This review was written by student Marie Vallangca...

It is a story about a teenager that lost her mom and copes to live normally again. Lupita is from Mexican heritage, they moved from Mexico to live in the United States for a better life. She lived in the U.S all of her life, but she still sees Mexico as her home. Lupita is very close to her mom,
through sun and rain they are together. She has 7 siblings and she is the oldest with two brothers and five sisters. Her mother turns ill because of cancer, they do everything to help her to be better, even use the savings for the future of the children. They whole family struggles as their mom go through chemotherapy but even with all the obstacles they faced, the family still suffered from the loss of their mom. Lupita expressed her feelings through writing poem under the mesquite tree. Until she realized and accepted that she needs to move on because that’s what her mom would wanted her to do. She dreams to go to New York and be in Broadway and perform in stage for everyone.

I admire the bravery and strength of Lupita. She has a way of expressing what she feels, I don’t have anything. If the same situation happens to me, I don’t know if I could cope and go on with my normal routine. My mom is very special to me and I love her very much. She is the reason why I am here. She pushes me to do my best, and she’s always there to protect and comfort me. Even though I didn’t go through what Lupita went through I felt what she was feeling. Every one with a mother will understand what she is going through especially those who have lost theirs. Just imagining my mom gone from me made me feel maybe a close feeling of what she felt.

This book made me cry and made me realize how important family is; family is all we have when we go through something tough. Even though there might be arguments the love for each other is stronger. I loved every bit of the book, but I wouldn’t read it again because of what it made me feel. It is a very touching story, a story that touches the people in their hearts just like it touched mine. The whole story is amazing but if I could change the ending I would want something happier and the total opposite but the purpose of this book is to show people what it really is in real life and happy ending doesn’t always
happen in real life.

I recommend this book to everyone mostly teenagers to read. They are mostly the ones who will relate the story since the story is narrated by a teenager. They understand how each other feels. People who likes to read realistic fiction will love this book. Read it and enjoy like I did.

This original poem was submitted by freshman student Maria Rodriguez.

Great Mama

I walk into great mama’s
room; I inch closer to her
and shake her gently
whispering in her ear. Her
eyes are shut closed and 
                                  her body is cold. My body
                                  tenses. I call her name
                                  over and over waiting for 
                                    her to reply. I feel warm
                                      salty tears fall. I can’t 
                                     breathe.  A pair of giant
                                    hands pulls me back. I fall
                                  to the ground, my body
                                  shaking with emotion. I
                                    feel Cousin Carlos arms
                                   wrap around me. I cry as
                                  her body is pulled into the 
                                   ground leaving an empty
    hole inside of me.

This review was submitted by student Kerri Aguilar.

This story is about a young girl who finds herself having to take on more responsibility when she finds out that her mother has cancer. The main character is Lupita and she tries to help out the family and especially her mom in any way. I really like the Lupitas mom a lot because she sounded kind and
caring even with the illness she had.

I could kind of relate to Lupita in like having to take on responsibility for siblings.

I did like the book because it related to real things and was very emotional. My favorite part was the ice cream truck breaking down and the kids getting all the ice they could get and taking it home.

I would recommend this book to people who like to read about realistic and true stories that are also found of reading poetry.

This original poem and review was submitted by student E.B.

I’m sitting here
thinking alone,
and scared of the future,
under this tall and strong
mesquite.
When I realize
I have nothing to worry about
And that I’m being
melodramatic
But that’s my self.
                                             I touch the mesquite’s skin
                                            And it’s hard and scratchy
                                            I raise my head to see 
                                           The mesquite and I think
                                           “I want to be like this mesquite
                                           Tall and strong,
                                           And fight against whatever
                                           Strong and devastating
                                           Wind that wants to make me
                                           Fall down.”  
                                           I’m now more confident
                                           I feel like that mesquite.
                                           And feel like if the wind wantsTo fight…
                                           he can come,
                                           Because I’m going to send him back
                                           To his home.

This book is really awesome and interesting. This book is about Lupita, the protagonist, and her life from when she was a child to when she goes to college. This story talks about the importance of the family, and sceneries that people pass through life. Lupita is very strong and keeps being strong until her mother died. She talks about how things used to be when she was a child and before her mother was detected with cancer, and how she kept strong because she was the oldest one and she feel like she would have to take care of her siblings. I like this type of protagonist because they are strong. And this
book really makes me think about life, that it’s really hard, but it doesn’t matter what bad and evil things happen because you have to keep strong. I think
now, that I’m lucky and have a great life. I like the end, how she realized she
has to keep going, and get out of the depression.