Julia Alvarez, ¡ Yo!

Abstract

In many ways Julia Alvarez’s ¡ Yo! can be read as a sequel to the first novel, How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. In the first novel, Yolanda García, one of four daughters, describes her family’s experiences living in the Dominican Republic and immigrating to the United States. In the second novel, Alvarez provides Yolanda’s family, friends and acquaintances with the chance to tell their version of the story. ¡ Yo! Is divided into sixteen sections, each one offering a different perspective regarding a character’s relationship with Yolanda García. The novel thus paints a multifaceted critique that is inspired by Alvarez’s creative writing efforts. These narratives brilliantly disclose the pain that comes from leaving one’s home and relocating in a hostile environment that is characterized by its race, class, and gender oppression.KeywordsDominican RepublicAmerican LiteratureCreative WritingUnderground MovementWoman WriterThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.