When Kirkus gives a star and says, "a promising deeply felt debut," listen! And I did. Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is a verse novel of beautiful realism.
Living on he border of the U.S. and Mexico, Lupita navigates high school, her heritage, her homes in Texas and Mexico, and her mother's diagnosis of uterine cancer. As the eldest in her large family, Lupita carries the weight of daily life and anxiety while her father supports her hospitalized mother.
The book skips quickly along through seasons and years as just the most poignant moments are shared, whether they be crisis or quiet. The symbol of the resilient mesquite tree echoes its strength from beginning to end.
At readergirlz we most definitely applaud Lee & Low for adding a brilliant Mexican American voice to young adult literature. Read Under the Mesquite for the rich culture and shared human experience of pain, loss, and rebirth.
Under the Mesquite
by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Lee & Low, 2011
2 comments:
This is really a solid contribution to YA lit. Brava!
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