Denise Chávez Book order (chronological)

Rocío Esquibel is a girl growing up in a Southern New Mexico town with her mother and sister. She defines her neighborhood by its trees—the willow, the apricot and the one they call the marking-off tree. Rocio knows she was born in the closet where she and her sister now take turns looking at the picture of Jesus whose eyes light up in the dark. But at night she enters a magical realm, and in her imaginary Blue Room, she can fly. At first she is a mesmerized observer of the lives of older girls and their boyfriends, but as she finds a job at the local hospital, and discovers a passion for drama and stories, Rocio begins to make her own choices in love and work.Alive with the taste of tamales and the lyrical tang of the Esquibels’ talk, The Last of the Menu Girls becomes a rich celebration of Chicano culture, and a universal story of finding one’s way in the world.

Der Mann ihrer Träume, Filmstar Pedro Infante, starb vor langer Zeit und nun scheint auch Teresas Liebe zu dem verheirateten Lucio Valadez vergeblich. Als Tacos und Tequila, ja selbst eine Wunderheilerin nichts bewirken, vertieft sich Teresa in die Filme ihres Idols, um die männliche Seele zu ergründen. Das Glück liegt so nah! „Eine romantische Komödie voller Gefühl, Witz und Liebe zum Leben.“ THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Last in a long line of long-suffering women, once-divorced, once-widowed Soveida Dosamantes reflects on her 30 years as a waitress at the El Farol Mexican restaurant. Looking back, she hears a rich chorus of Latino voices whose touching, funny and sage advice shows her how to celebrate her true love and her true self.