Blog Post 11 – Rivera’s The education of Margot Sanchez

            Now that I own a copy of Rivera’s book, I will likely place it on my classroom bookshelf.  However, I’m not quite sure whether I’ll find a use for it in my adult ed classroom. 

Rivera’s book is mostly easy to understand—except for some Spanish words and phrases that have no translation for non-Spanish speaking readers.  It uses vivid language to describe how teenage Margot lives her life in “Rich Adjacent” Brooklyn (p. 34). 

This book is full of teenage girl angst and soap-opera relationships.  I cannot think of one of my former students who might have gained value from reading it.  As a general rule, adult GED students walk through fire to return to the world of education.  They want to learn what they have to and get out of there, having a distinct sense of Cut to the chase.  Therefore, I predict they would have little patience reading about Margot’s teenage foolishness and other tomfoolery. 

I was especially turned off by the way Margot treated her parents.  Perhaps that’s realistic for how teens act, but that doesn’t mean I want to read about it or promote that attitude to my students.  Before even beginning chapter one, I could feel the bad attitude.  On the dust jacket, the author offered a list of “Things/people Margot hates.”  What an atrocious way to begin a book!  The main purpose of that statement seems to feed hatred.  I wonder why people must use the word hate so freely.  Feelings of hatred should be reserved for more drastic and terrifying subjects, such as Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.

            Margot reminds me of the antithesis of Anne Frank even though one is a fictional character and the other a real person.  Anne is in a terrible situation, but tries to focus on the good, whereas Margot has it good but refuses to see it, focusing instead on negative feelings and how to weasel herself to a party. 

Margot seems incapable of showing appreciation for what others do for her, treating them badly.  For example, Margot is angry with her father for his treatment of Moises, so when Margot’s “Papi pulls into [their] driveway,” she “continue[s] the silent treatment” (p. 34).  After retreating to her room, Margot “still wear[s] the same face [she] kept the whole time Papi drove [them] home.  Rage face” (p. 35). 

             Near the end, the book redeems itself a little by having Margot finish working for the store to pay back the money she’d stolen.  I was touched, however, by one phrase: “Secrets can cause more pain than facing the truth head-on” (p. 286).  So true.

            Perhaps my students would enjoy reading Rivera’s book.  Perhaps not.  Time will tell.