POET AND POLITICIAN OF PUERTO RICO:
DON LUIS MUNOZ MARIN
(ORCHARD BOOKS, 1995)

Recognitions:
An El Nuevo Día Book of the Year
A Child Study Children’s Book Committee’s Children’s Book of the Year

National Reviews:
“Bernier-Grand has done Puerto Rico and English-speaking children a service.” A.W. Maldonado, The San Juan Star.

“Not only an intriguing biography of Muñoz Marín, the poet politician responsible for engineering Puerto Rico’s status as a commonwealth of the U.S. and raising living standards for its citizens, this book is also a history of the island during the 20th century and an assessment of the ongoing issue of the country’s status. Bernier-Grand capably depicts Muñoz Marín, who moved easily in both American and Puerto Rican cultures, as an idealistic, romantic figure who struggled for years to reform Puerto Rico and to achieve the best possible resolution to the status question. Her book will be a valuable introduction to an eminent political figure, and it will also raise awareness of the status issue.” Chris Sherman, Booklist.

“Profusamente ilustrada y muy documentada, esta biografía dirigida a un público norteamericano concentra sobre los primeros años de Luis Muñoz Marín...SE recurre frecuentemente a un abundante anecdotario que revela el lado íntimo de la persona, fruto de una investigación cuidadosa.” Carmen Dolores Hernández, El Nuevo Día

“The book contains an excellent time line, good notes, a great appendix, and an interesting afterward that discusses the current status of Puerto Rico.” Margaret B. Rafferty, School Library Journal

“The short chapters, numerous black-and-white photographs, and excerpts from Muñoz Marín’s poetry make the volume move quickly.” Horn Book

“As a resource for research, this biography is outstanding. An appendix includes a time line, a diagrammatical explanation of the sequence of governments of Puerto Rico, and even a clear explanation of Spanish surnames. A brief list of sources followed by extensive chapter notes all the reader to access more material about the subject. The index is thorough, and each chapter is headed with an excerpt of Muñoz Marín’s poetry...[The book] is a useful addition to a collection needing resources about Puerto Rico.” VOYA

Other Readers’ Reviews:
“Carmen Bernier-Grand points out the importance democratic ideals based on respect for others had in Muñoz’s life, illustrating her narrative with personal anecdotes of moving human dimensions. Muñoz Marín’s love of poetry, for example, and the relationship between the development of his humanistic concerns and literature, are very present in the book...This is an inspiring and much needed book, which will no doubt contribute to the better understanding of the Puerto Rican experience among the immigrant community in the United States, as well among the population at large.” Rosario Ferré, Author, San Juan Puerto Rico

“It’s a handsome, well-written book.” James Giblin, Editor and Author, New York, New York

“Your book opened a window into an era of Puertorrican history that my grandparents and parents described to me...Thank you for taking the time to research, write and publish about one of the least written about Latin American leaders of the century.” A Puerto Rican reader from the U.S.

“An excellent introduction to the history and people of Puerto Rico in the 20th century ... Adults as well as children are likely to find it informative.” Harold Underdown, Editor, New York, New York

“Perhaps one of the most realistic accounts of the struggles of the Puertorrican people through the eyes of one of the political giants of Latin America.” Reader, Alexandria, Virginia

“I have read the book, some of it twice...The material was presented in a very interesting fashion. I appreciate the treatment of Muñoz’s commitment to socialism, his early recognition of the women’s role in making change, and the way his poetry influenced his political sense.” Nancy Warner, Acampo, California