1. My First Free Summer Exile All-American Girl
By Julia Alvarez
Pages

2. 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

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

4. 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?

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. 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.