Mi voz, mi vida/ My Voice, My Life: Latino College Students Tell their Life Stories

Amid the flurry of debates about immigration, poverty, and education in the United States, the stories in Mi Voz, Mi Vida allow us to reflect on how young people who might be most affected by the results of these debates actually navigate through American society.

The fifteen Latino college students who tell their stories in this book come from a variety of socioeconomic, regional, and family backgrounds—they are young men and women of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American, and South American descent. Their insights are both balanced and frank, blending personal, anecdotal, political, and cultural viewpoints. Their engaging stories detail the students' personal struggles with issues such as identity and biculturalism, family dynamics, religion, poverty, stereotypes, and the value of education.

Throughout, they provide insights into issues of racial identity in contemporary America among a minority population that is very much in the news. This book gives educators, students, and their families a clear view of the experience of Latino students adapting to a challenging educational environment and a cultural context—Dartmouth College—often very different from their childhood ones.

Customer Reviews:

Arrived so quickly!

By S. Pannepacker - November 23, 2009

This arrived so quickly from Amazon. The description of this book is accurate and the sample stories (part of the text) are a good indicator of what you should expect from the book. At least a dozen Latino college students tell their life stories in their own words. They talk about expectations, stereotypes and their struggles living in the United States. It was a good read; easy to start and stop and interesting stories.

Great & Inspiring book

By C. Sernack - June 27, 2011

This is an excellent book that captures the voices of Latino students who have succeeded educationally. As a teacher this book has helped me work with students who have potential, but often do not have access to role models. These stories are inspiring, sad, and show a different point of view. I wish all my Latino students can read it.

Enlightening and motivational

By WordyRene "ener_g" - June 13, 2011

Its a shame that more books like this are not introduced to high school Latinos across the country. This book is a perfect blend of stories from college level Latino students at Dartmouth College, a private college in New Hampshire. The stories are written in first person from the student and detail their life before and during their experience in college. Each student's story is unique and well written and showcases each person's personal struggles in trying to achieve a college education at a private college. The setting is somewhat unique in that it is a New Hampshire, but it only adds to each writer's perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with their own path in life as it might shed some light to how to overcome barriers and achieve their dreams.