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Author: Marge Pellegrino
Pellegrino illustrates an authentic story of a family during the armed conflict in Guatemala. Tomasa, a thirteen year old girl, flees with her two brothers and father from military destruction in the Guatemalan highlands in the 1980s. They travel through Guatemala to Mexico City and across the border into Arizona, where Tomasa’s mother and oldest brother await them. Tomasa's journey gives you a taste of a Guatemalan highland culture through the folktales her father tells every night, the words used in Quiché (an American Indian language of the Mayan family), and Tomasa’s weavings. This is a heart felt journey of a young girl trying to stay positive and optimistic for her younger brothers, while burying her own emotions after seeing her mountain village in flames.
Year Released: 2009
Grades 5-8