{"product_id":"under-the-mesquite-9781600604294","title":"Under the Mesquite","description":"\u003cb\u003eLupita, a budding actor and poet in a close-knit Mexican American immigrant family, comes of age as she struggles with adult responsibilities during her mother's long illness.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs the oldest of eight siblings, Lupita is used to taking the lead-and staying busy behind the scenes to help keep everyone together. But when she discovers Mami has been diagnosed with cancer, Lupita is terrified by the possibility of losing her mother, the anchor of her close-knit Mexican American family. Suddenly Lupita must face a whole new set of challenges, with new roles to play, and no one is handing her the script.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the midst of juggling life as a high school student, testing her wings as an actress, and dealing with friends who don't always understand, Lupita desperately wants to support Mami in whatever way she can. While her father stays with Mami at an out-of-town clinic, Lupita takes charge of her siblings. As Lupita struggles to keep the family afloat, she escapes the chaos of home by writing in the shade of a mesquite tree. Overwhelmed by change and loss, she takes refuge in the healing power of words.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold with honest emotion in evocative free verse, Lupita's journey is both heart-wrenching and hopeful. Under the Mesquite is an empowering story about the testing of family bonds, the strength of a young woman navigating pain and hardship with surprising resilience, and the kind of love that cannot be uprooted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Lee \u0026amp; Low Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/01\/2013\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781600604294\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 144\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.98lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.63h x 5.79w x 0.92d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Americas Award for Children \u0026amp; Young Adult Literature - Honorable Mention\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Keystone to Reading Book Award - Nominee\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Texas Lone Star Reading List - Commended\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Volunteer State Book Awards - Nominee\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Land of Enchantment Book Award - Nominee\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Sequoyah Book Awards - Nominee\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e Pura Belpre Award - Winner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAward:\u003c\/b\u003e William C. Morris YA Debut Award - Finalist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/15\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eVoice of Youth Advocates\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2011 pg. 388 - Recommended - Better Than Most\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2011 pg. 90\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/01\/2011 pg. 142\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Best Young-Adult Books\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2011 pg. 2223\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of Ctr for Child Bks\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2013 pg. 54\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eHornbook Guide to Children\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2012 pg. 105 - Recommended, Satisfactory\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAccelerated Reader Quiz #\/Name: \u003c\/b\u003e106917 \/ Under the Mesquite\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/b\u003e 5.7 \/ \u003cb\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/b\u003e Middle Grade Plus \/ \u003cb\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/b\u003e 3\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Guadalupe Garc\u0026#237;a McCall","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42148941627573,"sku":"9781600604294","price":18.66,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_0b0aa580-b428-4981-9fc3-2ef551ca59f6.jpg?v=1653486669","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/under-the-mesquite-9781600604294","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}