Review of México Lindo

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "México Lindo" by Mark Hauber.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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This review discusses the paperback version of México Lindo by Mark Hauber. I was drawn to the cover because the building looks similar to one where I spent three weeks at a Spanish immersion school. At first, I was confused by the passage the author chose to put on the back cover, but I understood the meaning when I finished reading.

This is a simply written, sweet, fictionalized story based on actual experiences Mark Hauber had while living in Mexico. The dedication to his "family on both sides of the border" and his explanation that the book was written as a tribute to the people he encountered during his stay in Mexico set the tone for this narrative.

When the story begins, Jay Turner, the protagonist, has been sent to Mexico as punishment for flunking out of college. Jay's father decided that six months of teaching English in an impoverished village would promote an attitude adjustment for his entitled son. Part of the condition of his harsh sentence was that Jay had to surrender his cell phone, passport, and credit cards to the director of the school where he would be teaching. This was very difficult for Jay, but the plan worked better than expected. Jay's experiences are humorous and touching; they describe a coming-of-age transformation in a unique setting.

Jay's Spanish skills were minimal, and I could easily relate to many of the difficulties he encountered due to a language barrier. I once had a memorable bus trip in Spain, so the scene in the first part of the book felt very familiar. Hauber frequently incorporates Spanish terms into his writing, Most of the time I was able to use context clues to decipher the meanings. I didn't find the glossary until I finished reading the book, which brings up my only negative comment. The book does not have a table of contents or any indication that there is a helpful dictionary available. Knowing this ahead of time would have improved my reading enjoyment.

Another area where I was able to relate to Jay concerns his role as a teacher. One of the things Jay realized was how to learn by watching other teachers teach. This was something I also learned in my teaching career. The stories about the connections Jay made with his peers and his students were some of my favorite parts.

I am happy to give a perfect score of five out of five stars to this book. Recommendations include using it in a high school Spanish class as a way to introduce the culture of Mexico. It might also be a useful tool for parents of underachieving college students. If it were a movie, it would be rated G, suitable for all audiences.

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México Lindo
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[Blueberry Dragon]

Thanks for the insightful review @Diana Lowery. I specially loved that you were able to give it a movie rating too!

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks for the insightful review @Diana Lowery. I specially loved that you were able to give it a movie rating too!

Thank you, Blueberry. I appreciate your comment.