Ivy Saria Saria itibaren Bhedasgaon, Maharashtra 416214, Hindistan itibaren Bhedasgaon, Maharashtra 416214, Hindistan

The writer, who wrote under a pseudonym, just died yesterday & only when I read her obituary in the Oregonian did I realize that she is a woman I worked with, knew & corresponded with for some years. I just ordered her book today. I just finished this funny high school boy story about decisions both good and bad. I really enjoyed it, but found some of the latter part of the book a little farfetched--too many problems in too little space. That said, the author nails the voice--refreshing, candid and full of wit which would appeal to sophomores of all stripes. For me, much of the joy in reading this book was in hearing an old friend's voice and humor brought forth in a published, awarded book. She was so justifiably proud.

My mother recommended this book to me ages ago, and I kept putting off reading it because the edition isn't very good - tiny font of greyish paper. I wish I had bought a prettier edition, because once I finally started reading, I couldn't put it down. It's a wonderful story about a family, told by the youngest girl. It's a bit fragmentary, as chapters are extremely short, but I think that's part of its appeal. It is also a good and entertaining way to learn about the history of Mexican-USA relationships.