Sirena Selena: A Novel

Sirena Selena is a fifteen-year-old boy whose grandmother died and left him alone in the streets of San Juan. The boy, however, had a great gift: he had the voice of an angel. Having heard him sing sad boleros in an alley, La Martha -- a Drag Queen and nightclub owner -- decides to take the boy under "her" wing. The novel takes you on a delicious and poignant trip to the life-altering events of Selena's life.

I love the bickering and the conversations between the "locas"; it is hilarious. The storytelling and language is beautiful. I marvel at the flawless translation. This is a very unique novel that everyone should indulge in. I highly recommend it!


Caribbean Sizzle   September 23, 2000
J. McFarland (Seattle, WA United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

When the 15 year-old Sirena Selena gets dolled up like a goddess and emotes her way through heart-wrenching boleros that her abuela taught her, men get weak in the knees and women swoon. That Sirena happens to be a boy (and massively hung) with his whole illusion masterminded by La Martha (another draga of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico) makes no difference to anybody once they are in the overwhelming power of the voice and the image. They have seen Heaven and they want a piece of it, whether under the gown they find boy, girl or something totally new. Santos-Febres is brilliant in her descriptions of gender construction and the artifice of "womanly wiles" as well as of the fragility of their opposite, the macho facade. The gossip, cat-fighting and climbing that the dragas of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic indulge in becomes almost heroic in her capable hands. The tale of a "woman" besting her man is as old as the hills, but the Caribbean sizzle and drag-queen sass make this novel as refreshing a delight to read in the moment as it is a provocative moral tale to ponder after the fact. Ay, carajo! Sing out, Sirena Selena!


Great look at locas from inside out   September 14, 2000
14 out of 14 found this review helpful

I loved this book. It has the feel of an anthopological study on street living and the glamour that is always elusive and fleeting. Martha is indeed divine, as a character and the wisdom that she imparts. A great look at a very vibrant part of society which most of us don't know. It has many tragic and unjust moments, but it all goes towards making that perfect performance. Great book.


Sirena Selena   September 9, 2000
JPL (Jersey City, NJ)
A wonderful novel. I found it difficult to stop reading this beautifully written & translated book. The story is told in a way that brings vivid visuals to mind. It takes you on an entertaining rollercoaster ride through the emotions associated with romance, friendship, and self-discovery. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed "Like water for chocolate" or "Love in the time of cholera".


Santos first novel is a delight in Caribbean literature   July 19, 2000
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This first novel by Puerto Rican writer Mayra Santos is the voyage of a couple of characters seeking for a better future in the Domincan Republic.The main two characters are carefully constructed by Santos, so that the reader gets a believable and loving kid, that dresses as a woman and amazes people with his voice, plus an enchanting woman that guides his career. Santos also utilizes different points of view to complete the story and even incorporates parts in English that reflect the contradicting situation in the Caribbean. Santos involves the reader through a journey of music, love, and ambition using her best skills as a talented writer. Part sad, and part happy, the successful combination of fiction and history in "Sirena Selena" is not to be missed.