Claudia Guadalupe Martinez's debut novel for tweens garnered lots of praise. Recommended by the Chicago Public Library as the Best of the Best in 2008, it's a bittersweet story about death, family, and the resilient emotional strength of the human heart. When Chela Gonzalez's father has a stroke, her grandmother comes to help. The house fills up with the smell of her old lady perfume, a smell that carries with it sorrow and loss. Claudia Guadalupe Martinez grew up in El Paso, Texas. She learned that letters form words from reading the subtitles of old westerns for her father.

 

This book is the winner of numerous awards. It was recognised in the Middle Grade category by the Latinidad's Best Middle Grade Book. It was recognised by the Paterson Award. It also was recognised in the YA category by the Texas Institute of Letters. It was recognised by the Pima County Public Library Southwest Books of the Year. Also it was recognised in the Best of the Best category by the Chicago Public Library Awards. It was recognised in the Top Forty - YA category by the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. It was recognised by the Americas Award. It was recognised by the One Chicago Program. It was recognised by the Alan's Picks. It was recognised by the Hispanic Magazine Summer Must Read.

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 256 pages in this book. This book was published 2011 by Cinco Puntos Press, U. S. .

Claudia Guadalupe Martinez grew up in El Paso, Texas. She learned that letters form words from reading the subtitles of old westerns for her father. She went on to graduate from college and moved to Chicago to become one of the city's youngest non-profit executives.