How to Be a Chicana Role Model

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Summary: Chicana Power
Review: A book for all Chicanas, this book is filled with humorous tidbits and ideas on how to be a "Chicana Role Model."

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Summary: IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW A CHICANA FEELS-YOU HAVE TO READ IT!
Review: AFTER READING THIS AMAZING BOOK I WAS REALLY AMAZED WITH THE RESULTS. MANY THINGS THAT MICHELE SERROS INCLUDED IN HER FICTION WAS REALLY RELATED TO ME. WHAT I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THIS GREAT BOOK WAS THAT I HAD A RESOURCE TO LOOK UP TO. THIS BOOK MADE ME REALIZE THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH SOME WEIRD QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS IN MY MIND ABOUT-HOW TO BE A CHICANA ROLE MODEL OR EVEN IGNORING THINGS THAT COULD AFFECT ME IN MY PERSONAL LIFE. I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY A CHICANA FEELS A CERTAIN WAY. IT'S AN EASY AND FUN BOOK TO REAL. HOPE YOUR NEXT CHOICE-IS TO READ-HOW TO BE A CHICANA ROLE MODEL BY MICHELE SERROS.

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Summary: Thanks for Capturing The Chicana Experience On Paper...
Review: As a fellow Chicana, I can totally relate to everything Michele Serros is talking about in this fabulous, funny book. After reading some of the reviews (bad ones) written about this book on Amazon, one by a white man, okay, yes, the book speaks from a Chicana experience and perspective. That's probably because, duh, she is Chicana. I don't believe she was bashing white men in this book at all. She's using humor to address bigger social problems that do exist in the United States, and that we, as Chicanos, women, and minorities have personally experienced. I think this book is a wonderful read and informs a wide audience about bigger social issues with a comic flair that will have you laughing, crying, and thinking about how to change those stereotypes. I particularly enjoyed the chapter about her father as a "brown ghost". My parents were working class, also, so I can completely attest to the truth Michele speaks in describing this scenario. Too often we take for granted the so-called little people, who are usually Chicanos or another minority. Again, Michele, thank you for such an amazing book. The book totally made my week--and I completely related.

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Summary: Chock full of stereotypes
Review: How come every white character in this book is racist in some way? Surely somewhere in her journeys Ms. Serros must have run up against some intelligent, compassionate white people. But apparently not. Apparently all white people are either overtly or latently racist and they are all very very stupid. Good job Ms. Serros. You've so little self-esteem you must put down an entire race to raise yourself up. Well, I hope you feel better now.

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Summary: Can't put it down
Review: How to Be A Chicana Role Model is a collection of short stories of Michele Serrio's struggle to find success and to identify herself as a Chicana writer. Many of the stories illustrate many of the obstacles Michele had to face from her childhood to her struggle as a writer trying to sell her books. Some of the stories seem to far fetch such as Michele encounter with Jennifer Lopez while working as a paige for the television show, In Living Color. Also the stories have a way of ending nicely which give the reader the impression that some embellishment on the details was made. The book does classify itself as fiction as seen on the cover. There is no notice that states that the events that occur are real, based on true life, or just made up.

Whether or not these stories may have happened should not detract anyone from the stories. These stories present a person's journey through life, overcoming obstacles and learning from mistakes. One example of a struggle is Michele's perception of beauty when she was young. She was made fun of having an "Indian" nose by her best friend. Being conscious of her nose, Michele wanted to look more American. For her school picture, she squeezed her nose so that it would be narrow like an American. Later on in the book, Michele is able to appreciate her nose and her own beauty by presenting herself as an art display. Stories like these truly reflect issues that Mexican Americans face today. Michele encounters many stereotypes because of her skin and she little connection to her ethnic heritage.
Michele also writes about her struggles as a Chicana writer. From writing her own poems, to finding a willing publisher, and to sell her books on her own, we can see the development of Michele's identity as a Chicana writer. Michele writes with sharp wit and doesn't hold back on what she thinks. I recommend this book because of the wit, the humorous stories, and that once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down till the end.

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Summary: Chock full of stereotypes
Review: I enjoyed this gutsy new voice from the obviously underrepresented group of people, Chicana. The author handles this ever becoming difficult subject, identity politics which never seems to be resolved wich an easy solution, in a efforless manner with her signiture facile and smooth,coloquial English. This could be a good school reader and encourage young people who are searching for their voice to write on their own.
The only regret is that this autobiographical story succumbs to be somewhat shallow at this point. I expect her to develop into something more universal and go beyond the particularity of her fixed situation and background in next work.
By the way, I was shock to find how underpaid this narrator was in this story. I hope this is not the reality in West Coast! They can't hire college grad for 6 bucks or so hourly, can they?

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Summary: For us "fake" Chicanas
Review: I love this book. I purposely went to the bookstore looking for a book written by a Chicana/Latina that I could relate to. I am not an immigrant, although my parents are. I did not grow up in the barrio. As a matter of fact I was known as the "coconut" in high school. This was a series of stories about a young woman trying to do her thing and she happens to be Chicana. It is not her entire identity. Finally, a book I can relate to.

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Summary: Hysterical
Review: I thought this book was cleaver, hysterical and insightful. After reading some of the reviews I thought it was gonna be subpar, but, I found it to be an excellent easy read. With some very interesting metaphors and ironies. I really liked the chapter about living in mexico with white girls ("white socks"). I thought that was fantastic. I can really relate to many of the experiences in this book. I highly recommend this book, don't let the reviews scare you off. it's easy to be an critic these days.

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Summary: What Is a Real Role Model?
Review: In reading the reviews posted on this site and other sites, I was left wanting more. From a literary perspective these reviews do not even scratch the surface of what Michele's book is really about. The existing reviews grappled with simplistic issues such as tone, style, and basic themes. In this review I hope to break the cycle of simplistic, one sided reviews, in order to open readers up to possible claims and inquiries within How to be a Chicana Role Model.
Within the book, Michele Serros uses a lighthearted tone to portray the struggles a Chicana woman must endure to be respected in a literary society. With her humorous, yet exaggerated, semi-fictional stories Michele shows how her character's struggles are universal. All readers, not just Chicanas, can learn valuable lessons from Michele's 13 rules to being a good role model: one being that progressively approaching life's roadblocks not only makes for a stronger person, but it also allows people to view the world more panoramically. Life's lessons are best learned through personal struggles, hardships and experiences. Michele's 13 rules proudly display how these lessons can shape a person's character. The struggles Michele's semi-fictional character (also named Michele) endured culminated to expand her thinking and allowed her to learn lessons about herself and the world, all while bettering her writing. Simply put the book is about the struggle of an up and coming Chicana writer, but after deeper probing it is clear that the underlying message is that life is not easy, but if you are willing to endure, struggle and learn from life's lessons you are the greatest role model of all.
In contrast with the other reviews, this review probes deeper into what a reader can question and address within How to be a Chicana Role Model. The humorous stories that the other reviews comment on are not what is important about Michele's book. The stories are great and they are humorous, but from a literary perspective her book is much more than that. How to be a Chicana Role Model sheds a new light on what it means to be a "role model." As Michele's character alludes to throughout the book, a role model should not be a role model simply because of what they have accomplished in their lifetime. A true role model is someone who treats everyone (even those less accomplished) with equal respect. Lastly, a true role model is someone who has endured, struggled and learned from life's lessons all with an open mind.

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Summary: Funny, Lively, light reading
Review: Not usually a fiction/memoir reader I usually go for literary biographies or business/nonfiction politics, history etc. But after listening to my wife laugh for a few days reading this I decided to give this a try over the weekend...boy am I glad I did.

Smart, witty and at times quite touching. I especially loved the story of about here winning the scholarship/grant and the reaction of her father to this news...(no , I wont give it awat, you have to read it and find out). Although , set in a Latino neighborhood in LA, the themes and problems she tackles are universal and ones we can all relate to....Michele Soros in a gem!