Lupita Mañana

Author: Patricia Beatty

Following family tragedy in Mexico, Lupita and her brother, Salvador, illegally smuggle themselves into the United States in order to find work to support their mother and siblings. Lupita soon discovers that America is not necessarily the land of hope and opportunity that she had expected it to be. Together, brother and sister face hard labor, the challenge of learning a new language, and the looming presence of "La Migra"-the immigration police. Although each day is trying, this resilient young woman maintains the belief that tomorrow (or "mañana") will be a better day. While Lupita Mañana explores familiar immigration issues such as learning a new language and feeling like an outsider, it also does something different by addressing illegal immigration from the perspective of a young Mexican girl. This book could serve as a great prompt for classroom discussions and would make a good addition to any classroom library.

Lupita Manana (Harper Trophy Books)

Year Released: 1981

Grades 4-8