Review by Choice Review
Since several biographical dictionaries on US Latinos are already available, one may doubt the need for yet another. In fact, works already published exhibit problems: Dictionary of Hispanic Biography (1996) and Notable Hispanic American Women (CH, Jul'93) contain obvious errors, fail adequately to define "Hispanic American," and profile Latin Americans, peninsular Spaniards, US Latinos, and even an Italian or two. Hispanic American Almanac (CH, Jul'93) fares better, but biographical entries are scattered and lack bibliographies. This new publication profiles 127 Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and other Latinos who have made important and varied contributions in the US and internationally. Entries are informative, lively, carefully prepared, and include bibliographies for further reading. Historical and cultural information in the introduction demonstrates the authors' understanding of Latino populations in the US; Meier's previous publications include well-regarded reference works on Mexican Americans. The only negative aspect of this work is its awkward use of "Latino Americans" in the title--evidently not the choice of the authors, who use the term "U.S. Latino" consistently. Why complicate Latino identity by inventing yet another name? Nonetheless, this authoritative book is highly recommended for all libraries and levels. S. A. Vega Garcia; Iowa State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
The Hispanic population in the U.S. has grown dramatically in the last three decades, making dictionaries such as these a necessity. The Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Americans is designed for young readers but would also be useful for adults. It provides articles on 200 Hispanic Americans in a variety of fields of endeavor, beginning with early explorers such as Juan Ponce de Leon. The introduction states that the main criterion for inclusion is that the person "feels Hispanic and/or is considered Hispanic by others." Entries are readable and entertaining. Each begins with a statement giving the subject's claim to fame, then traces their life from birth to death or to current times. Some entries are more up to date than others. Each entry offers a source or sources for further reading. Some include a photograph of the subject. A bibliography of fairly current titles and a general index conclude the book. Indexes by profession and ethnic subgroups would have been helpful. Approximately 70 of the people included in The Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Americans are also covered in Notable Latino Americans. The latter title is intended as a research tool for high-school, public, and academic libraries, and its articles tend to be longer and to treat subjects in more depth. It provides information on Latino men and women "who have made important contributions to American society who are citizens of the United States, or who have spent appreciable portions of their lives in this country." The work covers 127 notable Hispanics with U.S. associations. Virtually all professions are represented, the majority of the entrants being political activists, performing artists, writers, businessmen and -women, sport figures, and, in lesser numbers, educators, visual artists, and scientists. The alphabetically arranged entries average 1,300 to 1,500 words. Some have black-and-white photographs. All include bibliographies for further reading. The bibliographies list journal articles as well as books. The work concludes with two useful indexes. The first lists people by their activity or profession. The second offers a classification by country of origin or ethnic group: Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and "other Latinos." Among those who can be found in both works are Desi Arnaz, Henry Cisneros, Roberto Clemente, Gloria Estefan, Anthony Quinn, and Geraldo Rivera. In general, the Facts On File title covers more popular personalities, such as Selena (Quintanilla) and Julio Iglesias. The Greenwood title has broader coverage of people in such fields as business, literature, and politics. However, Mariah Carey is covered only in the Greenwood volume, while Isabel Allende appears only in the volume from Facts On File. The Greenwood title excludes Brazilians; the Facts On File volume includes one (Carmen Miranda). Except for a few early explorers, the Facts On File volume excludes people born in Spain. The Biographical Dictionary of Hispanic Americans will be very useful in school libraries from the middle-school through the high-school levels and in both the children's and adult reference sections of public libraries. Notable Latino Americans would be a valuable resource for older students and adults. Since they are aimed at slightly different audiences, and since each includes people not covered in the other, both volumes should be considered for purchase by high-school and public libraries.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Well known for his many reference and academic publications concerning Mexican Americans, Meier (North from Mexico, Greenwood, 1990) here offers 127 biographies of men and women of Latino descent who were born in or immigrated to the United States and have made a noteworthy impact. The majority of those profiled are writers, sports figures, actors, or political activists, though some lesser-known personalities in the sciences, education, and the arts are also included. The entries average three pages and generally include a picture and a short bibliography of additional sources. Publications like Richard and Rafael Chabran's The Latino Encyclopedia (Marshall Cavendish, 1995. 6 vols.) provide greater coverage for university and research libraries, but this volume will be of value to public, school, and undergraduate libraries.Mark L. Grover, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, Ut. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 UpProfiles of 127 people who have made important contributions to American society. Included are politicians, writers, musicians, educators, social activists, scientists, and actorssuch familiar personalities as César Chávez, Roberto Clemente, Jaime Escalante, and Linda Ronstadt, as well as less-familiar individuals such as author Reinaldo Arenas and Coca-Cola Company CEO Roberto Goizueta. While many Latino heritages are represented, the majority of those included are Mexican American, with Cuban Americans and Puerto Rican Americans the next most-represented groups. The three-to-four page biographies are clear and detailed and often give real insight into the person's life's work. While the focus is on the individual's main field of accomplishment, the authors do not shy away from the personal or controversial. A brief listing of articles and books in English and Spanish follows each entry. Black-and-white portraits, mostly photographs, accompany 27 of the entries. The coverage, especially of contemporary figures, is good. Nevertheless, one can still lament the omission of individuals such as librarian and folklorist Pura Belpré, authors Julia Alvarez and Gary Soto, artist Carmen Lomas Garza, and singer Selena. Appendixes categorize individuals by career and ethnic group. The general index is less useful; e.g., although astronaut Ellen Ochoa has a main entry, there is no listing in the index for either NASA or astronaut; and while there is an index entry for Nobel Prize, it does not refer to every occurrence of the term in the texteven references to Nobel Prize winners are missing. All but three of the women profiled here are also in Notable Hispanic American Women (Gale, 1993), but the broader scope and currency of this work make it a useful companion source. This book also complements Hispanic American Biography (UXL, 1995), which is similar in scope and depth without a significant amount of overlap.Lauren Mayer, New York Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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