As someone who studied Spanish and has Latino friends, I thought I knew Latino American history. Boy, was I wrong! Ray Suarez's book opened my eyes to the incredible contributions of Latinos that were glaringly absent from my high school textbooks.

The most shocking revelation? While we learned about MLK and Japanese internment, our education completely skipped over Puerto Rican and Mexican-American contributions. This book fills those gaps brilliantly in just 200 pages.

Politicians especially need to read this. Their current rhetoric about Latino immigration shows how little they understand about the people who helped build this nation. The writing is engaging - I found myself constantly saying 'I never knew that!' about events that happened right in my neighborhood.

One fascinating tidbit: Isabel de Tolosa being descended from both Hernán Cortés and Moctezuma. Talk about a living symbol of cultural blending! The book makes these complex historical connections accessible and thought-provoking.

My only critique? The final chapter didn't hold my attention as well as the first five. But by then, Suarez had already delivered on his promise to expand my understanding of American history.

This isn't just history - it's our present reality. As Suarez notes, we're all immigrants or descendants of immigrants (except Native Americans). The book helped me see how Latino stories are fundamentally American stories.

Pro tip: Get the PBS documentary too! They complement each other perfectly for a richer learning experience.

Whether you're a history buff or just want to understand modern America better, this book will change your perspective. It's not just informative - it's transformative reading that every American should experience.