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Veronique Medrano

B.Y.O.Book Review: Selena's Life & Legacy Explored Through the Eyes of Her Fans in "DREAMING: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla-Perez"




Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez is a compilation of poem and prose that expands on the impact of the iconic Mexican-American Singer. This book is not a regurgitation of the story that we've seen on film, books, or the upcoming Netflix series. Instead, it provides a fresh perspective on Selena's music and public persona's effect on the fans who would "Do anything for Salinas".


'Dreaming' is a beautiful crafted tribute in that each piece selected combines the duality of living as a Mexican/Latino in the United States. It also creates a space in which fans can truly relate to the shared experience of watching Selena grow, the joy that her music embedded into the soul of its listener, and the loss that came with her death. The blend of voices, per each literary piece, goes from English to Spanish and even include pieces that blend both languages together. This adds an authenticity to the work as a whole, given Selena's constant code switch between the two languages throughout her career. Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez is made up of 28 pieces of prose and poetry.


Of these 28 the three that resonated with me most were the following:

  • Roses in My Throat

  • What Selena Means to Me

  • Poemas Sin Titulo

These personal accounts show the impact her music had on the everyday life and struggle of navigating both worlds. As soon as the beat starts on a Selena song, you know it! Every single mouth in the room starts mouthing and singing along. That feeling that wraps around you is joyous and bittersweet because when the song ends you are left to reflect a voice that touches your soul no matter how much time has passed. This book is a great one for fans.



Purchase Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez at FlowerSong Press


Dreaming: A Tribute to Selena Quintanilla- Perez

Edited By: Odilia Galvan Rodriguez

Age range: 17 & up

Language: English & Spanish

Pub date: August 2020

ISBN: 978-1-7345617-7-7

Page count: 156

Genre: Poetry & Literary Fiction

Publisher: FlowerSong Press


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