Truth and Salsa

Book excerpt: 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.