Literary Nonfiction. Latino/Latina Studies. Memoir. A vividly told autobiographical account of the life of a child growing up in a family of migrant farm workers. It brings to life the day-to-day existence of people facing the obstacles of working in the fields and raising a family in an environment that is frequently hostile to those who have little education and speak another language. Assimilation brings its own problems, as the original culture is attenuated and the quality of family relationships is comprimised, consequences that are not inevitable but are instead a series of choices made along the way. It is also the story of how the author overcame the disadvantages of this background and found herself.

Author Hometown: CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA USA



About the author: Elva Treviño Hart was born in south Texas to Mexican immigrants. She has a bachelor's degree in theoretical mathematics and a master's degree in computer science/engineering from Stanford University. After working as a computer professional for twenty years, she now lives in Virginia. She is the author of the award-winning best-seller BAREFOOT HEART, which won critical acclaim and was described as "moving and memorable" by The Bloomsbury Review, "gripping" by Teaching Tolerance, and "poignant" by Library Journal. Publisher's Weekly described it as "a beautifully written debut from a writer to watch."