Dreams From Many Rivers by Margarita Engle - ADVISABLE

Dreams From Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle, art by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez, 198 pages. POETRY  Henry Holt (MacMillan), 2019. $19.

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Beginning in Puerto Rico in 1491, Engle uses many different voices - some historical, to show the relationship between history and the people who experienced it. The conquering of the indigenous, trading the islands as though they weren't independent countries, treating people who have lived in the US for generations like unwanted immigrants, splitting up families based on where they were born. 

American History from the view of a marginalized community is an important topic - it's all about perspective. In school I only learned one story, it's time we heard about the others - the ones they don't teach about. Engle's short poetic voices are poignant, full of expression and heartfelt. I was reading about people rather than events. Well researched, includes an author's note with some source material. I'll certainly be featuring this title during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lisa Librarian