My First Free Summer Exile All-American Girl By Julia Alvarez Pages 260-275

Alvarez was born in New York City Author Alvarez was born in New York City Her parents returned to the Dominican Republic when she was 3 months old *Rafael Trujillo was dictator *Alvarez’s father was involved in the rebel underground *Family returned to New York when she was 10 She spent most of her childhood being obsessed with American ways *She studied at an American school in the DR but struggled with English *Taught and wrote as an adult, but today runs a literacy center and sustainable farm with her husband in the DR

Biographical Approach Using the writer’s life to analyze and respond to the text This story IS based on the author’s life.

Author Study Reading more than one work from a particular author can give greater insight into that author’s style and themes What is Alvarez focusing on in these works?

Imagery Using words to create pictures in the reader’s mind Carefully observe Alvarez’s use of imagery throughout all three pieces. What is she trying to show you, the reader?

The Works My First Free Summer- This is an essay about the first summer that Alvarez and her family are free from the dictatorship of the Dominican Republic. Exile- This is a poem about the Alvarez family move back to the United States. All-American Girl- This is a poem about Alvarez’s desire to fit in after moving back to the United States.

The Works in common All three are told in first person point of view. The poems share the theme of not belonging. All three center around the results of emigration from the Dominican Republi.