Margins

For some reason, the Kirkus reviewers have a real axe to grind with Terri de la Pena's work: They seem to think that SHE has an axe to grind, and one they don't much care for. If you enjoy original lesbian fiction, and/or if Spanglish is the language your heart speaks, you will love both this book and de la Pena's second, "Latin Satins". It's true that de la Pena is still developing as a writer, but her beginning ventures are much stronger than much of the dreck that passes for contemporary literature. I have to admit that, like the Kirkus reviewer, I didn't much care for Rene Talamantes either... but a one-dimensional character couldn't have pulled such a deep response from me. Veronica's family is very real, and Veronica's struggle to overcome her grief and find new meaning is poignant. I look forward to reading many, many more of de la Pena's novels.