Awards

• Commended for Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature (Children/Young Adult) 2006

Overview

Surprising Cecilia is the second novel—following the success of Cecilia’s Year—about a girl whose dreams carry her far beyond the small farm community she lives in. Both novels are set in the rich Hispanic culture of the Rio Grande Valley in the 1930s. Cecilia has worked hard so that she can go to high school. Now it’s September—the school bus is bringing Cecilia to the new adventures, surprises, and responsibilities of growing up. Susan Gonzales Abraham and Denise Gonzales Abraham are the daughters of Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, the hero of the Cecilia books. Cecilia’s Year has been selected as the Best Book for Young Adults in 2004 by the Texas Institute of Letters.

Full Product Details

9780938317968

Table of Contents

Reviews

This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression... Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal. --Booklist Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations. --Kirkus Reviews An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories. --School Library Journal The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. --Children's Literature Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish, ' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia's life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter. --El Paso Scene Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia--an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read. --MCR Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books. --Alan Review Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novel--well-written, informative, entertaining and above all--believable. If Little House on the Prairie were set on a New Mexico farm near Hatch during the Depression, it would be this book. --New Mexico Magazine -This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression... Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal.---Booklist -Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations.---Kirkus Reviews -An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories.---School Library Journal -The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. ---Children's Literature -Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish, ' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia's life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter.---El Paso Scene -Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia--an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read.- --MCR -Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books.---Alan Review -Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novel--well-written, informative, entertaining and above all--believable. If Little House on the Prairie were set on a New Mexico farm near Hatch during the Depression, it would be this book.---New Mexico Magazine This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal. Booklist Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations. Kirkus Reviews An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories. School Library Journal The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. Children's Literature Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish, ' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia s life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter. El Paso Scene Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read. MCR Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books. Alan Review Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novelwell-written, informative, entertaining and above allbelievable. If Little House on the Prairie were set on a New Mexico farm near Hatch during the Depression, it would be this book. New Mexico Magazine

<br> This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression... Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal. --Booklist <br> Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations. --Kirkus Reviews <br> An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories. --School Library Journal <br> The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. --Children's Literature <br> Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish, ' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia's life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter. --El Paso Scene <br> Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia --an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read. --MCR <br> Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books. --Alan Review <br> Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novel--well-written, informative, entertaining and above all--believable. If Little House o

This fictionalized biography gives a rich sense of a strong Latino family during the Depression Black-and-white family photos and lots of Spanish terms are woven smoothly into the story. Though rooted in the small New Mexican farming community of the time, the conflict about leaving home is universal. Booklist Sure to find readers especially in libraries serving larger Latino populations. Kirkus Reviews An excellent student, [Cecilia] works hard at home to help her family, but receives no encouragement to continue her education from her old-fashioned mother. The book relies on the memories of the authors about their mother, Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, and the retelling of family stories. School Library Journal The authors explore themes that are important life lessons, and emphasize family values. This story was inspired by the authors' mother and they illustrate her life with thoughtful insights about how she achieved her American dream. Children's Literature Written in easily flowing, conversational 'Spanglish, ' the Abrahams weave family photos and bilingual proverbs gracefully through the book. Like the first book, Surprising Cecilia ends with a promising gesture from a young man in Cecilia s life leaving the reader awaiting the next chapter. El Paso Scene Girls today have the benefits of both their traditional roles and their modern-day opportunities. However, sometimes these two worlds conflict and they are left with difficult decisions. What is not a tough choice at all is whether or not to read Surprising Cecilia an entertaining, thoughtful, and insightful read. MCR Cecilia is likeable, and her struggle toward independence is heartfelt. This quiet story will find an audience with readers who have outgrown the Little House books. Alan Review Surprising Cecilia is a delightful young adult novelwell-written, informative, entertaining and above allbelievable. If Little House on the Prairie were set on a New Mexico farm near Hatch during the Depression, it would be this book. New Mexico Magazine

Author Information

Denise Gonzales Abraham received a master's degree in reading education from Arizona State University. She has taught Spanish, English, reading skills, and English as a second language in Phoenix, Arizona, and El Paso, and is currently an elementary school librarian with the Ysleta Independent School District in El Paso. She lives with her son James Carlo and seven cats. Susan and Denise Gonzales Abraham are daughters of Cecilia Gonzales Abraham, the title character of Cecilia's Year. The sisters were born and raised in El Paso, and they both graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a B.S. in Education.

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