Have you ever heard about Julia Alvarez? Who is she? Facts about Julia Alvarez will inform you about a novelist, poet, and essayist. She was born on March 27, 1950 in New York City. Her first novel is How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (1991), followed by In the Time of Butterflies which is published in 1994 (second novel) and Yo! (1997). Besides, he also wrote many poetry such as Homecoming (1984) and The Woman I Kept to Myself (2004). Whereas Something to Declare (1998) is her essay. The other facts about Julia Alvarez will be explained below.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 1: Early life

Julia Alvarez spent her childhood in Dominican Republic, but had to move to Brooklyn, New York due to the political situation when he was ten years old. She struggled to adapt in her new home. She had to learn much and attended an American school. Besides, she also dressed like an American and eaten American foods due to her family was influenced by American attitudes and goods.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 2: Education

Alvarez studied at Connecticut College in 1967. In 1971, Alvarez graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont. Then, he continued to learn at Syracuse University in 1975 to earn a master’s degree.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 3: Marriage

Julia Alvarez married with Bill Eichner in 1989.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 4: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents was Alvarez’s first novel which was written in English and publised in 1991. The novel was sold around 250,000 copies and also cited as an American Library Association Notable Book. In the novel, Alvarez told her life in the Dominican Republic and United States with her family. Besides, it consists of fifteen series that connected the stories.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 5: Children’s Books

There are many book for children which are created by Alvarez, including The Secret Footprints (2000) and Tia Lola Came to Visit Stay (2001). She also writes a novel for young adults, titled Before We Were Free (2002).

Facts about Julia Alvarez 6: How Tia Lola Came to Stay

How Tia Lola Came to Stay is book for chidren from ages 9 to 12. It tells about Miguel who struggles to adapt with his family because the divorce of his mother. Besides, he also has to move from New York to Vermont. However, his life has changed because her aunt (Tia Lola) stay with his family.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 7: Membership

Alvarez joined in many membership, including Academy of American Poets, Poets & Writers, the Associated Writing Program, and the Latin American Writers’ Institute.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 8: Homecoming

Homecoming is her first poem which was published in 1984. It tells about love and pain of failed relationship. Here are some example of verse: “Are we all ill with acute loneliness, /chronic patients trying to recover/ the will to love?”

Facts about Julia Alvarez 9: Grants

There were some grants which were received by Alvarez, including National Endowment for the Arts and the Ingram Merrill Foundation.

Facts about Julia Alvarez 10: Awards

Alvarez received PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award in 1991 for How the García Girls Lost Their Accents; Young Adult Lib. Services Assn. and ALA, 1995 of the Best Books for Young ‘In The Time of Butterflies‘; General Electric Foundation Award for Younger Writers, 1986; Third Woman Press Award, first prize, 1986 and more.

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