Under the Mesquite

Bibliography:

McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. Under the Mesquite.New York: Lee & Low Books, 2011. ISBN 978-1600604294

Plot Summary:

This is a story about a young family of ten that relocated from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico to Eagle Pass, Texas. The oldest child is the author of this story. She along with the rest of the family adored Mami. Lupita did all she could to help the family as Papi did all he could to take care of Mami. Lupita escapes from her pain and sorrow by acting and writing. Her favorite spot to write is under the mesquite tree.

Critical Analysis:

 Lupita wrote this autobiography in free verse. There is a subtle rhythm, but not a pattern in the lines. Guadalupe Garcia McCall (Lupita) is the oldest sibling of eight children. She had an immensely close relationship with her Mami. She described her life in great detail with a perfect, selfless, and loving mother. The imagery and details in her words make you feel like you were there with her, feeling her pain and sorrow.

She had me hooked from page 3 when she described her Mami talking to the novelas and peeling potatoes. I immediately remembered my grandmother doing the exact same thing. I could picture it well.

The imagery in her writing is effortless for example, "just a crumpled tissue inside a plastic bag that sighs quietly as I lift it out of Mami's purse." I could imagine and almost hear the plastic bag coming out of the purse. She continued with, "The tissue blossoms in my palm." She helps the reader see every word she writes. When she described what was in the tissue, I knew what it was before I continued reading. The "tangled brown mass, wrinkled, leathery, and dry, the length of it held together with a yellow plastic medical clamp" could only be an umbilical cord. This event showed how much Mami loved her daughter.

The simile she used to compare English to Spanish made sense to me as I felt the same trying to learn Spanish. She wrote, "I trained my tongue and twisted syllables to form words that sounded hollow, like the rain at midnight dripping into the tin pails through the thatched roof." The English words felt empty, meaningless and difficult for her to say. Again, the imagery is so powerful. Now, I understand why there are no illustrations. Who needs illustrations when you are provided with the perfect words to help you imagine every single detail.

She included some Spanish words in with context clues to help the reader understand. If the context clues were not enough, the glossary in back would help. Readers will not miss a beat.

The emotion in this book is clear. As someone who has lost a grandfather, a mother-in-law, nearly lost my mother and just recently lost an uncle, I felt her pain and sorrow. I fought back tears when Lupita found out Mami had cancer, when Mami went home after surgery, when the cancer came back, when Lupita gives up, when Papi struggled with money while trying to take care of the love of his life, and when Mami passed away.

Overall, this is my new favorite book. I could not put the book down. I am not sure if it is because it is so well written, organized, and flows smoothly. Could it be because I am Latina, had similar experiences, or went to the same college? I think it is all of the above. This is a must read for everyone of all cultures. I am sure we can all relate to this story one way or another.

Review Excerpts:

Pura Belpre Author Award

From Kirkus Review: "The author effectively captures the complex lives of teenagers in many Latino and/or immigrant families."

From Booklist: "Told in verse sprinkled with Spanish terms ( a glossary is included) this story of Lupita's high-school years details her increasing responsibility within her large Mexican American family after Mami is diagnosed with cancer."

From School Library Journal: "The simplicity of the story line belies the deep richness of McCall's writing."

Connections:

Gather other books by Guadalupe Garcia McCall to read such as:

• McCall, Guadalupe G. Summer of Mariposas. ISBN 978-1620140109
• McCall, Guadalupe G. All the Stars Denied. ISBN 978-1620142813

Gather other multicultural books to read such as:

• Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown Girl Dreaming. ISBN: 978-0147515827

Use these books lessons on poetry.

Use these books to introduce different cultures. Students can compare and contrast cultures.