THE PRENTICE HALL ANTHOLOGY OF LATINO LITERATURE is a collection of poetry and prose (short story and drama) by Latino authors of Mexican-American, Cuban-American, and Puerto Rican-American descent. The text focuses on Latino authors who were either born or raised in the United States and who write primarily in English. In this way, the text concentrates on works and authors who have been forged by a dual consciousness. The text establishes its definition of the Latino/Latina author by using the following criteria: first, writers who can trace their ancestry to Spanish-speaking nations of the Americas; second, works produced by authors who have lived in the United States for a significant period of time; third, writers who come from one of the three groups that form the majority in population and literary production of Latino literature; and last, writers with a sense of duality regarding the English language. In addition to these criteria, the text features readings with characteristics unique to Latina/Latino authors such as attention to family, a concern for home, a focus on cultural components such as music, food, and religion and identity formation.
The text includes the following features:
32 readings/short stories, 38 poems and 9 plays by renowned writers such as Sandra Cisneros, Luis Valdez, Cristina Garcia, Oscar Hijuelos, Judith Ortiz Cofer and Esmeralda Santiago that emphasize diversity as well as recurring themes
Various exercises designed to explore style and comprehension as well as to compare and contrast the selections from different ethnic groups.
Brief surveys of the three types of literature focused on in the text to provide further background of the culture.
Categorization by both ethnic group and genre which allows teachers to focus on any or all components.
Glossary of Spanish terms for two of the more challenging plays.
Overall, the text emphasizes the similarities and differences between the culture and literature of the three primary groups while also trying to emphasize the unique qualities and universal themes present in all of them.
