Alex Temblador

I really like this book. There's a lot going on and personally I do believe the formatting makes it difficult to utilize well. I think the writer attempted to conquer a monumental task and does a decent job trying to address all the various topics and facets of identity. It is a huge undertaking and Temblador does so well and with acknowledgements for all the variety of opinions from people within those groups. This is well done.

As I said though I do think the way it's formatted makes the text a little unwieldy and difficult to really work through well. This is a masterclass set in a book which is very overwhelming.… (more)

Loss and rebirth!

Bikers, codes and belonging. Half Mexican Raqi grew up as the niece of a biker, having been given into the care of her uncle Dodge when she was four. Her mother had been Dodge’s sister. Not the most ideal of childhoods being around an addict but Raqi not only survived she went on to become a partner in a law firm.
Dodge has died and Raqi is called on to take a Grieving ride, not something she wants to do. The club’s leader Billy bribes her by promising the address of her Mexican grandfather at the end of the ride. Raqi has always felt sundered. Taken from a life she barely remembers into quite a different culture for anyone let alone a very young child.
The story is told with glimpses of Raqi’s past seamlessly segueing into the now.
A fascinating tale that introduces magic realism and animism as Ravi’s heritage collides with desert spirituality as she struggles to know who she is and where she comes from, as she yearns to become whole.
Not my usual literary genre, but the change was interesting.

A Blackstone ARC via NetGalley. Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (more)

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: Good
Recommended: Yes
Level: High School

Sixteen year old Martha is having a tough time. Her mother abandons her in Laredo, Texas and takes off. Martha has been left with her grandmother who doesn't speak English and she doesn't Spanish. Martha finds herself with a family she never knew about, a grandmother that she can't communicate with, and a legacy of secrets from her mother.

I was so excited to read this book. There are very few teen books that represent grandparents taking care of parental duties. Yet this is a reality for many teens who find themselves with only their grandparents to care for them and checked out adults. I loved the realistic fiction part of this book, the secrets that she uncovers about her mother, and the giant family that she never knew about. Those parts were amazing. For me things got complicated when the magic realism was introduced into the story. It took me out of the narrative in many ways. My biggest complaint is the ending. I needed at least three more chapters explaining what happened. I felt like the ending was dropped on me. As far as I know there isn't a second book. So if you like stories tied with a neat bow this might not be your book. Otherwise pick up this book for the diversity and amazing non traditional family representation.… (more)