Truth and Salsa

by Linda Lowery

A spirited young girl must travel far from home to finally find herself.

Mexico is a long way from Kalamazoo—and not just in terms of miles. Almost-thirteen-year-old Hayley Flynn is spending six months with her eccentric grandmother in the rural mountain town of San Miguel while her recently separated parents work things out. For Hayley, life in Mexico is surprisingly exciting—exotic birds, beautiful butterflies, holidays, colorful fiestas, and new friends like Lili.

But there are also difficult lessons to be learned. Poverty and unemployment send Lili's father and other men from the village to work in Michigan, sending money back home to their anxious families. Meanwhile, Hayley is on the lookout for la fantasma (the ghost) that is said to haunt her grandma's house.

Linda Lowery creates an affectionate portrait of a small town in Mexico and its people in this warm, humorous story of self-discovery. With a captivating plot and relatable protagonist, readers will be engaged on every page.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2006

Reviews

[Elise]

I read this book as a very young child at a now defunct NALIS library and I’ve been trying to find it. I think this is actually it, will re-read! Subconsciously created my love for travel, self-exploration and Frida Kahlo. Consistently mixed it up with “Are You there God, It’s Me Margaret” by Judy Bloom.

[Lupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had so many cultural and societal lessons while not overwhelming the reader. I liked the sprinkle of Spanish, too.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

Hayley (or Margarita, as she'll be calling herself now) is a twelve-year-old girl from Michigan, and she's (rightfully) afraid she'll stick out in Mexico. See, Haley's mother has been having some problems and her dad left, so she's being sent to live with her rather eccentric grandmother in San Miguel, Mexico, for six months. Sure, she's excited, but also more than a little nervous. Her Spanish could use some work, she's pale and freckly, and she has no idea what people wear in Mexico! Not to mention, she'll miss her mom and her friends.

Mexico turns out to be fun, though. She meets a new friend, Lili, lives in a house that may or may not be haunted, celebrates with the whole town on holidays (which are way more often than they are in the United States), and gets to be a movie extra! It's not all fun and games, though. Living in the real Mexico (meaning: not a resort in Cancun) means seeing the real Mexican problems, too: Lili's dad and some of the other men from the village work in the United States to send money home, but they run into trouble when their employer cheats them out of their pay.

TRUTH AND SALSA is an absorbing, original coming-of-age story taking place against the beautiful backdrop of Mexico. The colorful cast of characters populating this novel will quickly endear themselves to readers. TRUTH AND SALSA is a quick, well put-together, and engaging read. Those who pick it up will love Hayley and her adventures, and be introduced to a little bit of Mexican culture in the process!

[84-The_enlightment_of_Doctor_Grace_part5_Jesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth and Salsa by Linda Lowery is about a girl named Hayley who has to move to Mexico with her grandmother because her mother has depression. She thinks that Hayley is to American, so she goes by Margarita. She can speak Spanish, but solo un poco {only a little}. Hayley has many adventures. She and her new friend, Lili, get to be in a movie! Then she get's to go to a art school. She loves to paint, and she paints her corazon {heart}. She also believes that a la fantasma {ghost} is in her grandmother's house. Then Lili's father, who works in the U.S. legally, is not getting paid. Her family needs money and they don't know what to do.
This book shows some of the hardships people who lose their fathers, or their parents get divorced. It is very sad and it is really good if you want to learn about some of the things that happen in South America. Since I've been taking Spanish, every time I came across a Espanol {Spanish} word, I'd get all happy and go, "tesoro, that means treasure!"
"Que pasa, what's happening!" I liked it!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delves into a well adjusted 13 year old. She is mature enough to deal with her dad leaving and her mom's depression. She goes to live with her retired grandmother in Guanajuato, Mexico. She meets lots of friends and neighbors and fits in quite wonderfully.

There are lots of adventures, like being a movie extra, making the newspaper in the US. realize how some employers try to rip off migrant-green card workers and a mystery/ghost story.

The writer nicely introduces vocabulary. I thought a very funny part was when she was finally brave enough to ask directions. The lady answers back in Spanish so rapidly, she can't understand. I've been there before.

It was a very heartwarming story.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen year old Hayley goes to Mexico to live with her grandmother temporarily after the breakup of her parent's marriage. She finds that Mexico is very different from what she expected and she is very happy living with her grandmother. She has all sorts of adventures and makes friends with Lili. But as nice as life is in Mexico there are also problems such as Lili's father having to go to the United States to work as a farm laborer. The author really makes life in this Mexican town come alive and I felt that I learned a lot about Mexican culture.

[Malak Heiba · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that the genre of this book is realistic fiction. A thirteen year old girl named Hayley, is spending 6 months with her grandma in Mexico. She lives in Kalamazoo with her mother. She left with her grandma because she thinks that her mom needs to work things out because she's stressed about her father. When she went to Mexico with her grandma she wanted to change her name to Margarita. She made friends like, Lili her neighbor. Meanwhile, she was in a outlook for a ghost that used to live in her grandmother's house. Also Lili helps her solve the mystery of this ghost

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it explained how a girl can live a life in two places, for example in Michagan and in Mexico. This girl has to go live with her grandmother in Mexico because her dad left her mother and her mother needs to go to a counselor. Along the way in her life in Mexico she meets a friend and goes on many "journies", so for example she finds out that her grandmothers house is supposedly haunted. This book was a very enjoyable book to read. I fell in love with it!!:D

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was so much going on in this book! A ghost story, a visit to Grandma in Mexico with lots of Mexican culture thrown in, a mom going into therapy (hence the visit to Grandma), parent's divorcing, migrant farmworkers/illegal immigrants, and being cast as a movie extra! Hayley has a lot to deal with, but the story is fun and gives a taste of Mexico, even if it goes off in a hundred directions. Many possible MCBA activities!

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. So much happens and it's all so exciting. At first look I thought this book would be a little young for me but it's great. Also I love the setting, the characters, and generally everything. The philosophical parts are also a great add! ( You know I always love philosophy type stuff.)

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hayley gets to visit her Grandma who now lives in Mexico for the summer-which gets her away from the turmoil of her parents divorce & her mother's depression. Hayley enjoys the people and culture of Mexico and become's aware of the poverty they live thru and the unfair labor practices effecting the males who work as migrant workers in the US-Kalamazo, MI

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought this book was interesting because its about a girl that goes to mexico and learns the real meaning of friend ship.she also hase to live in a house,with her grandmother,that everyone saya its haunted so that was cool.

[Kim]

Georgia Book Award

[J.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an entertaining book. I liked it talking about immigrants and coyotes. This book is also about how living in a different country can be hard.

[chad rhym · Rating 5 out of 5]

read for hellen ruffin very good book.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and I loved all the Spanish language. But you don't need to know Spanish to enjoy it as it is woven into the story so well.