Join us September 10th at Bookworks from 5:00-7:00 to discuss our next book. We are reading The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and María Virginia Farinango. It has received numerous awards and was recently named the Américas Award honorable mention for 2012.
It’s quite an amazing story–“Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her large family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her village of indígenas, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta—stupid Indian—by members of the ruling class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her village to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds. In this poignant novel based on a true story, acclaimed author Laura Resau has collaborated with María Virginia Farinango to recount one girl’s unforgettable journey to self-discovery. Virginia’s story will speak to anyone who has ever struggled to find his or her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope.” (http://www.amazon.com/The-Queen-Water-Laura-Resau/dp/0385738978)
We hope to see you there! We’re looking forward to hearing what you think about the book!
Thanks so much to the wonderful group who joined us last night for our August discussion of Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. If you couldn’t make it to the book group, be sure to let us know what you thought about the book by commenting on a post. We want to hear your thoughts too!
Don’t forget–you have until THIS FRIDAY AUGUST 10th to be entered in our drawing for a copy of The Queen of Water! It’s simple, all you have to do is comment on any post on the blog!
For all of you who go back to the classroom this week, I hope that it is the start to an amazing year for you and your students!
Vamos a Leer 
I have this ambivalence about reading this story: I lived in Quito for a year in 1988 (as a student at UNM’s Centro Andino) and just reading the promo here brings back heavy painful memories of the class distinctions and prejudice I both observed and heard about first hand while I was there. I will overcome my hesitancy and read this story though. Thanks for the suggestion.
There are definitely parts of the story that are quite sad to read–but unfortunately, an honest reflection of society. I was in Ecuador as well, in Cuenca though, and there’s really nothing that compares to seeing the prejudice first hand. One of the things that makes the book so beautiful though is the main character’s strength, persistence, and refusal to believe that she is worth any less than anyone else. I think the main character is one that many will love–especially our students. I hope you’ll share your thoughts about the book once you read it!
So now I have read the book Queen of Water cover to cover. The settings and main characters were spot on and transported me to life and people in ways even my own memory failed me until reading this novel. I appreciated the ways the very real dehumanizing of Virginia was contrasted to the also real sufferings and shortcomings of her captors. I have long held that to cause pain for another, one must have a life of pain to begin to draw upon and attempt to alleviate through causing pain for others. Memorable tale. Hope to make it for the discussion Monday after school. Thanks.
Hope you can make it today too! Would love to get to talk more about the book.
This comment came to us via email from one of our readers, so I wanted to share it here!
The reading of this book is very important to me, since I was born in Ecuador and grew up thinking that domestic help was part of every family experience. I thought of our maids as part of our family and would like to know if my case was unique or different.
This is the best book I’ve read in a while! I couldn’t put it down! Seeing Ecuador this way shed some light on some very interesting topics I can discuss in class!!!! I can’t wait till my students can read this one!!!! If you haven’t read it…READ THE BOOK! Amazing.
Thanks for sharing! So glad that you liked the book. I agree–I think it’s a novel that has the potential to encourage a variety of discussions on relevant topics that can really engage students. If you haven’t seen it already, check out our World Wide Web post on resources for using The Queen of Water in the classroom. The links and articles might be useful to facilitating a classroom discussion around the book! I can’t wait to hear what your students say about the book!
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