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Secrets of the Casa Rosada
Sixteen-year-old Martha and her mother move constantly, never staying anywhere for long. So she knows better than to ask if they’ve been evicted again when her mom says they’re going on a “vacation” to meet the grandmother Martha didn’t know existed. Laredo, Texas, is like no other city she has seen. Driving past businesses with Spanish names and colorfully painted houses with burnt lawns, Martha can’t imagine her mother living somewhere so … Mexican. At her grandmother’s pink house, she’s shocked and hurt when her mom abandons her, even though a part of her had been expecting it. Suddenly Martha must deal with a way of life that is completely foreign. Her grandmother doesn’t speak English, so communication is difficult, and she’s not the typical, sweet grandma who dotes on her grandchildren. Even weirder, it turns out that her grandmother is revered as a healer, or curandera. And there are tons of cousins, aunts and uncles all ready to embrace her! At her new school, Martha can’t be anonymous like before because everyone knows she’s Doña González’s granddaughter. Meanwhile, a girl who has it out for her makes things unpleasant. As Martha struggles to adjust to her new life, she can’t help but wonder why her mother left Laredo. No one is willing to discuss it, so she’ll have to unravel the secret herself.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2018
9 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Alex Temblador
5 books80 followersAlex Temblador is the Mixed Latine author of the award-winning novels, Secrets of the Casa Rosada and Half Outlaw. Her third book, Writing an Identity Not Your Own, is a nonfiction writing craft book.
Alex's debut YA novel, Secrets of the Casa Rosada, has won such awards like the Middle Grade/ Young Adult Discovery Prize Winner of the 2018 Writers' League of Texas Book Awards, Kirkus' Best of YA Books of 2018, the NACCS Tejas Foco Young Adult Award 2019, the Texas Library Association's TAYSHA's Nomination, and received a Starred Kirkus Review. Half Outlaw, an adult fiction novel, received a Bronze Medal for the Rudolfo Anaya Best Latino Focused Fiction Book in the 2023 International Latino Book Awards.
Her creative writing has appeared in anthologies like Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America and Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology, as well as literary journals like Colorado Review, PALABRITAS, D Magazine, Cigale Literary Magazine, and Scissortale Review. Alex received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Alex is the founder and moderator of LitTalk at Whose Books, a quarterly panel series for DFW authors. In her career as an author, Alex has conducted a wide array of presentations for the likes of Macmillan Publishers, Abydos Learning Conference, TLA Annual Conference, Texas Teen Book Festival, and universities like Southern Methodist University, University of Houston, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LaGaurdia CC, etc.
When she's not working on her next novel, Alex is a full-time freelance travel, arts, culture, and design writer and teaches the occasional seminar on creative writing.
Alex is Texas-based woman who loves literary fiction with a multicultural or diversity aspect and prefers to write about family dynamics, race, ethnicity, and identity, especially in the style of magical realism.
You can find more information about her work at AlexTemblador.com.
Alex's debut YA novel, Secrets of the Casa Rosada, has won such awards like the Middle Grade/ Young Adult Discovery Prize Winner of the 2018 Writers' League of Texas Book Awards, Kirkus' Best of YA Books of 2018, the NACCS Tejas Foco Young Adult Award 2019, the Texas Library Association's TAYSHA's Nomination, and received a Starred Kirkus Review. Half Outlaw, an adult fiction novel, received a Bronze Medal for the Rudolfo Anaya Best Latino Focused Fiction Book in the 2023 International Latino Book Awards.
Her creative writing has appeared in anthologies like Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America and Speculative Fiction for Dreamers: A Latinx Anthology, as well as literary journals like Colorado Review, PALABRITAS, D Magazine, Cigale Literary Magazine, and Scissortale Review. Alex received her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Alex is the founder and moderator of LitTalk at Whose Books, a quarterly panel series for DFW authors. In her career as an author, Alex has conducted a wide array of presentations for the likes of Macmillan Publishers, Abydos Learning Conference, TLA Annual Conference, Texas Teen Book Festival, and universities like Southern Methodist University, University of Houston, University of Louisiana at Monroe, LaGaurdia CC, etc.
When she's not working on her next novel, Alex is a full-time freelance travel, arts, culture, and design writer and teaches the occasional seminar on creative writing.
Alex is Texas-based woman who loves literary fiction with a multicultural or diversity aspect and prefers to write about family dynamics, race, ethnicity, and identity, especially in the style of magical realism.
You can find more information about her work at AlexTemblador.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
January 4, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of this story and I really enjoyed listening to it. This book is about a 16 year old girl who's mother drops her off at her grandmothers house who she has never met. To make matters worse her grandma only speaks Spanish and Martha doesnt speak any spanish. Martha does a lot of learning of where she comes from and starts to build a relationship with her grandma. The only con I have about this story is that I felt like it ended kind of abruptly and I felt like it could have been longer. There where a lot of unanswered questions. 3 1/2 ⭐⭐⭐ from me.
December 15, 2018
The relationship dynamics in this felt very real, and I loved the exploration of the curandera's work and the culture surrounding it, but the prose read more like a first draft, a rough gist of intent instead of carefully considered and thoughtfully polished paragraphs, and the book ended so abruptly that I couldn't help wondering if the printer had accidentally failed to include the last 50 pages. Maybe there's supposed to be a sequel to resolve all the hanging plot threads?
December 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this story of a teenage girl trying to understand her family and her past. It was a great description of the importance of family and the importance for a teen to belong. I look forward to reading more about Martha in the future!
May 28, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this, although it's not the sort of thing I'd normally have picked up. Very easy reading, but also emotional in places.
February 28, 2020
Don't judge a book by its cover! I might have ignored this were I not on a mission of penance, for having accidentally bought 'American Dirt'. I really good engaging read from a promising writer. It's a little 'Carrie', but in a good way.
July 19, 2019
Quick and great read! Cannot wait to write my review.
dnf
June 12, 2019I got to about sixty pages, but just couldn’t get interested in this story.
Read
November 21, 2018Reviewed for Voya Magazine.
January 26, 2019
Things I liked about this book:
1. The Mexican culture
2. .....
Ok, I guess that's all I liked about this book. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but the ending, especially, was a real train wreak. Throughout the entire book, though, the author tended to tell instead of show actions and emotions, so I had difficulty connecting to the characters. None of the characters were very fleshed out, including the narrator. Even things the author told about could have stood more description- the healing was barely touched on for the huge plot point it was supposed to be. I was quite confused about whether or not this book was supposed to be sci-fi or not. Time lapses were WAY over used- honestly the book just felt like someone telling a long story about "this one time this thing happened, and then like a month later this other thing happened, blah blah blah".
I honestly wouldn't recommend this book, even though it has gotten many good reviews. I appreciate the cultural aspect of this book, but the writing seemed poorly edited and/or amateurish.
1. The Mexican culture
2. .....
Ok, I guess that's all I liked about this book. Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but the ending, especially, was a real train wreak. Throughout the entire book, though, the author tended to tell instead of show actions and emotions, so I had difficulty connecting to the characters. None of the characters were very fleshed out, including the narrator. Even things the author told about could have stood more description- the healing was barely touched on for the huge plot point it was supposed to be. I was quite confused about whether or not this book was supposed to be sci-fi or not. Time lapses were WAY over used- honestly the book just felt like someone telling a long story about "this one time this thing happened, and then like a month later this other thing happened, blah blah blah".
I honestly wouldn't recommend this book, even though it has gotten many good reviews. I appreciate the cultural aspect of this book, but the writing seemed poorly edited and/or amateurish.
September 17, 2019
I loved this but the ending was so abrupt, I almost wish they would have added another chapter. I’m latina and loved being able to relate to most of the writing. There were some errors in Spanish spelling. Very fun read.
March 28, 2019
Secrets of the Casa Rosada is a riveting, mysterious story of a teen who is dragged kicking and screaming into a Hispanic heritage she knew nothing about.
Martha and her single mother have had a hard life picking up an moving often, so when her mother tells her they are going to visit her grandmother, she assumes they have been evicted again. But a grandmother? Sixteen-year-old Martha knows nothing about her mother’s family. And she's never lived anywhere in the South. She is totally overwhelmed when they arrive in Laredo, Texas. For one thing, it is unbelievably hot all the time. But worse than that, her grandmother doesn’t speak English, and Martha doesn’t know any Spanish. She is stunned when her mother starts communicating in fluent Spanish. This is not the mother that she has known. And while she is totally confused by her surroundings, Martha’s mother suddenly says goodbye and leaves her with her grandmother.
Things move very quickly and while Martha is still disoriented, and hating her grandmother, she is enrolled in school, attending church, and learning about her extensive extended family. The more she learns, the more she realizes that there are many secrets that her new family is keeping from her. She is also learning that her grandmother is a highly respected curandera--a healer. Her grandmother drags her around to her appointments, and Martha is confused about what exactly her grandmother does. Is it magic?
Complicating her life is the fact that she has a mortal enemy at school, and she has no idea why she is hated. This girl thinks Martha's grandmother is training Martha to be a curandera. And this girl, for some reason, thinks she should be the one being trained. Another mystery...
All Martha cares about is finding out about her mother -- why she left and what secrets Laredo holds. Coming from my white perspective, the Hispanic experience seems authentic, but how would I know? Martha’s quest to find out her mother’s secrets is what keeps the anticipation building. Martha is sympathetic and easy to root for. The ending is quite dramatic--even life-threatening--and includes a spiritual/supernatural element. I would recommend this one to teens who enjoy family mysteries that will keep you guessing. It is a quick and captivating story.
Martha and her single mother have had a hard life picking up an moving often, so when her mother tells her they are going to visit her grandmother, she assumes they have been evicted again. But a grandmother? Sixteen-year-old Martha knows nothing about her mother’s family. And she's never lived anywhere in the South. She is totally overwhelmed when they arrive in Laredo, Texas. For one thing, it is unbelievably hot all the time. But worse than that, her grandmother doesn’t speak English, and Martha doesn’t know any Spanish. She is stunned when her mother starts communicating in fluent Spanish. This is not the mother that she has known. And while she is totally confused by her surroundings, Martha’s mother suddenly says goodbye and leaves her with her grandmother.
Things move very quickly and while Martha is still disoriented, and hating her grandmother, she is enrolled in school, attending church, and learning about her extensive extended family. The more she learns, the more she realizes that there are many secrets that her new family is keeping from her. She is also learning that her grandmother is a highly respected curandera--a healer. Her grandmother drags her around to her appointments, and Martha is confused about what exactly her grandmother does. Is it magic?
Complicating her life is the fact that she has a mortal enemy at school, and she has no idea why she is hated. This girl thinks Martha's grandmother is training Martha to be a curandera. And this girl, for some reason, thinks she should be the one being trained. Another mystery...
All Martha cares about is finding out about her mother -- why she left and what secrets Laredo holds. Coming from my white perspective, the Hispanic experience seems authentic, but how would I know? Martha’s quest to find out her mother’s secrets is what keeps the anticipation building. Martha is sympathetic and easy to root for. The ending is quite dramatic--even life-threatening--and includes a spiritual/supernatural element. I would recommend this one to teens who enjoy family mysteries that will keep you guessing. It is a quick and captivating story.
February 20, 2019
"Sixteen-year-old Martha and her mother move constantly, never staying anywhere for long. So she knows better than to ask if they’ve been evicted again when her mom says they’re going on a “vacation” to meet the grandmother Martha didn’t know existed."
The story is set in Laredo, Texas an area well described by the writer. The grandmother is a curandera who sometimes clashes with Martha but who loves her grandchild. The characters of Martha, the grandmother, and the great aunt read authentic, and the use of Spanish (easily translatable via context) fit the scenes.
What I enjoyed the best was the curanderismo, family dynamics, and culture. These areas may be more understandable to me because I know about curanderismo and I'm Chicana. If these are areas of interest, this is a book you'd want to read. School dynamics, border life, and mother-daughter relationships are also issues the author describes.
The main drawback was the closing scenes. As a reader, I'd like to see a resolution (even if it's one I don't like) however the ending was abrupt. Perhaps there is a sequel planned as Martha is a young curandera and there is a rich treasure trove of adventures that await her in the future.
The story is set in Laredo, Texas an area well described by the writer. The grandmother is a curandera who sometimes clashes with Martha but who loves her grandchild. The characters of Martha, the grandmother, and the great aunt read authentic, and the use of Spanish (easily translatable via context) fit the scenes.
What I enjoyed the best was the curanderismo, family dynamics, and culture. These areas may be more understandable to me because I know about curanderismo and I'm Chicana. If these are areas of interest, this is a book you'd want to read. School dynamics, border life, and mother-daughter relationships are also issues the author describes.
The main drawback was the closing scenes. As a reader, I'd like to see a resolution (even if it's one I don't like) however the ending was abrupt. Perhaps there is a sequel planned as Martha is a young curandera and there is a rich treasure trove of adventures that await her in the future.
July 20, 2019
Themes: abandonment, family secrets, bullying, and dual cultural alignment.
Secrets of the Casa Rosada is about 16-year-old Martha who is abandoned by her mother. She is left in Texas with a grandmother she didn’t even know she had. In fact, throughout her entire life she thought she and her mother were a duo. Suddenly, she is dumped in a border town and comes face to face with an extended family that includes cousins, aunts, uncles; a new school and student social circles to navigate; a family profession she would rather avoid than embrace; and most disturbing, a family secret. And thus began one of the most engrossing novels I’ve read in a while.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that kept me so engaged that I skipped sleep to continue reading. Yes, this was that kind of book. Characters to care about, a suspenseful plot, an interesting setting, and excellent writing combine to make this one fantastic read.
The story is a great presentation of a young girl’s angst in discovering her lost past, coming to terms with her hand-me-down talents, and learning how to love self and others in spite of her less-than-idea upbringing.
This is one you must read. I loved it and can’t wait to read more by this outstanding storyteller.
Secrets of the Casa Rosada is about 16-year-old Martha who is abandoned by her mother. She is left in Texas with a grandmother she didn’t even know she had. In fact, throughout her entire life she thought she and her mother were a duo. Suddenly, she is dumped in a border town and comes face to face with an extended family that includes cousins, aunts, uncles; a new school and student social circles to navigate; a family profession she would rather avoid than embrace; and most disturbing, a family secret. And thus began one of the most engrossing novels I’ve read in a while.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that kept me so engaged that I skipped sleep to continue reading. Yes, this was that kind of book. Characters to care about, a suspenseful plot, an interesting setting, and excellent writing combine to make this one fantastic read.
The story is a great presentation of a young girl’s angst in discovering her lost past, coming to terms with her hand-me-down talents, and learning how to love self and others in spite of her less-than-idea upbringing.
This is one you must read. I loved it and can’t wait to read more by this outstanding storyteller.
September 21, 2020
In a literary world where LatinX voices are becoming more prominent, I really loved how this one dealt a little bit with the sort of mysticism of the culture, curanderismo in this instance. I also loved how Temblador threw in little nuggets of sort of magical realism in the story too, though not too much to overburden young readers. I can really see my young Latinx students gravitating towards this, particularly since Laredo isn't a far away land. Character was relatable in so many ways, and the storytelling was light and easy to follow. Maybe some unfinished details leaving the door open for a sequel, but also wrapped up succinctly enough to call it a decent end to a good read.
March 11, 2019
"Secrets of the Casa Rosada" by Alex Temblador
Wow! I just finished reading this novel. My favorite book of the year by far. Very well written kept me on my toes wanting to read word for word. No skimming over sections of the book. I laughed, felt angry, and as intrigued as the main character in the book Martha. Abandonment, poverty, survival, and love. Be ready to meet Martha. I miss her already. You will remember her and her story long after you finish the book. Definitely worth every penny. This is a must-read. 5 Stars
Wow! I just finished reading this novel. My favorite book of the year by far. Very well written kept me on my toes wanting to read word for word. No skimming over sections of the book. I laughed, felt angry, and as intrigued as the main character in the book Martha. Abandonment, poverty, survival, and love. Be ready to meet Martha. I miss her already. You will remember her and her story long after you finish the book. Definitely worth every penny. This is a must-read. 5 Stars
February 20, 2020
You will become so invested in Secrets of the Casa Rosada that when you finish reading the words on the last page it leaves you desperately wanting more. The author, Alex Temblador, engages readers through moments with so much imagery that you can’t help but to picture yourself as another character in the book. The obstacles and heartaches endured by Martha will weigh on you. Nevertheless, if you read between the lines there is an inspiring story of a brave teenage girl determined to find her place in the world but first, she must figure out the secrets of the family she never knew she had.
I truly hope you enjoy this story as much I did!
I truly hope you enjoy this story as much I did!
January 24, 2019
"I think it's pretty good" I told a member of my book club last night. "The writing is a little awkward, but whatever."
May 17, 2019
I enjoyed a lot of things about this book but I wasn’t as impressed as I hoped. The story is interesting and covers a topic that’s very rarely represented- curanderismo in Mexican and Mexican American culture and the accompanying traditions. There were some twists in the plot but the passage of time was hazy and the resolution wasn’t as satisfying as I wanted it to be. Still, well worth the read.
March 17, 2020
A wonderful book set in 90s Laredo. Martha and her grandmother are two characters you won’t soon forget. Alex Temblador does a wonderful job of weaving together aspects of Mexican America culture: cultural identity when you don’t speak the language or have been isolated from family, and the spiritual legacies of our elders. You’ll want to read more from Alex Temblador and so we wait for her next book!
December 26, 2021
Imagine being left in a town you don't know with a family you never knew existed and where you don't speak the language. Sixteen-year old Martha faces this situation and continues to seek answers to how and why this came about as she gradually adapts - first by learning Spanish and then by learning her grandmother's skills.
December 1, 2022
I enjoyed this story for its found family. It’s one of my favorite tropes in books. And this is one of those rare YA novels that do not have an obligatory love interest.
Though I will say I wasn’t too keen on the ending. The reasons for Abuela keeping the big family secret were never explored, but then again, there are some families who are just never open about anything.
Though I will say I wasn’t too keen on the ending. The reasons for Abuela keeping the big family secret were never explored, but then again, there are some families who are just never open about anything.
May 18, 2023
Alex Temblador did an amazing job detailing everything in the story of sixteen year old Martha who was left to live with her grandma in Laredo whom she didn't know, as well as other family. She learned her grandma was a healer also known as a curandera and wanted to learn all about it, and her Mexican culture. She unravels lots of secrets, learns to love herself, and accept love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2020
Meh. I enjoyed it while I read it, but by the end, nothing much had happened. In a way, a lot happened, but also nothing happened. Hard to explain what I mean without spoilers, but this one left me disappointed.
March 2, 2021
Amazing story. The author wrote a story set in an authentic Latino neighborhood. She mixed so much culture and superstition and magic realism. I could not set this book down. Hours into my read my husband commented he was surprised to find I had not moved. Neither will you.
January 31, 2019
I would have enjoyed reading a well-written book about this topic.
May 24, 2019
I actually liked this book and l learned a lot. I wish the ending was longer. I felt like the mother leaving wasn't really resolved.
August 18, 2019
A delight. The author made a culture I am not familiar with feel like home. The characters were more fully developed than the prose, but as a reader it was hardly a concern.
September 25, 2019
Great Read
I couldn't stop reading until I finished it! I encourage more to check it out. I'm Choctaw and we have our shaman medicine men and women as well.
I couldn't stop reading until I finished it! I encourage more to check it out. I'm Choctaw and we have our shaman medicine men and women as well.
May 25, 2020
Great book! I liked how the story came together. The ending was too abrupt.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews