"Under the Mesquite" Book Review

1.      Bibliography

McCall, Guadalupe. 2011. UNDER THE MESQUITE. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781600604294

2.      Plot Summary

“Under the Mesquite” is a novel in verse about a high school girl, Lupita, and her journey through staying strong for her family.  Lupita learns of her mother’s (Mami) cancer, and as the oldest of eight siblings, she struggles with how to handle the news and her role in the family.  Lupita shares her struggles of what life is like being the child of a cancer patient and how everything has changed, and yet keeps moving on.  The family is thrilled to learn the surgery healed Mami, then devastated to hear of the cancer’s return with little options, all the while, Lupita has a lot of life a head of her, she is a gifted writer, a growing actress, and has college dreams in her sight.  She shares her deep personal feelings through writing in her journal under the mesquite tree, the same tree her mother tried to get rid of but realized its fight for life, and welcomed it into her rose garden.  Lupita is still very connected to her homeland, Mexico, and she finds comfort and support with friends and family.  After her Mami passes, Lupita struggles with grief.  She finds peace in writing and eventually comes to the difficult decision of leaving her father and siblings to make her own way, just as her Mami wanted her too.  

3.      Critical Analysis

Guadalupe McCall’s novel in verse was inspired by her difficult experiences her family went through while she was in high school.  It seems only one who has truly experienced what it is like to watch a parent wither away could write such heart wrenching poetry of grief and the secret thoughts of a child in this position.  Readers learn the significance and symbolism of the mesquite tree early in the book, when McCall reveals the theme of something finding a way to survive and flourish, no matter how many times it has been dug up.  McCall is sure to highlight the Mexican culture as the foundation of Lupita’s family and the transition, or “transplant” that the family experienced of sharing two homes, one in Mexico and the other in Texas.  Readers will experience the impact an illness has on a family, and even how important is it to take different roles as a friend, family member, neighbor giving away food, or even a teacher encouraging and supporting a student.  Readers will leave this fast pace novel inspired by those who fight for life in many forms.

      

4.      Review Excerpt(s)

2013 Pura Belpre Award

2013 Tomas Rivera Mexican America Children’s Book Award

2013 International Literacy Association’s Promising Poet Award

2012 International Latino Book Awards – Honorable Mention

William C. Morris Young Adult Debut Award Finalist

5.      Connections

*Pair this novel in verse with other poems about grief and discuss the grieving process.

*Pull other Pura Belpre Award winning books and discuss similarities and differences.