Cruz (sociology, Columbia College Chicago) combines extensive oral interviews with scholarly documentation to describe the social history of several Latino groups--Mexican, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Cuban--in Chicago. The text explores how people coming to Chicago from these Latin American countries define the American dream; obstacles they've faced and their struggles to adjust and adapt to life in Chicago; whether they have been able to fulfill their dreams and aspirations; what types of work they have done; their relations with white groups, African Americans, and other Latinos; their views about their religion, assimilation, culture, and ethnic identity; and how they interact with major institutions like the church, school, police, and government. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)