Under the Mesquite

Under the Mesquite
By Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Lee & Low Books, 2011. 224 pgs. Young Adult

Lupita’s mother, Mami, is the heart of their close-knit Mexican-American family. Extremely loving, she always has time for her eight children and her beloved rose garden. When the doctors discover her mother’s cancer, Lupita worries about what will happen to the family. She takes refuge in her poetry, her newfound passion of drama, and the pesky mesquite tree growing in Mami’s garden and finds the necessary strength to pull through this hard time. Another sad, but well-written look at love and loss. Fans of free verse fiction will want to read this one.

MN