America Street: A Multicultural Anthology of Stories

by Anne Mazer (Editor)

Overview

"It is a treat to have [these stories] pulled together here, reflecting as they do the dignity of individuals and the strength of family bonds across different cultures."—School Library Journal

Welcome to America Street, where every story is as vital and unique as the friends, neighbors, and relatives we encounter every day. Here are fourteen stories about young people told by some of America's best storytellers: Duane Big Eagle, Toni Cade Bambara, Robert Cormier, Langston Hughes, Gish Jen, Francisco Jiménez, Mary K. Mazotti, Nicholasa Mohr, Toshio Mori, Leslie Namioka, Naomi Shihab Nye, Grace Paley, Gary Soto, and Michele Wallace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780892551903
Publisher:	Persea Books
Publication date:	01/17/1993
Edition description:	1st ed
Pages:	164
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	870L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

About the Author

Anne Mazer is the author of several widely acclaimed books, including the novels Moose Street and The Oxboy, and a picture book, The Salamander Room, winner of the Keystone to Reading Book Award and a Reading Rainbow Feature Selection. Anthologies from edited by Mazer include: America Street, Going Where I'm Coming From, A Walk in My World, and Working Days. Mazer grew up in Syracuse, NY and lives in Ithaca, NY.

Editorial Reviews

Mazer ( Moose Street ) presents a smorgasbord of multiethnic experiences with 14 slice-of-life stories featuring teens (mostly contemporary) whose parents or grandparents immigrated to the U.S. The sociocultural backgrounds of characters are diverse, yet all share the common goal of finding a place for themselves. Some (Toni Cade Bambara's Hazel Parker, a prize-winning runner in ``Raymond's Run,'' and Gary Soto's day-dreaming Fausto, of ``The No-Guitar Blues'') strive to rise above the crowd and to be recognized for their abilities. Other protagonists are concerned primarily with blending in and remaining as inconspicuous as possible. For example, the narrator of Lensey Namioka's ``The All-American Slurp'' is mortified by her family's dining-room etiquette. In a similar vein, the heroine of Gish Jen's ``The White Umbrella'' wishes she were part of a more ``American'' family--until her loyalty for her mother is tested. The sometimes rib-tickling, sometimes wrenching incidents chronicled in this highly readable volume provide first-rate entertainment while shedding light on the unique struggles and dreams of first-, second- and third-generation Americans. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 7-12-Fourteen short stories about growing up in America's diverse society. Written by such authors as Robert Cormier, Langston Hughes, Lensey Namioka, Grace Paley, Gary Soto, and Michele Wallace, they range from powerful to poignant to downright hilarious. Readers will come away from this collection understanding what it is like to be a migrant worker, an African-American child in a white school, or a Jewish child cast in a Christmas pageant. ``The Wrong Lunch Line'' details the problems a Latina has when trying to eat with her best friend, who is Jewish; the Chinese-American Lin family has trouble dining in ``The All-American Slurp.'' While all but one of these stories have been published previously, it is a treat to have them pulled together here, reflecting as they do the dignity of individuals and the strength of family bonds across different cultures.-Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA

School Library Journal

To make multiculturalism the theme of an anthology is like making LIFE the theme. Yes, we do need to redress the Eurocentric bias that has dominated kids' reading for so long, but a collection still needs some unifying principle other than that the 14 stories are about lots of American ethnic groups. However, there are some beautiful pieces here, and individual stories will stimulate classroom discussion. In fact, this collection is being used in a pilot volunteer program in New York City's middle schools. Lesley Namioka's "The All-American Slurp" is a hilarious comedy about table manners across cultures; Grace Paley's "The Loudest Voice" is a rich story about a Jewish girl in her school's Christmas play. Francisco Jimenez's "The Circuit" is a heartbreaking account of a migrant child laborer. Some of the best stories--such as Gish Jen's "The White Umbrella" and Langston Hughes' "Thank You, M'am"--have a poignant humor that makes us see how we are all vulnerable, all connected.

Hazel Rochman

★ 2019-02-21

A collection of short stories that brilliantly capture defining moments in the lives of a diverse group of American children and teens.

First published in 1993, this updated anthology, with 12 out of the 20 stories new to this edition, is a series of snapshots of the lives of youth growing up in the United States. From the black kindergartner in Edward P. Jones' "The First Day" to the 11-year-old Winnebago girl in Susan Power's "Drum Kiss" to the teenage daughter of Israeli immigrants in Rivka Galchen's "Yiddische Baby," the characters span a broad range of stages of childhood. The protagonists are as diverse as the authors, and the contributions vary in length and narrative structure; some of the shortest and most experimental—such as Justin Torres' "Heritage"—are the most poetic and powerful. Although some stories date from the 1940s to the '80s, characters grapple with timeless issues like divorce, loss, jealousy, and unrequited love, and the voices feel fresh and authentic. Refreshingly, most of the protagonists express a deep but conflicted love of their families and heritages, resulting in nuanced narratives that feel honest and relevant. Unfortunately, while the collection features racial, ethnic, religious, and class diversity, it features no queer or disabled characters. The prominent list of contributors includes Sandra Cisneros, Gish Jen, Langston Hughes, Gary Soto, and Naomi Shihab Nye.

A lyrical, poignant collection of voices that reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of modern America. (about the authors) (Anthology. 12-adult)

Kirkus Reviews