When I Was Puerto Rican

• Genre: Nonfiction; Memoir; Autobiography
• Originally Published: 1993
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1020L; Grades 9-12; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: The memoir is divided into several chapters that chronicle different stages of Santiago’s life; approximately 288 pages; audiobook length approximately 8 hours and 16 minutes.
• Central Concern: When I Was Puerto Rican is Santiago’s evocative coming-of-age memoir, detailing her journey from a childhood in rural Puerto Rico to her adolescence in New York City. The narrative vividly paints her experiences with poverty, family life, and cultural identity shifts. As Esmeralda navigates between two worlds—the rural, island traditions she was born into, and the bustling, challenging life of New York City—she grapples with issues of identity, belonging, and the struggles of an immigrant family.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Sexual aggression including sexual abuse directed at children by adults, child neglect and abuse, death of a child, poverty, family dysfunction and breakup, cultural dislocation; racism and sexism.

Esmeralda Santiago, Author

• Bio: Born in 1948 in Puerto Rico; moved to New York City at the age of 13; known for her work in both English and Spanish; her writing often explores the Puerto Rican immigrant experience; a highly regarded figure in contemporary Latino literature
• Other Works: Almost a Woman (1998); The Turkish Lover (2004); several contributions to anthologies and publications focusing on Latino experiences.