In creating the protagonist of the book as a courageous, strong, young Latina girl, Anzaldúa challenges the dominant stereotypes often imposed on Latinas as a result of the colonial/modern gender system.

"Television may be entertainment, but what message does that send to a Latina girl about her place in the world?"

"There are regional differences and subgroups within the Latina population," said Angela Ginorio, co-author of the American Association of University Women study on Latina girls.

"Uh, it's two Latina girls," said Eastwick.

And although Jaysha's Indian, she can cross over to Hispanic, and there's always a dearth of 10- to 12-year-old Latina girls.

It deals with a young Latina girl, Esperanza Cordero, growing up in Chicago with Chicanos and Puerto Ricans.

"We Latina girls have hips," said Cruz, who added that she is carrying Jennifer Lopez's hips on her 105-pound frame.

He was fluent in Spanish, popular with Latina girls, an accomplished dancer, and well loved in the territory's Hispanic community.

"I'm a Latina Grits - a Latina girl raised in the South," Ms. Contreras-Martinez said.

Amelia has a son who has contracted AIDS, and Latina foster girls, but the girls do not see him much.