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Published Sep 2016
320 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Information
A rich reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in Texas during the explosive years of Mexico's revolution.
Eighteen-year-old Joaquin del Toro's future looks bright. With his older brother in the priesthood, he s set to inherit his family s Texas ranch. He's in love with Dulcena and she's in love with him. But it's 1915, and trouble has been brewing along the US-Mexico border. On one side, the Mexican Revolution is taking hold; on the other, Texas Rangers fight Tejano insurgents, and ordinary citizens are caught in the middle.
As tensions grow, Joaquin is torn away from Dulcena, whose father's critical reporting on the Rangers in the local newspaper has driven a wedge between their families. Joaquin's own father insists that the Rangers are their friends, and refuses to take sides in the conflict. But when their family ranch becomes a target, Joaquin must decide how he will stand up for what s right.
Shame the Stars is a rich reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in Texas during the explosive years of Mexico s revolution. Filled with period detail, captivating romance, and political intrigue, it brings Shakespeare s classic to life in an entirely new way."
"Starred Review. Pura Belpré winner McCall delivers an ambitious, sardonically relevant historical novel - a must-read, complex twist on a political Shakespearean tragedy." - Kirkus
"Sophisticated readers will appreciate the intricate political and ethical questions raised, as well as their relevance to contemporary border issues." - Publishers Weekly
"A good purchase for historical fiction collections, especially where there are fans of Ashley Hope Pérez's Out of Darkness." - School Library Journal
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