HOPKINS AWARD POETRY

UNDER THE MESQUITE

Photo Retrieved from Amazon.com

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY

McCall, Guadalupe G. UNDER THE MESQUITE. New York: Lee and Low Books, 2011. ISBN 9780329926045

B. CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REVIEW

In this wonderful narrative written in verse, Guadalupe Garcia McCall presents a free verse novel of a young girl growing up during change, illness, all the while experiencing common teenage themes.  Lupita is one of the children in a family of nine, and they are representative of Mexican-American immigrants.   The story presents an authentic perspective of the immigrant experience, and the family dynamics typical of a large family. The movement of the verses are quick, and move the story along beautifully.  McCall presents her novel using sensory imagery, and uses a combination of English and Spanish  to convey the story of a young girl growing up between two countries. This combination lends itself to young Hispanic readers, as the words and phrases are common to the border culture.  

Young readers living in border states of the United States will easily connect to the story and content of this novel.  Readers who have experienced loss or illness in their family will also find this book touches on many emotions, as Lupita struggles in her ability to deal with teenage issues and family trouble.  As Lupita adjusts from living in one country to another, she is also struggling with the recent cancer diagnosis of her mother.  She is charged with the care of her younger siblings, and discovers the labor involved in raising young children.

It is a book that can be enjoyed and finished over just a few hours.  McCall creates a vivid picture of the transition of being a young and careless girl, to a young woman who is conflicted with emotions and dreams.   Just as Lupita transitions from one country to another, she simultaneously transitions from a girl to a young woman caring for her siblings and family.  She also discovers her connection with writing and poetry,  and the feeling of hope is developed well.

The poems are arranged in a simple format, with each verse only a couple of pages long.  The stanzas provide natural  breaks, and help the reader move through the reading nicely.  The cover is an image of a young girl standing under a mesquite tree with a setting sun in the background. The mesquite tree has visible roots, which upon closer viewing appear to be a map of Mexico. McCall provides a Reference tool for the names, Spanish words, and cultural references made in the book.  This is very helpful to someone who is unfamiliar with the Hispanic culture and language.  It is also nice to confirm the meaning of words, and that these words are typical throughout families in the border states, both on the U.S. side and Mexican side.

Guadalupe McCall is a distinguished writer from Texas, and is a wonderful example for young ladies looking for inspiration.  Originally born in Mexico, McCall utilizes her personal experiences in her writing, and the authenticity reflected in her writing is exceptional.

C. HIGHLIGHT POEM AND POETRY BREAK

A portion from Chismosa

I thought I was being clever
By sitting just outside the kitchen window,
But I was wrong.
!Chismosa! Mami chastises me
When she catches me eavesdropping
On her and her comadres.
Then she orders me to go scrub
The bathrooms, toilets, and all.


Have students quietly reflect on the punishment Lupita received for being a chismosa. Then have a discussion about what they think about how Mami punished Lupita.  After reading the entire verse Chismosa, create a word map for the word chismosa.  Talk about all of the meanings for this word based on what the students read.  Knowledge of the Spanish language is not necessary, since students should be able to infer the meaning.  What are some English words that mean the same thing?