Review by Booklist Review
Their collective story begins in McAllen, Texas, just seven miles from the U.S./Mexico border. For generations before, Octavio Izquierdo's predecessors "used to come and go, crossing freely, still in their own country," before an "imaginary line" delineated nations and separated families. In 1958, Octavio is claiming "a piece of land here in Tejas" for himself, wife Guadalupe, and their firstborn, Gonzalo. There they eventually raise 10 children, then welcome their children's spouses and their grandchildren. Their successes, alas, will invite envious curses. Papa Tavo, the patriarch, will be robbed of his resilience, unable to protect and provide, forcing Gonzalo prematurely into manhood and an anger that never fully dissipates. Oldest daughter Marisol almost destroys herself with diet pills. Violent nightmares keep daughter Dina trapped in her own home. Siblings and in-laws bicker and forgive (enough); cousins save one another. Degollado's absorbing novel resembles deftly interlinked short stories with impressive, nonlinear chapters that could easily stand alone. That he favors the older Izquierdo children here suggests a sequel might prove necessary to assuage inspired, curious readers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Degollado's vivid linked collection (after the YA novel Throw) delves into a large Texas family's rise to prominence and subsequent misfortunes. "La Tierra" sets the stage in 1958, with Papa Tavo and Guadalupe establishing a painting and drywall business and settling in Reynosa. Decades later, in "Turroco," the irascible Papa Tavo, having tried out a series of nursing homes only to return to their house, claims his neighbor Emiliano Contreras has placed a curse on him and his family by burying a goat's head in his and Guadalupe's' yard. Papa Tavo's grandson Little Gonzalo narrates, describing Tavo's insomnia and agitation, which his father, Gonzalo, attributes in part to the jealous Emiliano's curse. Together at the grandparents' house, the family lights candles in prayer. In "Mariposa," Little Gonzalo, now a fifth grader, goes on a beer run with his older cousin Cirilo and later hears his father accuse his mother of flirting with Cirilo, resulting in Little Gonzalo and his mother fleeing for her safety. In "Padres, Hijas," Papa Tavo and Abuelita celebrate their 35th anniversary at their house, and the receiving line winds around the block. Throughout, Degollado convincingly portrays the family's mix of faith, superstition, and intergenerational volatility, and immerses the reader into a porous blend of English and Spanish. This is a gem. (Sept.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Three generations of Izquierdos tell the story of their family and the misfortunes believed to be caused by a curse. In 1958, Octavio Izquierdo and his wife, Guadalupe, begin building their life in McAllen, Texas. They buy a home and set up a painting and drywall business while dreaming of the good future their children will have--how these things will be their inheritance. But life isn't always easy for the family. After discovering a goat hoof and a rooster foot buried in the yard, Octavio believes his jealous neighbor, Emiliano Contreras, has put a curse on the family. Ordinary disasters like miscarriages, accidents, and sadness are attributed to it. Years later, in declining health, Octavio is consumed by his belief in the curse, and he bounces around from nursing home to nursing home because none of the orderlies can keep him calm. His adult children aren't sure if it really is a curse or a genetic predisposition to anxiety and susto. However, Dina, one of his daughters, refuses to leave her house after having what she believes is a prophetic nightmare showing Emiliano Contreras working with the devil to use grackles to put the evil eye on the Izquierdos. In this gloriously rich epic, we get to see a full picture of the family. Each interlocking chapter is told by a different character, unifying into a thoughtfully crafted history spanning decades. The characters, who are complex and tightly linked to one another, are enlivened by their belief in a mix of superstition, brujería, and Catholicism that feels both familiar and playful. Family celebrations like a Posada, a quinceañera, and the Fourth of July particularly highlight family dynamics. Though most of the stories focus on the Izquierdo family as a whole, there's one called "La Milagrosa Selena" that is less a story and more a letter to the Diocese of Brownsville that advocates canonizing the queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez; it's a surprising delight. An instant Tejano classic. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
