Laura Contrada: A Time Travel Novel Analysis
Laura Contrada: The Time Traveler
Author and Work
The author is Milio Rodríguez Cueto, born in 1962. He graduated in Hispanic Philology from the University of Oviedo and is a secondary school teacher in his hometown. Milio Rodríguez Cueto’s work became known in the mid-eighties through publications such as University Sheets, where he published his first short stories: a funny series called “From Concheso of Llaviana Suarez.” At that time, he contributed to the magazine Lletres Asturianes, including the Asturian version of Gabriel Ferrater’s famous poem “In Memoriam.” In 1999, he earned two national awards for literature in Asturias: the essay The Velatoriu of Blancañeve and poetry (ex aequo with Martin Lopez-Vega), and the Edebé Prize of juvenile fiction for Mimi at the Wheel, one of the most prestigious in Castilian, which was already a finalist in 1997 with Laura Against Time.
Main Characters, Secondary Characters, and Features
Main Characters:
- Laura: The protagonist of the book. Throughout the story, she demonstrates her stubbornness to get what she wants.
- The Skinny One: Little can be said, but is vital to the story.
Secondary Characters:
- Gypsy: Laura’s mother. She has a rare personality, which at first clashes with Laura, but they eventually become good friends.
- Brain: Gypsy’s boyfriend. He is characterized by a total lack of understanding of Laura.
- Currant: A friend of Gypsy and Brain. He is characterized by anything but brains; he trusts and fully supports Laura from the beginning.
Argument
This book is about a girl, Laura, who, since the first day of class, is transported by a colleague, Skinny, to Lugo in 1979. There, she meets her would-be mother, father, and friend. At first, she does not believe it is 1996 and Lugo, but after a conversation between Currant, Brain, and Gypsy, she realizes and thinks it is a dream. Laura decides to join Gypsy and others, accepting that she was where she was and when she could not do anything else.
The next day, Laura went to Lugo, living in a nearby camp with Gypsy, and met with the Skinny One. After a little dispute, a gypsy told her that she was her mother. After that, Laura sought Gypsy, his mother, and Brain, his father, and found them in a bank together. Quickly separated with the excuse to invite to dinner. After lunch, she got Gitana and leave without Brain. Laura tried to explain what was going on Gitana but she did not believe him, said he would not stop talking nonsense. To make sure Laura went into a pharmacy and asked for a box of condoms at that time were not sold in pharmacies so the clerk gave him the store. After they met Brain and Currant. Laura spoke briefly with currant, and when he looked again they were gone Currante.Laura Gitana and in their desire to separate Gypsy and the Brain, call the Guardia Civil for the camp were to stop and avoid birth. Both manage to escape before cogiesen. Indio, another friend, she tells Laura that there was still one up, and she goes to warn him that they had escaped, but was skinny. After speaking
cogiesen. Indio, another friend, she tells Laura that there was still one up, and she goes to warn him that they had escaped, but was skinny. After speaking with him, he transports two months later. Laura suddenly sees his mother pregnant with her and Chatterbox, a friend told him to Gitana Gitana.Todos an abortion, but Gypsy did not want. Even abortara.Cerebro Laura said, was still selling trinkets, is amazed to see Laura again. Laura sees a street photographer and taking a picture with her parents and tells the photographer to save that picture all the time, she in return gives a tip of twenty dollars. The Skinny One Laura moved to its normal time, 1999. Gijón Laura went to pick the pictures I had done the photographer. Got the Skinny photos and took them off but told him he would not mind more. Finally a man told Laura: “ It so nice skates.” Laura was uncomfortable skates but dropped a note in which “ put 29-9-1996-Gray,”the man picked him up and gave it.
Vocabulary
I have found no word that is had difficulty
Personal Rating
I think it’s an entertaining thriller book that gets you into the story. The characters and story are very well written. For all that I give it an 8.