logo

50 pages 1 hour read

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1991

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Julia Alvarez

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1991
Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

United States, Dominican Republic • 1960s

Publication Year

1991

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

950L

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez unfolds in reverse chronological order, tracking the lives of four Dominican-born sisters who immigrate to New York. Part 1 portrays their adult struggles with assimilation and identity; Part 2 delves into their rebellious adolescence and their mother's efforts to maintain their Dominican values; and Part 3 recounts their escape from the Dominican Republic and their initial hardships in the U.S. The novel addresses numerous sensitive topics, such as prejudice against immigrants, complex family dynamics, and traumatic experiences related to sexual matters.

Emotional

Nostalgic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

32,315 ratings

57%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez is praised for its evocative depiction of identity and cultural displacement. Reviewers appreciate Alvarez's lyrical prose and intricate narrative structure. However, some find the non-linear timeline confusing. Overall, it’s celebrated for offering poignant insights into the immigrant experience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents?

Readers who appreciate How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez are likely drawn to multicultural narratives, family sagas, and themes of identity and immigration. Fans of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros or The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan will find this novel compelling for its vibrant storytelling and richly detailed characters.

4.0

32,315 ratings

57%

Loved it

33%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

304

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

United States, Dominican Republic • 1960s

Publication Year

1991

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

15-18 years

Lexile Level

950L

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.