Antonio lives in two worlds, the university world that he loves and his father's world that he desperately wants to leave. He has a past he wishes to forget and he wants to create a future that liberates him from that past. He has also met Marie, the love of his life. She comes from privilege, wealth, and influence. Together, Antonio and Marie share a passion for learning and each other. Together, they make a discovery that is astonishing, unexpected, and dangerous. Together, they face a host of threats, opportunities, and riddles.
This book grabs you from the first page. Antonio Lopez lives in East L.A., with his father, Jose, and his Uncle Ernesto. The gang is active in this neighborhood but Antonio wanted a better life. He is now a student at UCLA and loves literature. He loves Shakespeare and one of his professors sees in Antonio a light that he wants to nurture. Antonio and his girlfriend, Maria Vogt, daughter of one of the wealthiest lawyers in town, are caught up in a mystery as to whether Shakespeare actually wrote Hamlet. The book reads like a true story and it could really happen. You care about what happens to Antonio and to Marie. Her father hates the fact that Marie is dating Antonio, the boy from the barrio, but she defies him and continues to see Antonio. They are students together and when the professor is killed by a hit and run, he bequeathed his entire collection to Antonio. Thus begins the hunt that almost gets them killed. This is a great book with likable characters, and a plot that you can follow.l
A book that gives a little insight about academia and the works of Shakespear and about some of the prejudice the rich have about a different culture from what they embrace. Lots of tension between races but I liked the way the book ended. Will most likely read books by this author again.