The Last of the Menu Girls

Author DENISE CHAVEZ creates several things in THE LAST OF THE MENU GIRLS. She offers vivid childhood memories as the main character, Rocio grows from child to young woman. CHAVEZ gives us a strong sense of Hispanic culture, and she talks about the rites of passage from girlhood to womanhood universal to all of us. Rocio's discovery that Mama couldn't protect her from all harm, that evil lurked in the world, and that people could be manipulative and downright vicious over nothing resonaged particularly with me because of some of my own childhood experiences. I also chuckled at Rocio's interactions with neighbors and friends, and her experiences on her first job because, yes, I had similar ones. THE LAST OF THE MENU GIRLS set me recalling my neighborhood, the German-Czech Republic culture I knew, and my family stories. Good stories do that. This one's worth the read. And for those who are learning Spanish, there's an extra bonus, lots of bilingual writing. but CHAVEZ handles both languages in a way that lets the person who doesn't speak Spanish also enjoy HE LAST OF THE MENU GIRLS.

I read this book when it first came out and shortly after meeting Ms. Chavez, and have since re-read it at least a dozen times. Each time I find myself transported back to my childhood. The images Chavez creates evoke cultural memories that I am only now able to understand and appreciate. For anyone who wants to explore cultural identity, The Last of the Menu Girls is a perfect starting place.