arana has a fascinating, complex, and personal story to tell, and she narrates it with abundant verve and intelligence.
