"Quest novels announce their purpose in a straight-forward manner: Colorful, memorable characters prepare for and embark on a journey of immense significance" - from the San Diego Union-Tribue review, back cover blurb.
The novel is a bit too tranparent in its political correctness - the principal characters include a pretty 19-yr old female protagonist who is also a karate expert, the only gay man in town, and the fierce and slightly comical old Mexican Aunt who acts as a proto-feminist patron saint. The plotline is also a bit too self-aware and hip and ironic (for my taste at least) -- the quest is inspired by The Magnificent Seven, in turn inspired by Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, and Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner are frequent tongue-in-cheek references.
Nonetheless its heart is in the right place, and the narrative provides a welcome twist on the timeless tale of tragic migration to El Norte -- while the main characters are young and naive, and indeed suffer their share of misery, they are not doomed. They have a sense of humor and zest, and convincingly rely on pop culture and dreams of love for their resilience. All in all, enjoyable and interesting.
3.5*
(Sep 2010),
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