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Meet Sonia Rodriguez

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The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez

Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born. Her father has three Social Security numbers, her mother is pregnant (again), and neither of them speak English. Sonia’s mother spends most of her time in bed, watching soap operas, and letting Sonia clean up after her brothers. Sonia’s father works dutifully to support his family, but he knows that his daughter’s dreams are bigger than making tamales for family get-togethers.

When Sonia attempts to put school work before her familia, her mother decides that it’s time for Sonia to visit her grandmother in Mexico to learn “the ways of the old world.” While in Mexico, Sonia spends time with her wise grandmother and her cousin Maria who teach her that while familia is important, the most important thing is to follow your heart. Sonia returns to the States determined to succeed in school, but the birth of her new twin siblings, inappropriate advances from her drunk uncle (Drunkle), and a forbidden relationship with an El Salvadorian boy push school to the back burner. If only Sonia can find the time to cook dinner, secretly meet with her boyfriend, avoid her Drunkle, AND finish her homework, she just might be able to graduate from high school…

  • http://alansitomer.com/ Brittany

    This book is amazing and totally realistic.I almost thought it was a biography of sonia. You should definitely check this book out. One chapter and you’re hooked! Simply another result of Mr. Alan Sitomer’s genius.

  • http://alansitomer.com Brittany

    This book is amazing and totally realistic.I almost thought it was a biography of sonia. You should definitely check this book out. One chapter and you’re hooked! Simply another result of Mr. Alan Sitomer’s genius.

  • destiny williams

    the dudes a genius very sweet book even though i only read two chapters and im hooked

  • ERICA

    THIS BOOK IS AWSOME! I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO IT! I READ THE BACK AND I GOT HOOKED COULDNT STOP READING IT AND FIND OUT WHAT SONIA WAS ALL ABOUT.

  • kaymonda

    i wanna read

  • kaymonda

    kjytgf

  • Raindee

    I have not yet read this book, My school does not have Alan Lawrence Sitomer books, only 3. I'm currently patiently waiting to read this book, Im very interested, Alot of his books Ic an relate to a little bit :) , I cant wait to read this book.

  • Joselyn

    This book is one of the greatest books i have ever read.!!! once i began to read i couldnt stop seriously !! WOW !!

  • Amalia

    This has been the best book i have ever read. It is so realistic and very easy to relate too.Once i began reading it i honestly, couldnt stop. The obstacles Sonia must overcome really make you appreciate what you have. Great book, thank you Mr.Allan for writing this wonderfull book(:

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Christiana-Roverso/100000269970611 Christiana Roverso

    I read this book in one day. I loved it. I hate reading, but not when it comes to your books Mr. Sitomer

  • marceperez

    OMG I LUV “THE SECRET STORY OF SONIA RODRIGUEZ!!!!!”
    I CAN RELATE TO HER IN SOME WAYS…..
    I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR TEENAGERS TO READ…….BIG TIME! :D

  • laura_04

    I love this book, it is one of my favorites. Proud to say that Alan was my 10th grade English teacher.

  • Louis

    Whats even awesome is that Alan Lawrence Sitomer works near a highschool where I live.So thats what i heard :)
    (Lynwood Highschool)

  • Louis

    But I really do hope I get him as a teacher in Lynwood High :D

  • Anqel94

    -This book was absoutely amazinq,it was so real and tugs at your heart.It's my all-time favorite,and i love happy endinqs.
    -Angel
    your an amazinq author =D

  • Rezen Anderson

    im not the type of person who enjoys reading but i read all 4 of the books and they relate to me and a lot of my freinds i guess thats why i liked them so much.

  • http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/2010/04/07/2131-why-i-wrote-my-book-the-secret-story-of-sonia-rodriguez/ Why I wrote my book The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez » Alan Lawrence Sitomer

    [...] The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez [...]

  • yuristatus

    I love this book!!~ Realmente I have been able to connect with this amazing INCREDIBLE book!! I say this book NEEDS to be turned into a MOVIE! :) i loooooovvveee it! VIVA MEXICO!

  • sisi

    this book is awesome you hav eto read it

  • Leesha L

    cant wait to read this one !

  • Liliana

    this book is great. i read it and i couldnt stop reading it. i really conected to it. ppl should read this book.

  • Liliana

    this book is great. i read it and i couldnt stop reading it. i really conected to it. ppl should read this book.

  • Gerardo

    I just finished listening (audio book from my Library) and I felt the anger, the sorrow and the happines for Sonia Rodriguez…my daughter starts High School and this is one of the books she could read and I was glad I bought it for her. I plane to go over it with her.

  • isabella rodriguez

    i know i loved it loved 2 and i also read it in one day it is the 1st chapter book i ever wanted 2 finish.

  • Isabella Rodriguez

    i fell in love with this book i never finished a chapter book because there was nothing i can relate too a little so my cuzin showed me th book i read the 1st page i loved i read it all in 1 day me gusto este libro que todos lo leen.

  • Jose

    this is a good book to learn about mexican costumes

  • jazie100

    THIS BOOK IS THE BEST IT WELL DRAG YOU RITE IN!!!

  • Colleensweet97

    I got this book from my school libary and when i started reaing it just to pretend i got sucked into it i saw wht awas going on!! i wish ic an fna another book like this i gto in trouble by my mom for reading but i finshed the book in 4 hours(:

  • Loveless13

    i love the book! i feel that i can actually relate to sonia and she inspires me to try hard each and every day!!

  • RAWBEENN22

    i LOVE THIS BOOK TO THE FULLEST. icoULD RELATE TO THIS STORY A LOT. tHE FIRSt PAGE TO THE LAST PAGE iTTS GREAT AND INTRESTING.

  • sonia rodriguez

    i totally LOVED this book especially because it related a little about me because my name is Sonia Rodriguez too:) so i recommend any of you to definately check this book out, it’s great!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricky-Ricardo/1168906048 Ricky Ricardo

    LHS made my brother read this book……i wish they would have never done that..

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricky-Ricardo/1168906048 Ricky Ricardo

    It’s written by someone who clearly doesn’t know what it feels like to be who we are. You cannot understand how we feel because you are not us. Your book is very corny and cheesy in the mind of a true MEXICAN. You just don’t know wassup and you never will…..

  • eddy

    totally great and comedic :)
    love the book…

  • Ileanapenaloza1

    - This book makes you dont want to stop reading it. The book gets more intersting everytime. Sonia is a great author a teen that tells the truth, and the most thing i love about her is that no matter what she wants to be someone in life. (:

  • Fnalailkf

    I <3 this book its really amazing

  • Nondra_baron

    I related to a lot of things in this book. my ethnicity is black and I love this this book.

  • Negar

    This book is really great. You should read it some time.

  • johnh

    u llame dude dhis book is good ok he aint mexican yes but kallam down it just a book

  • Nehemie Samedi

    I want my own Geraldo :D

    This book made me so mad at her mother and aunt. I would’ve gone crazy in Sonia’s situation.I admire her strength.

  • annonymous(:

    I’ve own this book and I’ve read it so many times. Every time I read it it makes me get teary eyed. Its such a great inspirational and motivating book. Now this is truly a page turning book! hehe :)
    Great job Alan! (:

  • Stephanie87

    the best book ever. i really enjoy all his books and reccomend them for everyone

  • Ruby

    Totally fell in love with the character of sonia rodriguez when i read it. and i strongly suggest that you mr. alan get this book made into a movie, cuz it could totally get people to sympathize cuz this book is actually the real story for the lives of some people :) LOVED UR BOOK!!

  • Taylorjones2003

    that is the best book i have ever read,
    its very interesting

  • Miguel_martinez

    this has been such a good book so far and i hope to like more of Alan Lawrence Sitomer

  • Bianca

    its a good book you shood read it

  • Boricuaprbaby

    I just started to read this book yesterday it is awesome so far! It has a positive advice. Tells a great story.

  • ButterflyAngels 94

    I love this book its intresting and funny.It’s a great mixture of spanish and english.You can relate to it alot if you are spanish. Probably even if you speak english.As soon as I started reading i felt stuck reading the book for half an hour.I still wanted more!!! It’s a juicy funny book with love sex drugs and much more.<3 LOVE IT

  • Isabela Navarro

    This book is me and mi familia!!! This is just the extra push that I needed. I don’t think I have ever read a book this fast before,… I love it!
    Thank you Alan!

  • Mayeli Rodriguez

    This book kept me reading nonstop. It was so good all of my other friends read it! Sonia’s story is so much like my life. It shows the hardships us mexicans girls face. :) and we have the same last name. this book inspired me and gave me hope with my future life, and of course with my demandant mom. (And again.. Alan is a great author)

  • Anita

    i Only had to read the first page and i got hooked in a snap ! i love this book all time favorite through out my life(:

  • Bizzydreamer

    he really has a way of attracting teenagers’ attention. alot of my guy friends are not big readers, but they can’t put his books down once they start! i love this book, and can definitley relate to it!!! i just kept nodding my head and laughing throughout the whole book, because it sounded so much like me and my friends and family! Alan just visited my school in the Rio Grande Valley, and he really wowed me, because he wasn’t just another adult telling kids right from wrong, he was relating to the students through experiences he has heard. it’s hard to find someone honest like that :)

  • Bizzydreamer

    i definitley disagree with ur comment, not only has he captured what so many mexican american teenagers go thru, he has left all of us first generation high school graduates in our family with some hope! just because he didn’t capture ur point of view, doesn’t mean he didn’t capture others’ point of view!

  • Kraziegurl74

    Heii alan i totally fell in Love widd ur book its badass:D && i totally agree widd RUBY. u should make a movie of this book(:

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2WQZVCOAOFAUNDWMNU25QTH5MU Francisco

    Why did they let the uncle live there. whats wrong with them
    Im mexican and even I wouldn’t let this happen 

  • Mahasinizquierdo

    i have to read this book for my school and this book is very good.

  • Ernesto_kareli@hotmail.com

    i like this book because i also struggle through the same thing being the oldest

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_27ZWNZ6QXFUBKCN5UKAT5IZA7U Joselin

    while reading this book i realized how i could relate to what Sonia goes through.family issues..most latinas have alot of duties at home like cleaning, cooking, looking after little kids, nd most of all HOMEWORK…just like sonia has a prohibited relationship..i have one too…but its way WORSE than Sonia’s…anyways yeah AWESOME BOOK.! :]

  • http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/ Alan Sitomer

    Thanks for the nice note!

    All my best,

    Alan

    Alan Lawrence Sitomer
    California Teacher of the Year, 2007
    & author of two new YA comedies
    Disney Book Group’s
    NERD GIRLS
    & Penguin Putnam’s
    THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING UP
    Learn more at http://www.AlanSitomer.com

  • Jenny

    I just finished reading this book and all i can say is tht i really loved it and learned!

  • Swaggg23

    Oh my god! My name is sonia rodriguez but im from Houston, tx & i DO have a cousin named maria :O I want to read this book! :D

  • Marlenehernandez74

    yes it is good im starting to read this book in my class

  • Bryce Riley16

    before this school year i didnt apply my self as much as i should have, now in my junior year of highschool i understand everything sonia does in this book, and however it may be fiction i imagine there is atleast one otherperson out there like this. this is no doubt the best i have ever read. all 309 pages of in during a weekend. i must say i have a hectic schedule aswell but nothing compared to this and i still found time to enjoy every word of this book. also makes me want to find all the other good books out there and start reading everyday. i finally understand what everyone else feels so emotional about books.

  • http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/ Alan Sitomer

    That is a fantastic message! I really appreciate the time you took to write – and glad you have discovered the JOY of reading.
    Keep it up… the treasure will last a lifetime.

    Happy holidays.

    All my best,

    Alan

    Alan Lawrence Sitomer
    California Teacher of the Year, 2007
    & author of two new YA comedies
    Disney Book Group’s
    NERD GIRLS
    & Penguin Putnam’s
    THE DOWNSIDE OF BEING UP
    Learn more at http://www.AlanSitomer.com

  • Naphtai Trevino

    This book is so true to the mark. Many do not even realize thank you Mr.Alan Sitomer for showing how hard it is to be a mexican female. Go LATINAS!!!!

  • http://www.alanlawrencesitomer.com/ Alan Sitomer

    You are AWESOME for taking the time to write and give me such wonderful feedback. Thanks a ton for the kind words… now go reach for your dreams! *

    All my best,

    Alan

    Alan Lawrence Sitomer *
    *California Teacher of the Year, 2007 *
    *& author of two new YA comedies*
    *Disney Book Group’s *
    * N**E**R**D** **G**I**R**L**S*
    *& **Penguin Putnam’s *
    * THE** DOWNSI**D**E O**F BE**ING UP*
    *Learn more at http://www.AlanSitomer.com * *
    *

  • Naphtai Trevino

    Everyone who has yet to read this book should it has inspired myself to go out and reach my dreams with everything I have thank you Mr. Alan Sitomer for being so inspired us and everyone I now who is Latina and has read this book feels the same!!! :D

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