Review by Choice Review
Garcia Bedolla (University of California, Irvine) has written an important, innovative study that cannot be categorized within one discipline. In crossing disciplinary boundaries, this volume widens the discourse of what political participation entails. For example, Latina/o studies are often connected to the notion of crossing borders. However, the text is a study of crossing not only physical but also psychological borders. Additionally, it is a study of the borders that Latina/o immigrants are frequently disempowered from crossing. Why this population is seemingly disempowered from participating in politics, and remains disconnected from political processes, guides and informs the study. Comparing East Los Angeles and Montebello, the author's specific focus is on Latina/o political engagement within the context of anti-immigrant ballot initiatives in 1990s California. While the emphasis is on Los Angeles County, the overall scope is wide reaching. Without resorting exclusively to complicated statistics, the study makes wonderful use of in-depth, semistructured interviews, which makes the book much more accessible. Particularly useful are Garcia Bedolla's definitions of terms and strong historical analysis. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers, lower-division undergraduates and above. T. M. Montoya Northern Arizona University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
