Everything You Need to Know about Latino History

Santa Fe, New Mexico has a strong hispanic heritage dating back to the Conquistadores. The area has become a magnet for other Hispanics from other areas. As a psychotherapist, I work with native New Mexicans, Puerto Rican, Mexican and people from other countries of origin. This book is extremely helpful in describing the historical and cultural details that can influence the individuality of each person. It is also excellent reading. Very informative and well written.

I taught in an Arts Focus, Multiage, Spanish-Immersion school for fifteen years. I read Latino History AFTER I retired. It would have been an exceptional companion to Lies My Teacher Told Me and work by Howard Zinn. Having realized how much fiction we teach in the name of fact, we began to research what we were teaching and to teach the truth, despite the curriculum. I wish I had had Himilce Novas's Latina History as a resource then...

I can't imagine that the title of Himilce Novas' book, Everything You Need to Know About Latino History is to be taken quite as seriously as some impassioned detractors suggest. Myself, being a Latino culture studies novice, Novas offers exactly what I need to get me started with substance, nuance, humor, passion and debth. She has written an extreemly informative and frankly handy guide, that does not overwhelm but fills the blanks in nicely and makes individual and universal connections which create a very good read. It is safe to say that Latino History concerning "all you need to know' must be an infinit research. Novas knows this; her distillation is remarkable, intelligent and clear. For us, the readers, the embrace of the various Latino cultures only begins here. And finally for me, her opinion (being Latino) is a most welcome fleshing out of what could be, authored by another, just a Latino almanac. Brava!

This book has it all--it covers a very broad range of histories within the umbrella of Latino History, as Latinos from different parts of the Americas have their own individual histories in this country. Politics, celebrities, music, food, opression, victories, leaders, immigrant issues...everything is covered by author Himilce Novas, whose other books, both fiction and non-fiction, I also recommend. The book is in a quick and easy to read question and answer format--but be not deceived: The information in it is accurate and extremely well researched. If a book can be both popular and mass market and yet scholarly, this is it.

This book is an excellent opportunity to learn about major aspects of the Latino community and their culture. It is a must read for bilingual teachers, and every person who considers themselves Latino.