Latinos at Work
Book Reviews
School Library Journal, January 2002
On Careers in Community Service and Careers in Technology
Easy-to-read guides written particularly for readers from a Hispanic background. Each book starts off with a description of some career choices available in that area. A variety of careers are included with "spotlight stories" that tell about outstanding people, companies, or groups. Basic education and training requirements, a job description overview, and salary estimates are included. More than half of each book is devoted to eight or nine inspiring profiles of people who work in the respective fields. Gender balance is excellent. Bankston looks at a community/media relations director, doctor, lawyer, labor leader, and others who work for Hispanic opportunities and rights. Garcia includes a graphic artist, computer artist, Web-site founder, computer science professor, and others involved in software and the Internet. Black-and-white photos appear throughout … Readers will get valuable advice from these volumes and see some interesting career options through them.
School Library Journal, December 2001
On Careers in Science and Medicine and Careers in Education
These straightforward, interesting overviews are intended to enlighten and inspire Hispanic students about work opportunities in fields where "Latinos are underrepresented." Each book begins with a section that describes a variety of careers. Boxes "spotlight" notable Hispanic Americans in a particular occupation or an outstanding program or service. Part two offers in-depth profiles of eight successful Latinos in diverse positions, e.g., an assistant principal, a math teacher, a librarian, and a paraprofessional in Education, and a professor of chemistry, an entomologist, a geneticist, and a veterinarian in Science. Each career discussed includes basic education and training requirements, a brief job description, and salary estimates. There is good gender balance in both books… The intended audience will gain valuable information and inspiration from these titles.
Booklist, November 2001
On Careers in Science and Medicine
Entries in the Latinos at Work series profile Latino role models in professions in which Latinos are underrepresented. Practical information joins inspiring personal stories about how successful individuals overcame obstacles.
Children's Bookwatch, November 2001
On Careers in Education and Careers in Science and Medicine
Two excellent 'Latinos at Work' series titles by Susan Zannos focusing on careers for Latinos provide role models geared for young adult audiences. Careers In Science and Medicine (1-58415-084-X) covers the basics of such careers, profiling Latino and Latina providers of health care services and the community which uses them. Careers in Education (081-5) provides the basics of different educational career options and profiles those who have succeeded in their jobs. Both are inspirational offerings.
Booklist, October 15, 2001
On Careers in Education and Careers in Science and Medicine
These entries in the new Latinos at Work: Career Role Models for Young Adults series explore two professional fields in which Latinos are underrepresented, with the hope of inspiring more Latino youth to consider careers in these fields. The first section of each book describes careers and notes average salary and qualifications. Interspersed throughout the section are "Spotlight Stories" highlighting a person, such as famous Latino educator Jaime Escalante, or a job such as mental health technician. The second section of each book comprises in-depth stories based on the interviews with Latino men and women, many of whom have overcome great obstacles to succeed in their chosen professions... The final section is an extensive listing of resources. For information on other volumes, see the Series Roundup in this issue.
School Library Journal, March 2002
On Careers in Law and Politics and Latino Entrepreneurs
Contemporary school-to-career resource specifically aimed at Hispanics. Both volumes present overviews of their respective fields and profile successful male and female Latinos. Wade provides a brief introduction to 32 careers. Readers will appreciate the specificity of the overviews, including the employment outlook and potential salary range. The author's journalistic style makes the 10 biographies appealing to non-Latino readers as well. A wide range of backgrounds and countries are represented; each entry includes factual data and less personal history than that found in Entrepreneurs, which is more didactic than Wade's title, explains the difference between starting a business from scratch and buying an established one and discusses what it takes to be a successful owner and operator. The eight biographical sketches are written in a talkative, story like style. With cultural appeal in mind, details include the subject's early loves and choices that led to their success… Morals and strong work ethic are seen as essential, and family support is given more emphasis than big money…there is some good information here.
The Book Report, March/April 2002
On Careers in Science and Medicine and Careers in Education
These titles provide a highly readable and accurate introduction to the respective careers. Each book includes a general overview of the field followed by the selected job descriptions with information from a Latino perspective. Successful Hispanics offer advice for young people who might want to pursue a particular career. This series will be useful to school libraries that need general information about careers and occupations with a Latino perspective.
VOYA, June 2002
On Careers in Sports and Careers in Education
Six new titles in the Latinos At Work series explore education, sports, science and medicine, law and politics, music, and entrepreneurial careers. The first part of each book provides generic information on the specific career field, including types of positions, required education, job duties, and salary, plus brief "Spotlight" stories on topics related to the career field. Part two profiles eight to ten successful Latinos who range from everyday people to the famous. Teachers and librarians are highlighted in the education title, and John Ruiz, the first Latino heavyweight boxer to win the WBA heavyweight title, is featured in the sports book. Each book concludes by providing books, directories, and Internet sources for more information on the career field, finding a job, and associations. All six brief titles are consistent in format and in topics covered… Standard career information sources cover the information found in the first part of these books, but the focus on Latinos in the series title and in the profile sections plus the extensive resource listings distinguishes "Latinos At Work" from general career series.
