Pobre Ana (Past & Present Tense Versions/Color/2020)

This is a wonderful novel for Spanish I students in High School. I could even use it with 7th and 8th graders, I believe. We sue it during the summer to keep their Spanish abilities active, and also to build confidence and comprehension. This book does many things for a student: 1) builds vocabulary 2) improves comprehension level 3) motivates students to find out "what happens" 4) provides a new way to increase Spanish knowledge. As a teacher of ages 3 to 18 year olds, I use excerpts from these books here and there, and use them for a Summer Spanish reading program each summer. Great idea and execution! Sra. Gose Author of Flip Flop Spanish: Ages 3-5: Level 1

This is an excellent 'beginning' book for anyone who wants to increase their Spanish learning. It consists of 300 of the most frequently used words in a first year Spanish class that make up a wonderful story. It is suitable, I feel, for anyone from Middle School to adult.

I teach first-year high school Spanish and I use Pobre Ana near the end of the course. I could use it earlier as well. The chapters are short. The story contrasts life in California with life in Tepic, Mexico, all through the eyes of Ana.Ana is from California and doesn't think her quality of life is adequate since she doesn't have a new Mustang, et.al. However, once in Mexico she sees that relationships and the things she can control (like knowing Spanish well) are more important.The story is a good language learning tool, especially the obviously necessary use of the indirect object pronouns throughout with all the "she said to them", "he said to her" tags.I would have given 5 stars, but my early edition had a couple of character's names mixed up. I assume that this has been corrected by now.