ISSUE 479

Non-Fiction

Strange Sea Tales Along The Southern California Coast by Claudine Burnett, 2000. Historical Society of Long Beach, 418 Pine Avenue, PO Box 1869, Long Beach, California 90801, illustrations, b/w photographs, maps, index, 5 1/2"x 8", 194p., $14., soft 0-9610250-9-3.
This book is a collection of tales that will appeal to the adventurous at heart. Claudine Burnett delves into such topics as sea monsters lurking in the depths of the ocean between Southern California and San Clemente Island, and sunken Japanese mini subs at the bottom of San Pedro Bay. Other stories focus on the great shark scare of 1959 and undiscovered pirate treasures off Hunington Beach. There are over fifty topics, each tale being told is based on research and eye-witness accounts.

The Village Horse Doctor: West of the Pecos by Ben K. Green, 2000. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0484, illustrations, 5 1/4" x 8", 306p.,$14.95, soft 0-8032-7090-9.
A reprint of Alfred A. Knopf's 1971 edition, this is a look back at a career of a practicing horse doctor along the Pecos and the Rio Grande beginning in 1944. Written by the doctor himself, Ben Green, who died in 1974, it is witty and honest stories of the struggles of not only living, but also dealing with the often wild tribulations of life in the Southwest. His appeal is in his expertise, personality, and outlook. Green "offers no apologies for having written the true facts" and in this he offers humor and an inside look at the world of ranching in Fort Stockton, Texas.

El Coyote The Rebel: A Nonfiction Novel by Luis Perez, Introduction by Lauro Flores, 4/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 256p., b/w photographs in introduction, $12.95, soft 1-55885-296-4.
Part of Arte Publico's effort to preserve the literary history of Hispanics and to make it more accessible, this book is part of their Pioneers of Modern U.S. Hispanic Literature series. It is an autobiographical novel of Luis Perez who led a remarkable life in the early through middle twentieth century. He became a soldier in the Mexican Revolution in 1910 at the age of eleven and was honorably discharged at the age of thirteen. Going on to struggle with life in the United States, and eventually to earn a college degree. This book was first published in 1947.

Dancing with the Virgin: Body and Faith in the Fiesta of Tortugas, New Mexico by Deidre Sklar, 2001. University of California Press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94720, 6" x 9", 230p., illustrations, b/w photographs, bibliography, index, $16.95, soft 0-520-22791-3.
Deidre Sklar, Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of California in Irvine, undertakes the study of expression, form, and spirituality in her foray into the three-day fiesta honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe in Tortugas, New Mexico. Combining her own background and her search for answers, Sklar brings together a ten-year study of the connection between body movement and expression of the sacred dances performed in the ceremonies. She immerses herself into the life of the people, men and women alike, and comes out with an intimate look at Pueblo Indian Culture.

Gideon Lincecum's Sword: Civil War Letters from the Texas Home Front edited by Jerry Bryan Lincecum, Edward Hake Phillips, and Peggy A. Redshaw, 2/2001. University of North Texas Press, PO Box 311336, Denton, Texas 76203-1336, 6" x 9", 320p., 1 b/w photograph, 5 illustrations, appendix, index, $39.95, hard 1-57441-125-X.
An up-close, personal look at mid-nineteenth century Texas, these letters give insight into the personal world of Gideon Lincecum, a natural scientist and philosopher, during the Civil War. Gideon Lincecum, having made letterpress copies of all of his correspondence, preserved his pro-Confederate views for posterity. The letters themselves contain a picture of coping with the strain and requirements of war time. It is a depiction of a family strongly committed to the Confederacy and the extent with which they dealt with that fact.

Rooted in Barbarous Soil: People, Culture, and Community in Gold Rush California edited by Kevin Starr and Richard J. Orsi, 2000. The University of California press, 2120 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94720, 7" x 10", 374p., 16 color illustrations, 39 b/w photographs, 5 tables, 37 b/w illustrations, index, soft, $24.95, 0-520-22496-5; hard $60., 0-520-22497-3.
This is Volume 3 in the four-volume California History Sesquicentennial Series. It is a collection of essays from leading scholars who approach topics surrounding the wild ascendence onto California of determined peoples in search of instant wealth. A discussion of migration, ethnic diversity, conflict, education, women, and the sexual frontier, among other topics, gives detailed information and leads to an analysis that provides a re-interpretation of this California experience. The impact on California and the rest of the world is examined by exploring many areas of culture.

Testimonio: A Documentary History of the Mexican American Struggle for Civil Rights by F. Arturo Rosales, 8/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 6" x 9", 308p., bibliography, index, $24.95, soft 1-55885-299-9.
Rosales has tackled the feat of tracing the trail of documentation of the path of Mexican-Americans to live as equals in the United States. The documents examined range from petitions, letters, and government reports, to political proclamations, eye-witness accounts, and treaties. In presenting these papers and their historical significance, Rosales offers explanations and introductions to all work presented. It is given in chronological order and hits on important topics that arose along the way.

Cormac McCarthy's Western Novels by Barcley Owens, 9/2000. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 160p., $17.95, soft 0-8165-1928-5; $35., hard 0-8165-1927-7.
Barcley Owens addresses the violence and propagation of the mythic West in acclaimed author Corman McCarthy's novels. He follows a shift in McCarthy's writing that suggests a move from a darker outlook into a more popular, dream-affirming stance. He examines Blood Meridian or the Evening Redness in the West, All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain, and while doing so, shows a shift in the American imagination.

The Magnificent Mesquite by Ken E. Rogers, 11/2000. The University of Texas Press, PO Box 7819, Austin, Texas 78713-7819, 5 1/2" x 9", 167p., 18 color photographs, 2 line drawings, 5 maps, 12 tables, $24.95, hard 0-292-77105-3.
This tume on the natural history and botanical life of the mesquite tree brings to the forefront a seemingly invaluable plant. Much to the contrary, Rogers seeks throughout the course of the book to show the important history of this tree while moving into its now current important role throughout the world. He shows the many uses, from when it provided American Indians with invaluable resources to its being used today in important products. Included are even instructions for laying a mesquite floor and making mesquite bean jelly. He also notes the importance of the mesquite's survival abilities in rangeland management and limiting desertification.

Vow: The Way of the Milagro by Kay Leigh Hagan, Photographs by Richard Downing, 3/2001. Council Oak Books, 1290 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, California 94109, 5 1/2" x 5 1/2", 64p., 25 four-color photographs, $11.95, hard 1-57178-097-1.
This small book contains a large spiritual message. Even it's topic is small: the milagro miniature metal replicas of arms, legs, animals, tools, and praying figures that represent human concerns, but the import of the book lies in the fact that these small reminders stand for a larger idea: that spirit is a part of every day life. It not only gives an explanation with text and pictures, but does so in a manner and tone that befits its purpose. A brief explanation of the history and importance of milagros is offered at the end.

Medicine Trail: The Life and Lessons of Gladys Tantaquidgeon by Melissa Jayne Fawcett, 11/2000. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 8", 170p., 22 halftones, 1 map, $16.95, soft 0-8165-2069-0; $60., hard 0-8165-2068-2.
The book is not a story of one woman alone, but the story of a woman and the Native American Indian nation of which she was intricately a part. Her story is one that encompasses the cultural richness of being a medicine woman, her childhood years of learning ceremonies and healing, her education at an Ivy League school, and her efforts to return a nation to its natural grandeur. Her outstanding accomplishments are surrounded by the cultural history and the details that give light to the real Mohegan nation.

Wilderness Medical Society: Practice Guidelines for Wilderness Emergency Care 2nd edition edited by William W. Forgey, M.D., 10/2000. Globe Pequot Press, PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, Connecticut 06437, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 96p., $13.95, soft 0-7627-0671-6.
This guide offers the needed information for anyone who travels off the beaten track into the wild unknown. Written to be an easy and methodical manner, the book offers advice on trauma, illness, and environmental injury that can occur where it is impossible to get to professional medical care. The techniques offered are supported by the Wilderness Medical Society. Answers are given on wilderness evacuation, CPR techniques, wild animal attacks, orthopedic injuries, water purification, botanical encounters, heat-related illness, among other topics.

Women's Tales from the New Mexico WPA: La Diabla a Pie edited by Tey Diana Rebolledo and Maria Teresa Marquez, 11/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 224p., appendix, bibliography, glossary, $17.95, soft 1-55885-312-X.
When the Works Progress Administration was implemented by President Franklin Roosevelt, a little known effect essentially saved some voices from disappearing forever. A part of this project, the Federal Writers Project, allowed writers to be put to work writing state guides. Other writers worked to gather songs and stories from ex-slaves. This book is a collection of cuentos gathered by Lou Sage Batchen and Annette Hesch thorp who took it upon themselves to preserve not only the stories, but a picture into the lives of native ancianos in New Mexico. Tey Diana Rebolledo and Maria Teresa Marquez uncover these once again hidden stories and bring them back to life. The introduction includes a discussion of the "problematic cultural issues surrounding these records."

Curanderismo: Mexican American Folk Healing 2nd edition by Robert T. TrottherII and Juan Antonio Chavira, 1997. The University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia 30602, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 204p., glossary, index, b/w photographs, $18., soft 0-8203-1962-7.
The cultural tradition of folk healing is described here in detail. Its importance in a historical perspective is explained, as well as its value even in the midst of modern medicine. Having apprenticed with curanderos for three years, the authors show an inside view of the mysterious and powerful world of using the earth and spirituality as a process for healing. The emphasis is also on how this practice is learned and ultimately passed on for future generations.

A Portal to Paradise by Alden Hayes, 1/2001. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 359p., b/w photographs, maps, $19.95, soft 0-8165-2144-1; $29.95., hard 0-8165-1785-1.
Although Alden Hayes died in 1998, he left an important history surrounding Cave Creek Canyon in southeastern Arizona's Chiricahua Mountains. He had to rely on historical records, stories that had been passed down, references, and many interviews to reconstruct the wild and colorful history of the twin towns of Portal and Paradise. This was the site of numerous hideouts of the notorious such as rustlers, train robbers, even Geronimo and Cochise. Other stories link Johnny Ringo, Doc Holiday, and Billy the Kid to this place of shelter. It seems a small place for such a large history, but in the course of the book this wilderness is given its due.

La Partera: Story of a Midwife 2nd edition with a new preface by Fran Leeper Buss, 3/2001. The University of Michigan Press, 839 Greene Street, PO Box 1104, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1104, 5 1/4" x 8", 152p., b/w photographs, bibliography, glossary, $14.95, soft 0-472-08712-6.
At the age of fourteen Jesusita Aragon became a midwife in an emergency situation, and went on to an impressive career of being sought for her advice and delivering "more than 12,000 babies." Aragon herself tells of her life which was intertwined with the lives of numerous other women, all who struggled with bringing their children into the world and learning to take care of them under harsh conditions. In showing her own life, she gives a cultural picture and ultimately a portrait of female healers.

Texas and New Mexico on the Eve of the Civil War: The Mansfield and Johnston Inspections, 1859-1861 edited by Jerry Thompson, 3/2001. University of New Mexico Press, 1720 Lomas Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-1591, 6" x 9", 264p., 40 halftones, two maps, $29.95, hard 0-8263-2102-X.
There has been much written and documented about the Civil War itself, to say the least, but here is a unique look at the state of troops in Texas and New Mexico before the war began. In investigating the inspections that took place prior to the war, Thompson gives an illuminating look at a different aspect of the times. The field reports were done by Army officers Lt. Col. Joseph E. Johnston and Col. Joseph K. F. Mansfield who proved to be meticulous and talented in their writings. They offer insights in to physical layout of army posts, the condition of livestock, as well as relations with surrounding peoples.

Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics by A. Costandina Titus, 2/2001. University of Nevada Press, Mail Stop 166, Reno NV 89557-0076, 6" x 9 1/4", 256p., b/w photographs, illustrations, maps, $21.95, soft 0-87417-370-1.
When atomic policy changed in the late 1980s, the Nevada Test Site was faced with a new future. The author provides the history of the site during the Cold War era as well as how testing and policies have changed. In light of the fact that victims of atomic fallout had to be compensated, Titus examines the effect on the site itself. He also addresses the clean-up movement, focusing on the sites of the most contaminated. Overall, this is a history and exploration of American atomic testing and the new world in which it exists.

Texas Smoke: Muzzle-Loaders on the Frontier by C. F. Eckhardt, Illustrations by Wesley G. Williams, 2001. Texas Tech University Press, Box 41037, Lubbock, Texas 79410, 6" x 9", 128p., illustrations, index, further reading, $15.95, soft 0-89672-439-5.
C. F. Eckhardt seeks to answers the many questions he had as a child about the guns that were prevalent up to the 1860s. With this as his starting ground, he works through the history and development to the use and operation of the muzzle-loaders. His intended audience is historians, hobbyists, writers, as well as reenactment specialists, sharing with them his passion for his subject. The book also includes illustrations that help with explanations.

Tunnel Kids by Lawrence Taylor and Maeve Hickey, 4/2001. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 152p., b/w photographs, $17.95, soft 0-8165-1926-9; $45., hard 0-8165-1925-0.
Lives that would go completely unnoticed are uncovered here. Young adults with no place to go in the border towns in which they live--Nogales, Arizona and Sonora are struggling to make identities and lives for themselves in what is known as the "tunnels"--fourteen feet wide and several mile long drainage pipes that are the scene of "struggling immigrants, drug dealers, and theives." The authors give poignant pictures of the real people who live this on a daily basis.

Lives on the Line: Dispatches from the U.S.-Mexico Border by Miriam Davidson, 10/2000. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 200p., b/w photographs, $17.95, soft 0-8165-1998-6; $35., hard 0-8165-1997-8.
Here is an up-close look at the effects that changes have wrought on the lives of people on the U.S.-Mexico border in the Arizona town of Nogales and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. While there has been an increase in jobs and population, there has also been environmental degredation and violence caused by the drug trade, border patrol and undocumented immigrants. The book looks at particular people whose lives are greatly effected by the realities of living in the midst of these forces.

The View from Bald Hill: Thirty Years in an Arizona Grassland by Carl E. Bock and Jane H. Bock with a foreword by Harry W. Greene, 5/2000. The University of California Press, 2000 Center St., Suite 303, Berkeley, California 94704, 6 1/8" x 9 1/4", 221p., b/w photographs, illustrations, maps, tables, index, $16.95, soft 0-520-22184-2; $45., hard 0-520-22183-4.
The authors have spent thirty years studying the effect of grasslands where grazing has been banned since 1968. Working on the hypothesis that domestic livestock has irretrivably altered the American Southwest, the Bocks set out to understand the changes that would not have occurred. Their aim is to show the grasslands and their importance without the presence of commerical livestock. While being a summary of the research, it also an in-depth look at caring and belonging to a part of natural history.

Winning the Dust Bowl by Carter Revard, 2/2001. The University of Arizona Press, 355 S. Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 240p., b/w photographs, $17.95, soft 0-8165-2071-2; $40., hard 0-8165-2070-4.
Native American writer Carter Revard offers his memoir that is written in both poetry and prose and invites the reader to explore with him his many life journeys. Beginning his personal tale on the Osage reservation, he traces his development as a person, poet, and scholar from Oklahoma to being a Rhodes Scholar at Yale to being a professor of medieval literature. He gives along the way his personal insights and his poetry, sometimes offering imaginative explanations of linking history to art, how poems are born, and the "connection between literature and life."

From Settler to Citizen: New Mexican Economic Development and the Creation of Vecino Society, 1750-1820 by Ross Frank, 3/2001. The University of California Press, 2000 Center St., Suite 303, Berkeley, California 94704, 6 1/4" x 9 1/4", 353p., b/w photographs, maps, tables, bibliography, index, $45., hard 0-520-22206-7.
Frank traces the history and development of colonial New Mexico's Hispanic community whose past is interwoven with the Pueblo Indians. He seeks to show how the Hispanics learned to dominate the Pueblo trading and ultimately dominate the peoples themselves. This economic control led to cultural and social change the created the vecino stronghold in the later part of the eighteenth century. The goal of the boof is to show the development of this Hispanic community.

Los Remedios: Traditional Herbal Remedies of the Southwest 3rd edition by Michael Moore, illustrations by Mimi Kamp, 1995. Red Crane Books, 2008 Rosinda St., Suite B, Santa Fe, NM 87505, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 108p., illustrations, 2 indexes, $PRICE, soft 1-878610-06-6.
Southwestern culture offers a unique world of folk healing that can now be known and used as actual therapeutic remedies for those who had no previous knowledge of the mysterious practices. Here the herbs are listed alphabetically with the popular, regional, and scientific names and with their primary and secondary uses. While offering illustrations for easy identification, advice is also given as well as opinions of the effectiveness of each plant. Preparation methods, dosage instructions, and suggestions for common ailments are also given. The book does not seek to serve as a replacement for professional medical advice, but offers an interesting look into herbs of the Southwest.

Chicano Renaissance: Contemporary Cultural Trends edited by David R. Maciel, Isidro D. ortiz, and Maria Herrera-Sobek, 10/2000. The University of Arizona Press, 1230 N Park Avenue, Suite 102, Tucson, Arizona 85719, 6" x 9", 370p., b/w photographs, $19.95, soft 0-8165-2021-6; $45., hard 0-8165-1020-8.
This collection of essays unifyingly demonstrates the Chicano/a influence on contemporary American society. The essays take a look at the past attention the Hispanic movement received in the early 1970s through a decline of recognition, to the present time when more and more scholarly work is exposing the value in a range of cultural aspects. Other essays address Tejano music, film and television, as well as art and literary endeavors. The essays seek to show how, contrary to previously held popular belief, Chicanos are adding immensely to the cultural whole.

The Courthouse Square in Texas by Robert E. Veselka, 10/2000. University of Texas Press, PO Box 789, Austin, Texas 78713-7819, 6 1/8" x 9 1/4", 260p., b/w photographs, illustrations, tables, $29.95, soft 0-292-78736-7; $50., hard 0-292-78735-9.
While laying out the many plans of town squares, this book is a discussion of the historical and social importance of the town-plans of the county seats in Texas. The late Dr. Robert Veselka describes the influence of Europe, mexico and other parts of the United States by settlers and the significanct role this has planned in the development of the city. Whereas some cities still operate around the town square, Veselka studies why this is not so in other areas. It is a look at the social, cultural, historical, and archeological aspects of this center of Texas counties.

Fiction

Valencia by Michelle Tea, 2000. Seal Press, Distributed by Publisher's Group West, 3131 Western Avenue #410, Seattle, Washington 98121-1041, www.sealpress.com, 5 1/4"x 8 1/4", 202p., $13., soft 1-58005-035-2.
Valenica explores the underworld of dykes in the Mission District of San Francisco with such wild characters as Petra, who introduces the main character, Michelle, to radical sex and a little violence. There is also Willa, a tortured woman needing to find definite love, and Iris, a boy drama queen. Theirs is a search for extreme life-affirming activities in which they find meaning. The story provides insight into the little-publicized lives of women living on the edge.

Falling Toward Heaven by John Bennion, 2000. Signature Books, 564 W. North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116-3411, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 312p., $19.95, soft 1-56085-140-6.
While some stories seek to give answers, Falling Toward Heaven opens questions for it's protagonist, Howard Rockwood. He is faced with returning home after two years to a life he isn't sure he fits into anymore. The turmoil in his mind is accentuated with the questions he has over Allison, a young woman who has had a profound effect on his psyche. It is a journey of self-discovery often suprising in the developments and outcomes.

Riptide by Marion Smith, 3/2000. Signature Books, 564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116-3411, 5 1/2" x 8", 191p., $14.95, soft 1-56085-131-7.
Child sexual abuse and its real effect on lives is the topic Marion Smith broaches through the voice of a mother forced to deal with this devastation within a family. She does not limit herself, however, to victimology, but instead explores Mormon culture as well as the darker side of a woman's nature. Those effected are not only the victims of sexual abuse--they are families, clergy, lawyers, churches, and the local culture.

Medicine Man by Joan Price, 7/2000. Royal Fireworks Printing Co., Inc., First Avenue, Unionville, New York 10988, 5 1/4" x 8 1/2", 124p., $9.99, soft 0-88092-069-6.
This is a story for young adults that emphasizes humane values and relationships. Kee Chee is faced with deciding between the world his grandfather would have him embrace and the world he sees for himself. His grandfather knows the value of culture and story in being a medicine man. Kee Chee sees the white world as having the answers. The book explores when these two worlds must meet.

The Hundred Dollar Mystery by Mary C. Crawford, 4/2000. Royal Fireworks Printing Co., Inc., First Avenue, Unionville, New York 10988, 5 1/4" x 8 1/2", 126p., $9.99, soft 0-88092-420-9.
What is most important to Lacey is to protect her grandmother and to keep her with her. When a mysterious one hundred dollar bill arrives, the story begins its twists. Lacey must deal with gangs and violence while also pursuing the mystery of the money. Abandoned by her parents years before, she must also come to terms with her past. Emphasizing the importance of relationships, the outcome is a happy one. The story is written for young adults.

White Desert by Loren D. Estleman, 7/2000. Forge, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 240p., $22.95, hard 0-312-869-X.
Loren Estleman delivers another Page Murdock novel that covers a death-defying journey from Montana to northern Canada. Murdock encounters outlaws, escaped slaves, and renegade Sioux Indians in his struggle to make it through the harsh environment of the Old West. This is the latest installment in the U.S.Marshall Page Murdock series, and the first since 1994's City of Widows.

Chicano Chicanery by Daniel Chacon, 3/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 192p., $11.95, soft 1-55885-280-8.
Daniel Chacon, in his collection of short stories, peruses such topics as exchanged identities, gang initiation, betrayal, and surviving in intimidating territory. Within these dozen tales, he finds a way to comment on the nature of the Mexican-American struggle with the place where they are, the people, and then ultimately themselves. Realistic yet humorous, the collection sheds light on deceiving one's self or trying to deceive another.

Anything But Love by Gustavo Perez Firmat, 3/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 208p., $12.95, soft 1-55885-295-6.
Frank Guerra is a perfectionist who looks for it in everything, even the woman he tries to form the perfect future with. He follows this path to perfection and on the way, divorces a faithful wife and leaves a daughter behind. With his new perfect love, Frank believes he will find this love reciprocated. Instead, he begins to question whether anything ideal can really exist. His heart is set on obtaining something worth living for. The question is, can it be love?

The Adventures of Don Chipote, Or, When Parrots Breast-Feed by Daniel Venegas, edited with a new introduction by Nicolas Kanellos, translated from Spanish by Ethriam Cash Brammer, 4/2000. Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 170p., $12.95, soft 1-55885-252-2.
The publication of this book is an important occassion as it is the first English language edition of the first Chicano novel that was originally published in Spanish in 1928. The story is an adventure in immigration from Mexico into the United States with many mishaps along the way. Don Chipote ("Bump on the Head"), his sidekick Policarpo, and a dog named Skinenbones undertake this adventure because it leads to the land of promise--the United States. Its appeal is not only the colorful characters and their misadventures, but also the insight it provides into the folklore and culture it depicts.

Mad Morgan by Kerry Newcomb, 2000. St. Martin's Paperback, St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010, 4 1/4" x 6 3/4", 306p., $6.50, soft 0-312-97741-7.
Henry Morgan is a man driven by his passionate hatred for the Spanish rulers. Having been captured and taken to be a slave in the New World, Morgan is determined to make them pay. When he manages his escape, he becomes the leader of a group of criminals and misfits, but whose desire for freedom match his own. The adventure turns when he meets the woman who is promised to the man who is hunting him down.

The Day Mrs. Roosevelt Came to Town by Anne Buckley, 10/2000. Royal Fireworks Publishing, First Avenue, Unionville, New York 10988, 5 1/4" x 8 1/2", 186p., $9.99, soft 0-88092-458-6.
Inspired by the actual event of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt visiting Lancaster, Texas in 1936, this novel is historical fiction. Olive Johnson is a young African-American woman who reads Mrs. Roosevelt's words and becomes inspired to better her own circumstances from being a maid. She sets out to build a new life for herself when she is treated abusively. Her goal is to attend Madam C.J. Walker's College of Beauty Culture in Dallas, a school for Colored cosmetologists. Many forces are against her, but her inspiration has taken hold, especially when she hears Mrs. Roosevelt in person.

Ankiza by Gloria Velasquez, 10/2000. Pinata Books, Arte Publico Press, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-2174, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", 160p., $9.95, soft 1-55885-309-X; $16.95, hard 1-55885-308-1.
Velasquez addresses a common problem faced in schools: prejudices. Here the topic is brought to life within a group of friends in this, the fifth novel of Velasquez's Roosevelt High School series. When Ankiza, an African-American girl begins to date Hunter Bianchi, an Italian-American, their friends must adjust. An anonymous note arrives that is critical of the relationship. Working it out is the emphasis of the story. The impact is the strong friendships that can be made.

Courageous Journey by Paul Snyder, 8/2000. Royal Fireworks Publishing, First Avenue, Unionville, New York 10988, 5 1/4" x 8 1/2", 216p., $9.99, soft 0-88092-360-1.
Kate, only fifteen years old, untertakes an incredible journey that circumstances have brought her to. She must move herself and her eleven-year-old brother across the country from Pennsylvania to Texas to meet up with their father. She is full of determination to make the dangerous trek as well as to protect her brother. The adventure is full of people who would like to see the two fail, but they must find a way to get to their father. Their travels make them able to handle the situation they arrive to with their father and to ultimately become heros.