1. Bibliography
Soto, Gary. 1997. Buried Onions. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-15-201333-4
2. Plot summary
19-year-old Mexican-American Eddie has grown up on the mean streets of Fresno, California. He has watched as his father, uncles, and best friend have died working on dangerous, back-breaking jobs. Now his primo (cousin) Jesús is dead; stabbed through the heart in the bathroom of a dance club for commenting on a “cholo’s” (boy gang member) shoes. Eddie’s aunt wants him to kill whoever killed Jesús, Eddie’s mother, nina (godmother), and tía (aunt) want him to find a nice girl and settle down; which would be fine with Eddie, but between trying to find work and avoiding the gangs who populate his neighborhood Eddie feels lucky to still be alive. He wonders what causes the sadness and tears that seem to radiate from the ground with the heat affecting everyone he knows. He imagines there must be acres and acres of onions buried underground. What else could cause so much sadness?
3. Critical analysis
In Buried Onions Gary Soto introduces the reader to life in the barrio. Only 19, Eddie has seen and lived the bad side of the Mexican experience. Soto shows us the barrio world of poverty; rusty, broken down cars, gang tattoos, fathers in prison, not to mention crime and violence against each other. Buried Onions is the story of being left out of the American dream with gang membership, early death, or the military as the only option for young, Mexican-American men and “chola” (gang-girl), low-paying jobs, and motherhood; sometimes all three simultaneously, the only options for young Mexican-American women. The author paints a picture of old people, fearful and distrustful, sitting on front porches as the young people engage in revenge against each other. Brown skin is looked on with suspicion by whites and Eddie is constantly on the lookout for attacks from both other Mexican-Americans and the white people and police he fears. However, in the midst the powerlessness to escape the life of gangs and poverty he feels Eddie enjoys all of the good things his culture has given him. The food; helado, paleta, pan dulce, papas, raspadas, chile verde, and the tortillas his tía bribes him with, and friends and family are central to the story and Eddie’s life. He is torn between the life he has, “For me, there wasn’t much to do except eat and sleep, watch for drive-bys, and pace myself through life” and the life he wants, “The good life is one where you go to work, do an eight-hour shift, and return home to your family where your kids are wild for you. After all, you’re the daddy. Mountains rise from your shoulders, coins jingle in you pocket, and the food on the table is your doing.” Soto remains true to his stories realism, so don’t expect a happy ending. Buried Onions is the story of being left out of the American dream and trying to finding a way in without losing your cultural heritage along the way.
4. Review excerpts
Booklist Online: “Soto’s clear, finely honed poet’s voice shines in this tale of barrio life in Fresno, California. Nineteen-year-old Eddie has dropped out of junior college and is attempting to support himself through the occasional gardening job and painting curbside numbers in the wealthier parts of town. However, he’s relentlessly followed by the unbearable heat of the Central Valley summer and a wholly believable run of bad luck: his cousin is killed, his employer’s truck is stolen, and his buddy is stabbed right in front of him. On top of that, his aunt urges him to avenge his cousin’s murder. The broad and easy humor of Crazy Weekend (1994) is lacking here, but Eddie’s wry observations in the face of his many predicaments provide welcome relief. Although the coach at the neighborhood playground offers Eddie material assistance and moral support, there is no upbeat ending. The “buried onions,” which Eddie imagines as the underground source for the world’s tears, pervade the tone and plot, but the unvarnished depiction of depressed and depressing barrio life is as important as the positive images of Latinos Soto has created in his other works.”
Publishers Weekly: “This bleak, claustrophobic novel perfectly captures the cyclical despair of its [19-year-old, Hispanic protagonist], said PW; Soto leaves this bitter street tale unsweetened to the end. Ages 12-up.”
5. Connections
Reader’s advisory read-alike suggestions:
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Soto, Gary. 1997. Buried Onions. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-15-201333-4
2. Plot summary
19-year-old Mexican-American Eddie has grown up on the mean streets of Fresno, California. He has watched as his father, uncles, and best friend have died working on dangerous, back-breaking jobs. Now his primo (cousin) Jesús is dead; stabbed through the heart in the bathroom of a dance club for commenting on a “cholo’s” (boy gang member) shoes. Eddie’s aunt wants him to kill whoever killed Jesús, Eddie’s mother, nina (godmother), and tía (aunt) want him to find a nice girl and settle down; which would be fine with Eddie, but between trying to find work and avoiding the gangs who populate his neighborhood Eddie feels lucky to still be alive. He wonders what causes the sadness and tears that seem to radiate from the ground with the heat affecting everyone he knows. He imagines there must be acres and acres of onions buried underground. What else could cause so much sadness?
3. Critical analysis
In Buried Onions Gary Soto introduces the reader to life in the barrio. Only 19, Eddie has seen and lived the bad side of the Mexican experience. Soto shows us the barrio world of poverty; rusty, broken down cars, gang tattoos, fathers in prison, not to mention crime and violence against each other. Buried Onions is the story of being left out of the American dream with gang membership, early death, or the military as the only option for young, Mexican-American men and “chola” (gang-girl), low-paying jobs, and motherhood; sometimes all three simultaneously, the only options for young Mexican-American women. The author paints a picture of old people, fearful and distrustful, sitting on front porches as the young people engage in revenge against each other. Brown skin is looked on with suspicion by whites and Eddie is constantly on the lookout for attacks from both other Mexican-Americans and the white people and police he fears. However, in the midst the powerlessness to escape the life of gangs and poverty he feels Eddie enjoys all of the good things his culture has given him. The food; helado, paleta, pan dulce, papas, raspadas, chile verde, and the tortillas his tía bribes him with, and friends and family are central to the story and Eddie’s life. He is torn between the life he has, “For me, there wasn’t much to do except eat and sleep, watch for drive-bys, and pace myself through life” and the life he wants, “The good life is one where you go to work, do an eight-hour shift, and return home to your family where your kids are wild for you. After all, you’re the daddy. Mountains rise from your shoulders, coins jingle in you pocket, and the food on the table is your doing.” Soto remains true to his stories realism, so don’t expect a happy ending. Buried Onions is the story of being left out of the American dream and trying to finding a way in without losing your cultural heritage along the way.
4. Review excerpts
Booklist Online: “Soto’s clear, finely honed poet’s voice shines in this tale of barrio life in Fresno, California. Nineteen-year-old Eddie has dropped out of junior college and is attempting to support himself through the occasional gardening job and painting curbside numbers in the wealthier parts of town. However, he’s relentlessly followed by the unbearable heat of the Central Valley summer and a wholly believable run of bad luck: his cousin is killed, his employer’s truck is stolen, and his buddy is stabbed right in front of him. On top of that, his aunt urges him to avenge his cousin’s murder. The broad and easy humor of Crazy Weekend (1994) is lacking here, but Eddie’s wry observations in the face of his many predicaments provide welcome relief. Although the coach at the neighborhood playground offers Eddie material assistance and moral support, there is no upbeat ending. The “buried onions,” which Eddie imagines as the underground source for the world’s tears, pervade the tone and plot, but the unvarnished depiction of depressed and depressing barrio life is as important as the positive images of Latinos Soto has created in his other works.”
Publishers Weekly: “This bleak, claustrophobic novel perfectly captures the cyclical despair of its [19-year-old, Hispanic protagonist], said PW; Soto leaves this bitter street tale unsweetened to the end. Ages 12-up.”
5. Connections
Reader’s advisory read-alike suggestions:
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
No comments:
Post a Comment