Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

Puro cuento, Spanish for “just a story” is an idea that Sandra Cisneros toys with again and again throughout her cross-cultural treasure, Caramelo. Caramelo is the story of a young Mexican girl named Celaya Reyes growing up caught between her heritage and the North American culture into which she was born. This novel, however, is so much more than a simple narrative; Cisneros skillfully weaves a complex tale of fact, fiction, family, and ultimately cultural identity through the eyes of Celaya and her family. As the narrative progresses stories are revealed about the rich history of the Reyes’ family, though it becomes difficult to decipher between the truth and puro cuento. Within this mixture of truth and fairy-tale Cisneros gives the reader three very important gifts: a frank, insider-look at the complex nature of Mexican-American culture, the author’s response to that culture, and a lasting impression on the reader.