Shame the Stars

By Guadalupe Garcia McCall

•             Hardcover: 288 pages
•             Publisher: Tu Books (September 15, 2016)
•             Language: English
•             ISBN-10: 1620142783
•             ISBN-13: 978-1620142783

Eighteen-year-old Joaquín 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 Dulceña—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, Joaquín is torn away from Dulceña, whose father’s critical reporting on the Rangers in the local newspaper has driven a wedge between their families. Joaquín’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, Joaquín 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.

Guadalupe Garcia McCall was born in Mexico and moved to Texas as a young girl, keeping close ties with family on both sides of the border. Trained in Theater Arts and English, she now teaches English/Language Arts at a junior high school. Her poems for adults have appeared in more than twenty literary journals. McCall is an up-and-coming talent whose debut YA novel, Under the Mesquite, won the Pura Belpré Award and was named a Morris Award finalist. McCall lives with her husband and their three sons in the San Antonio, Texas, area. You can find her on the Web at guadalupegarciamccall.com.

 LibroFEST

Houston Public Library 

Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15, 2016

Saturday, October 1, 2016 | 1PM - 5PM

Central Library Plaza | 500 McKinney St., 77002

Join us for the 5th Annual Houston LibroFEST, a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month that spotlights books, art, history and culture through library presentations, activities, performances and more. Local literary organizations, community groups, writers, artists and notable speakers take part in the festivities. This free event is for all to enjoy! 

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12:45 PM  |  KICK OFF: HPL Welcome + Performance by High School for the Performing and Visual Arts group, Mariachi Los Pasajeros

1 PM  |  Two Trailblazing Latina Leaders: Former Texas State Representative, Diana Dávila Martínez, and former Houston City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Houston, Gracie Saenz, share their experiences as Latina civic leaders.

2 PM  |  Aliens, Mothers and Family Trees: Bilingual storytime with Salvadoran children’s author, René Colato Laínez!

2:45 PM  |  Music performed by Dan Oviedo & Friends

3 PM  |  Readings by local writers sponsored by Gulf Coast Literary Journal, Writespace, Public Poetry, and the University of Houston’s Center for Mexican American Studies

4 PM  |  American Dreams: Poet Javier O. Huerta and Wall Street executive-turned-author Julissa Arce speak about their immigrant experiences and remarkable accomplishments; moderated by Claudia Kolker.