From back cover: In the desert outside the Phoenix city limits, Alfredo Vea Jr. finds a world of marvels spilling out of the adobe homes, tar-paper shacks, rusted Cadillacs, and battered trailers that are otherwise known as "Buckeye". The vivid symbol of Buckeye Road is La Maravilla -- the blanket of marigolds laid upon graves in Mexican cemeteries, and the mythical dog, sacred to the Aztecs, who returns from the underworld to lead his master to Mictlan, the land of the dead. La Maravilla is the embodiment of belonging to two worlds, and of being torn between the love and fear of both. It is the condition and mystery borne by all who inhabit this American outback -- whether they are Blacks, Chicanos, Asians, Native Americans, Mexicans, European immigrants, or Anglo misfits. For Beto, the young boy at the center of this magnificent story, the wonders and perils of Buckeye Road are negotiated wit the help of his aristocratic Spanish grandmother, a Catholic curandera with a passion for the music of Duke Ellington, and his grandfather, a Yaqui Indian whose body is often confined to a rocking chair but whose spirit soars above a desert without frontiers. With this extraordinary first novel, Aldrefo Vea, Jr. takes his place in the first rank of American writers who are showing us the beauty of our diversity and the nurturing power of our many roots.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES: Sending out to Bookish-Angel to accompany her on her journey and eventually be released in Asia or Australia! (I thought a book set here in the American Southwest would be appropriate to travel to foreign lands.) Happy travels to you both!

Rec'd today from my friend Firegirl for release in Asia or Australia. Happily, it is the kind of book I like so it will be read on the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG plane ride to Sydney and released during my trip.

Many thanks to you, Firegirl, who spoils me with RABCKS! Hugs!

Unfortunately, I had no time to read this book but skimming it, it looked good.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On top of the wheelchair under the covered waiting area.