My Daughter's Eyes

Báez delves into three decades worth of a community of Bronx Dominican women in these linked stories. Though many characters flow in and out of the stories, a few turn up frequently, including Mia and Zuleika, teenage friends who take their adolescent and postadolescent lumps together. In “The Red Shoes,” Zuki lusts after a pair of red heels that her mother thinks are whorish; as in almost every other story, a sexual undertone seethes, if awkwardly, throughout. “To Tell the Truth” is a more dramatic portrayal of sexual tension: Mia is caught skipping school and carousing with boys, bringing forth her father's wrath. In “Como Se Dice Success in Spanish?” Zuki and Mia read tarot cards and reflect on some of their lovers and their life decisions. Spanglish dialogue peppers the narrative, and though the prose is utilitarian, Báez's sympathetic portrayal of a niche group has flashes of insight. (Nov.)