Exit Studio’s efforts have been noticed by publications and readers across the country. Here are a few examples of what they have to say:
“An aria of understanding, love, and cultural identity… Perhaps the strongest aspect of this memoir, which sets it apart from other celebrations of parents’ lives, is the author’s attention to documenting the ripples of change that affected family connections… He achieves his goal with love and insights gleaned from his ability to self-analyze, observe, and document the highs and lows of his father’s life and his own relationship with him.”
—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“His poetic prose pulls readers into the verdant landscape of rural Puerto Rico, peopled with honest, hardworking folk, and included photographs offer a more intimate glimpse into Fontánez’s story… Fontánez excels at evoking the slower and more fulfilling tempo of rural life in this impressive offering…”
—BookLife by Publishers Weekly
“An imposing presence in the life of his son, Modesto is seen alternately as a hero and a villain but always as a man of nuanced passions. Fontánez portrays this fluidity by blending elements of personal narrative, journal entries, poetry, photographs, and artwork inspired by his childhood in Puerto Rico. The resulting eclectic work is as beautiful and readable as it is memorable… Captivating from cover to cover.”
“An elegant elegy for an imperfect man, Edwin Fontánez’s One Last Song For My Father is a gorgeous blend of alliterative prose, lyrical poetry, and lush metaphoric writing… Place plays an enormous role in the memoir, with memories of the beautiful island of Puerto Rico looming large over the narrative. Fontánez’s stunning descriptions of the native flora and fauna of the mountains and countryside set the reader firmly in his world, as nature and geography are often used to smartly reflect the events of the story… Ultimately, One Last Song For My Father is a momentous achievement.”
“Esta nueva publicación del autor puertorriqueño Edwin Fontánez, radicado en Estados Unidos, es una trilogía en retablos según él mismo expresa. Aunque dirigida a un público juvenil, les aseguramos que una vez comiencen a leer uno de los tres cuentos, no podrán soltar el libro hasta terminarlo por la belleza de sus descripciones, tanto de los personajes como de los paisajes. Este es un libro que se presta para leerlo despacio para disfrutar de cada oración o párrafo por lo bello del texto. El lector termina dibujando en su mente todos los paisajes y encuentros de los personajes. Consideramos que esta es una de las mejores obras del autor y por eso, les aseguramos que su lectura les cautivará. Es imposible indicar cuál es el mejor de los tres cuentos. Estos están unidos por milagros, azucenas, figuras talladas en madera y un vendedor de flores. Los cuentos se titulan: Un milagro en Hormigueros, Azucenas en diciembre y Un regalo para Remedios. Por momentos, sentirán que el autor hace un viaje nostálgico al Puerto Rico que aún recuerda. La mezcla de leyendas del ayer con un poco de historia de nuestros pueblos y su gente, los hechizarán. Esto nos hace recordar las palabras de Jean-Jacques Rousseau: El mundo de la realidad tiene sus límites; el mundo de la imaginación es infinito”.
—Dra. Hilda E. Quintana y Dra. Matilde García Arroyo, El Vocero
“Aroma de azucenas, esta hermosa trilogía enlaza el oeste de Puerto Rico (Hormigueros y San Germán) a Nueva York (Bronx y Jackson Heights, Queens). Entretejiendo historias reales con leyendas. Estas tres historias hermosamente narradas enlazan los personajes en un realismo mágico delicioso. Aroma de las azucenas se desplaza a través de las tres historias, creando ese hilo conductor que delicadamente nos cautiva. Ese toque de misterio, rico en detalles y sugerencias místicas nos amarra a la lectura de principio a fin. Edwin Fontánez crece como escritor, creando un estilo dulce y transparente al mostrarnos unos niños que con amor son llevados por adultos que les permiten crecer y superar sus dificultades”.
—Mercedes Bagó Pérez, Autora de Una guajira completa: memorias de una niña cubana en el exilio
“Sin duda, Aroma de azucenas, es una de las mejores obras del escritor puertorriqueño Edwin Fontánez y por eso, les aseguro que su lectura les cautivará. Es imposible indicar cuál es el mejor cuento de los tres. Los tres están unidos por milagros, azucenas, figuras talladas en madera y un vendedor de flores: Un milagro en Hormigueros, Azucenas en diciembre y Un regalo para Remedios.
“Por momentos, sentirán que el autor hace un viaje nostálgico al Puerto Rico que seguro él recuerda. Sin embargo, este viaje está mezclado con un poco de fantasía que permite que los lectores se transporten a diferentes épocas producto de la mente creativa de Fontánez. Por otro lado, la mezcla de leyendas del ayer con un poco de la historia de nuestros pueblos y su gente hechizarán al lector. Lo que me hace recordar las palabras de Jean-Jacques Rousseau ‘El mundo de la realidad tiene sus límites; el mundo de la imaginación es infinito’ ”.
—Dr. Matilde García-Arroyo, Profesora Honoraria de Inglés, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Recinto Metro, Coautora de Gabriel Comelibros y Camila quiere escribir
“Puedo decir que me encanta lo que he leído. Aroma de azucenas trae a mi mente muchos recuerdos de mi niñez, ya que nací y me crie en un campo de Puerto Rico. Es como si estuviera viendo las imágenes de todo lo que describe el autor. Fontánez recrea leyendas de nuestro Puerto Rico que han sido sepultadas por nuevas generaciones. Generaciones de los años 60 que fueron en su mayor parte, hijos de padres dedicados a trabajar para tratar de tener un mejor modo de vida, pero que se olvidaron de inculcar en sus hijos las tradiciones y valores culturales y sociales con los cuales ellos crecieron. Por esa razón me gusta mucho el libro, porque puede brindarles a esas generaciones experiencias para ellos desconocidas.”
—Miriam Marcano Rojas, Editora, Traductora y Asistente administrativa, Camera Mundi, Inc.
“No es fácil escribir para niños. Es necesario tener curiosidad, imaginación, sensibilidad, empatía y mucho de niño, siendo adulto. Se necesita, además, dominio de la palabra escrita y de sus múltiples matices y posibilidades. Lo mismo podemos decir del ilustrador, del artista que crea las imágenes que deleitan y llaman la atención del niño y de la niña. Edwin tiene todo esto y, además, gran respeto y amor a su público menudo que se trasluce en todo lo que escribe e ilustra.
“Ahora nos presenta en este libro un tríptico sobre Puerto Rico en el cual incorpora la dimensión del milagro, de lo maravilloso, del hecho sobrenatural que desafía las leyes de la naturaleza y de la lógica, aunque siempre anclado en la realidad y como manifestación de la mejor espiritualidad que hay en el ser humano”.
—Dr. Ramón Luis Acevedo, Profesor de Literatura Hispanoamericana, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Autor de No mires ahora… y más cuentos
“FIVE STARS! Tender, yet delivered with a punch in all the right places, this perceptive and incredibly empathetic story reveals the depths of despair as the brutal blows of life threaten to snuff out the will to live in Mateo and his feline observer…The Illuminated Forest exhibits characteristics often found in award-winning juvenile and young adult fiction. Filled with beautiful illustrations to enhance the most striking scenes, this childlike fairytale will also appeal to adults seeking sophisticated symbolism and well-honed language typical of fine literature.”
—ForeWord Clarion Review
“COMPELLING…Endearing and impressive…this heartfelt tale of a young boy’s pain and reluctance to make connections could form an instructive, charming story for younger readers.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Fontánez weaves a tale of loss, anger and hope through the stories of a young boy, a stray cat, an evil and abusive man, a ghost, and the plants and animals of the tropical island. Black-and-white drawings, some covering full pages, give the feeling of a journal in which the author is recording thoughts and impressions. Mateo’s story and the descriptions of Palo Verde’s lush and simple community are QUITE MEMORABLE.”
—School Library Journal
“Edwin Fontánez has written a remarkable book with beautiful illustrations. It is the story of Mateo, a 12 year old boy who has returned to the island home of his grandparents after a devastating loss. He is bitter, confused and trying to find peace when he encounters a stray cat having a hard time as well. Perhaps they can find peace together. The vivid descriptions of the island will make you feel like you are walking through the gardens and forest yourself. You can almost smell the orange blossoms. At times, the book will make you laugh, at other times, bring tears to your eyes, but will leave you with joy in your heart.”
—J. Allen (Amazon review)
“A boy, a stray cat, an evil villain, and a ghost—sounds like a pretty straight forward plot, right? But be prepared for a tale of many complex layers that will speak to young adult and adult readers alike. The book moves back and forth across the years weaving multiple story lines together into a surprising finish that will leave you feeling satisfied. Along the way, there is ample comic relief and suspense. In addition to the well-developed human characters that inhabit the little village of Palo Verde, the author skillfully uses magical realism to create memorable characters of animals and trees which become as alive as the humans in the story. The book is further enhanced by the beautiful black and white illustrations created by the author. The story would stand on its own as a well told tale, but there is much more to be savored and lessons to be learned if you choose to go deeper. Regardless of what you take away, you will remember this book long after you have reached the last page.”
—M. Dunn (Amazon review)
“This is a novel that you will not be able to stop reading. Just Fontánez’s choice of vocabulary, imagery, and the incredible descriptions of the forest make it worthy of reading. Then, of course, the plot will keep you astounded at the author’s ability to intertwine all of the characters as well as past and present events. It is a novel that should be read by adolescents and of course, adults too!”
—M. Garcia (Amazon review)
“In rhythmic prose, Fontánez depicts a community whose members are conscious stewards of Mother Earth. Beyond the story’s attempt to rescue a slice of Taíno life, it manages to convey a pressing environmental message. The eye-popping, color illustrations and the poetic text create a mosaic of the island’s exuberant topography. The book deserves attention for its topic…recommended for school and public libraries.”
—Críticas Magazine
“A true work of the storyteller’s art…beautifully illustrated.”
—Midwest Book Review
“What a beautiful book! The illustrations are striking and the book is informative, well researched and entertaining. This is truly a book to be enjoyed by the entire family.”
—Loose Leaves
“A lyrical guidebook [to] the physical beauty and cultural history of Puerto Rico.”
—Bella Online
“Will entertain young readers…[the] vibrant, brilliant illustrations are enthralling. For those who wish to explore a different culture…On This Beautiful Island is a wonderful place to start. This book is an absolute delight!”
—My Shelf
“Delightful…strong, poignant, and educational story. A must-read…highly recommended!”
—Picket News, Hagerstown, MD
“Richly illustrated…enriching and fun to read. A delightful book that will be much enjoyed, well read and looked at over and over again.”
—Book Ideas
“The illustrations alone make it a beautiful book to have.”
—The Reading Tub
“A good introduction for children into the history and culture of the Arawak people. Excellent reading for young readers.”
—Review-Books
“Beautiful illustrations and stunning color…well-written”
—Book Review Cafe
“Although this book’s age range is 6 and over, I have to say that my little one who is 4 yrs. old loves it! The book is beautifully illustrated, and the story telling is simple enough for my 4 yr. old to understand. This is by far the best book that I have purchased about Puerto Rico. The author did a wonderful job depicting the island.”
—Frances E. (Amazon review)
“Guanín, our narrator, uses poetic verse to describe his family traditions and life in Puerto Rico. This is a pastoral book that celebrates and educates children about the Taíno history and culture. The illustrations are incredibly beautiful. It is difficult to tell, at times, whether this is to be a rhyming verse or descriptive poem. When reading aloud, sometimes the rhyming and/or alliterations works, at other times, though it is difficult reading. The intricate, colorful illustrations will brighten any day, even if you don’t read the text. The story introduces readers to Puerto Rico in a way that they are not likely to find elsewhere. The parallels with Native American culture (i.e., Nature’s role in our survival) also lend great opportunities to talk about conservation and caring for our world.”
—The Reading Tub
“What a beautiful book! I want to use the book as a coffee table book, matter of fact, its on my coffee table now because the illustrations are striking and the book is informative, well researched and entertaining. Although classified for the 9 to 12 year old reader, a younger reader will enjoy looking at the pictures and, with instruction, can play the enclosed game. The author defines and provides pronunciation hints for unfamiliar words. An adult is guaranteed to expand their knowledge of an ancient culture and time period. This is truly a book to be enjoyed by the entire family.
“On This Beautiful Island captures a day in the life of a Taino, a Puerto Rican boy, who lived some 500 years ago. His adventures bring to life a culture strong in family, faith and society. Each person in the tribe has a role and a responsibility to each other and to nature. The writing is lyrical, the illustrations are colorful while the overall tone is light and joyful.”
—S. Hudson (Amazon review)
“This book is about Puerto Rico Vejigante festivals. It only has 28 pages but they are informative with lots of tradition and history. A must for every Puerto Rican household. The book details the Festivals in Loiza, Ponce, and Hatillo – which are all very different. It includes lots of coloring pages and ideas for arts and crafts. Great for classrooms and for any one looking for cultural ideas. It is a bilingual book with the exact information in English and Spanish.”
—Ivonne F. (Amazon review)
“Hadas, sirenas y sapos is a collection of enchanting poems written and illustrated by Edwin Fontánez which transports the reader to fantastic places where magic comes naturally: little frogs that serenade the moon, mermaids frolicking over sea waves, and fairies fluttering about creating mischief in the forest. The current lack of Spanish children’s poetry does not leave much room where children can let their imagination fly. Fortunately, Fontánez has arrived just in time with his beautiful bouquet of poems.”
—IGUANA magazine
“I can think of no more appropriate gift for children, their families and their teachers, than I Promise You, by Edwin Fontanez. The message this book brings into homes and classrooms is one of hope that together, we can eradicate animal abuse and pet abandonment, starting with understanding and taking simple steps.”
—Kathy Porter, Healing Rescue Dogs
“A practical and accessible guide to help children and people of all ages understand that all animals have the God-given right to ethical and humane treatment. I enjoyed and appreciated Edwin Fontánez’s steady, encouraging, and warm voice.”
—Jan Kear, Community Outreach Coordinator, Caring for Creatures No-Kill Sanctuary for Dogs and Cats, Palmyra, VA