Becoming Maria

February 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Although Manzano is the author of such notable titles as The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano (Scholastic, 2012) and Miracle on 133rd Street (S. & S., 2015), she may be best known for her 44 years as Maria on Sesame Street. This latest work recounts her chaotic family life in the 1950s and 1960s South Bronx, before she joined the fledgling television show in 1971. The author herself narrates, and listeners will be delighted to hear her familiar voice but sobered to learn the details of a childhood ruled by an alcoholic, abusive father and loving, though codependent, mother. Manzano expresses perfectly the confusion of a young child viewing violence she can't understand and the real fear of a girl watching her mother secreting away kitchen knives before her husband explodes in a drunken fury. However, she also conveys the wonder and awakening occasioned by experiencing performances as diverse as the romantic musical drama West Side Story and the acts of Charlie Chaplin, as well as unaffected surprise when describing the events that led to her early life-changing successes, including admittance to the High School of the Performing Arts. VERDICT Teens may have trouble following the story, which unfolds in episodic memories that sometimes lack clear transitions. However, many will be moved and even inspired by the account of Manzano rising above her challenging childhood. ["This memoir will strike a chord with teens and adults alike": SLJ 9/15 starred review of the Scholastic book.]-Rebecca James, Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights, OH

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 25, 2016
Actress Manzano, known for her role as Maria on Sesame Street, chronicles her formative years in a troubled household in 1950s and ’60s New York City with a voice that conveys a slow-burning audacity and the internal glimmer of lightness of a true dreamer. She narrates her life, rough spots and all, with unflinching honesty in words and tone. She growls when recalling anger, lightens up with laughter when narrating happier times. She gives distinct voices to different people in her life. Her parents’ speak with thick Puerto Rican accents and she performs with a breathy Marilyn Monroe voice for a glamorous friend, while her aunts sound blustery and brassy. The audio edition of her memoir will grab listeners from the get-go Ages 12–up. A Scholastic Press hardcover.