Under the Mesquite

McCall, G. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books.

Intended Audience: 12+

Genre: Poetry: Realistic Fiction

Personal Reaction:  Under the Mesquite was a beautifully written story of a young girl named Lupita.  She was the oldest of many children and her mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Throughout the story we learn how she copes with the news and helps her parents care for her siblings.  Lupita uses drama to help express her emotions and finds she has a gift for poetry and writing in addition to acting.

This was a touching novel that was so easy to read.  I could feel the ache of Lupita and annoyance as her mother grew sicker and her siblings lacked maturity.  When her mother died we could feel the brokenness she felt.  Mccall wrote this novel in verse, allowing her to focus on the emotions and plot much more than dialogue and irrelevant setting. 

Author Facts: Guadalupe Garcia Mccall is known as Loop by her friends.  She loves the outdoors, which one may guess after reading her books which beautifully paint pictures of what happens outside.  She loves to think about life and growing up when she writes, trying to give meaning to these experiences.  

Author Website: http://www.guadalupegarciamccall.com/