Hip and chatty, with serious undertones, this "bible" will be a valuable resource for young Latina women. A Puerto Rican–born journalist and former editor-in-chief of Latina
magazine, Guzman tackles media image versus self-image up front; she rejects the bureaucratic term "Hispanic" and celebrates the infinite variety of skin color, body shape, hair texture, regional dialect and national origin of today's Latinas as she shares personal anecdotes and advice on a wide range of modern conundrums, from dating a non-Latino man to combating workplace discrimination. Much of the book focuses on familial and especially romantic relationships, with Spanglish-inflected guidance on dating, marriage and Latino sexual mystique. There are also chapters on health, careers and spirituality, and a strong emphasis throughout on professional networking and mentoring of girls. In fact, the book is guided by a sense of community-oriented feminism. Sidebars feature illuminating statistics and thumbnail biographies of lesser-known women, such as Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the first Latina elected to Congress, and activist Antonia Pantoja, the first Puerto Rican woman to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Though Guzman ostensibly directs her book to all Latina women, her wise-older-sister tone will probably most appeal to younger women and teens. (Mar.)
Forecast:According to Guzman, there are more than 16 million Latinas in the U.S., with the single biggest group being 35- to 40-year-olds, making the market for her book
muy grande, especially as a gift to daughters and younger sisters. A splashy cover will help attract buyers.
