Any Small Goodness: A Novel of the Barrio

Beware: If you read this book you will die from how amazing it is. It has a message that is important and it stops teenagers or anybody from doing improper things. Any Small Goodness comes to mind when you are going to be violent and it reminds you of the most important things in your life. Any Small Goodness has a glossary that helps you with the Spanish words used throughout the story. This story has an amazing family and it has lots of action in the story to keep you interested. We give this story a star rating of four. Our opinion is that the author, Tony Johnston, should have limited the amount of time spent discussing Gangs because it is frightening at times. Also, the author needs to spend more time discussing the kindness shown in the barrio. The author has wonderful ideas. He teaches a lesson which is we should share more.

Arturo's family has emigrated from Mexico to East L.A. The teacher at his new school wants to change the kid's names to their American counterparts. Arturo's story reveals the need to adjust and assimilate to a new, sub-culture while retaining the need to maintain integral parts of his own culture. For many, family love and values aren't enough to keep you from the outside influences that can lead you down the wrong road. How do Arturo and his amigos maintain orgullo? This is a great book to open the doors to understanding the unfamiliar characteristics that lie within Mexican culture for school children that are subject to this integration. At the same time the book will offer a sense of pride within their Mexican culture.

In the book Any Small Goodness, the characater Arturo gets a thumbs up. He lives in L.A. in a place where random acts of generosity and good will improve the lives of L.A. There is also another L.A. , a place of movie stars and people who are too rich and people who are too poor. But Arturo manages to survive. We like Arturo because he is a good friend that could also make him a good person. He never talks down to his friends or talks behind their backs. We also like him because he's a growing kid- just like us. Another reason is he thinks about what will happen next, the reason he has so many friends is because knows he would lose them if he talked bad about them. We make good and bad desisions just like him. We think other kids should read this book because it explains a lot about growing up.

A liberal sprinkling of Spanish with a full measure of cultural similes makes this dish a spicy/sweet offering on the menu of "must reads". Eleven year old Arturo grows up in the L.A. barrio in a loving, supportive, extended family. He learns to develop a sense of "self" and respect for his people, his culture, and his neighborhood, while resisting the influence of "cholos" (lowlifes). Arturo and his friends find a creative, covert method to counteract damage inflicted by poverty and gangs. This is a funny, touching glimpse into Hispanic culture in L.A.