Customer Reviews

Down to the Bone

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PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY
Laura Amores is a tortillera -slang for "lesbian" in Miami's Cuban-American social scene, and a term either of endearment or a slur, depending on who is using it. But once Laura's secret is out, a tortillera is all Laura seems to be-to her mother, the nuns at her Catholic school and even some friends. Laura is thrown out of school and even from her house: "I'm sorry, Laura, but I can't continue loving you if you stay gay," Mami says as she literally pushes her daughter out the door. Luckily, Laura meets "bois" who introduce her to Miami's Cuban gay scene, and her best friend shares her home and family, unconditionally. Laura remains reluctant to accept her gay identity, however, and her exploration of possible relationships-with a boi, a "delicious" young woman and a boy she dates in hope of restoring herself to her mother's good graces-form the main arc of this honest, intense and at times moving romance. Using Spanish colloquialisms and slang, this debut author pulls off the tricky task of dialect in a manner that feels authentic. As Dole tackles a tough and important topic, her protagonist will win over a range of teen audiences, gay and straight. Ages 14-up. (Mar.)--Publisher's Weekly

Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole gives us a look at the disenfranchisement of gay and lesbian teens, particularly in the Cuban community. Seventeen year-old Laura has fallen in love with Marlena. They have been involved in a committed relationship for two years, however, neither of their families know. That all changes when Laura is caught reading a love letter from Marlena by one of the nuns at her Catholic high school. Not only does the nun retrieve the letter, she reads it to the entire class. Immediately, Laura becomes an outcast in the eyes of her friends. When she goes home she discovers that her mother was notified and she is immediately cast from her home.

Laura goes to live with her friend, Soli and her mother, Viva, who are more open-minded and loving but she never stops yearning to go home. Laura is unable to tell anyone that she is a lesbian, so for most of the novel she lives a closeted lifestyle. The reader is allowed to feel Laura's pain as she loses the people in her life and also her joy as she matures. Down to the Bone was filled with the angst and drama young people endure when their lifestyle choices are different than their families expect. Ms. Dole does a fine job of allowing us a peek into the Cuban, gay and lesbian teen culture without ever being sexually titillating or graphic. The author also provides us a clear view of the pain these teens must go through to be themselves. I recommend Down to the Bone to teens older than sixteen and other readers who can learn from the subject matter.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

Mayra Lazara Dole's Down to the Bone will be talked of everywhere this year in the GLBT blogs, but should be purchased for all high school collections. (Yes, I know I'm an elementary school librarian this year, but this book was amazing and I couldn't resist reading it.)

Controversial? Sure. More explicit than most novels I see daily? Sure. But, an absolutely amazing book that kept me reading and avoiding all phone calls. This book can't be pigeon-holed. It is a debut novel written in response to the questions, "Where are all the lesbian books? Where's the racial diversity?"

Laura is a Cuban-American girl in Miami who is caught reading a love letter from a girl while at her Catholic school. As she is ejected from the school, her mother rejects her "deviance" and throws her from the family. Laura struggles to discover herself, her place in a family, and her sexual preferences while trying to deny and change herself. Her struggle and decisions are realistic.

Mayra Lazara Dole involves you so deeply with this character that I found myself cheering for Laura to accept her feelings and to stop trying to be what others expected. Teenage love angst, relationships with peers, dropping out of school, and trying to maintain family sibling relationships despite all obstacles. This book was an amazing debut. It is joyous, hilarious, fun and stretches you emotionally. The descriptions of Miami were lively and we were able to glimpse life in Cuba and Puerto Rico from the conversations of characters. A Refreshing and needed title.

Count how many times I said "Amazing". Get the picture. --Diane Chen. Practically Paradise - Blog on School Library Journal

As a retired high school teacher, I highly recommend Mayra Lazara Dole's "Down To The Bone" to anyone who wants to read a very entertaining book with a deep social message. The reader is immersed in Laura's life and in her struggle to assert herself as a lesbian, in spite of family and friends' pressures. I particularly liked Laura's unique and picturesque expressions, and I truly enjoyed meeting her unconventional friends. Young gays will particularly treasure this book: they will feel that they are not alone- that many others share their concerns and their fears. Down to the Bone should become a bestseller!

A colorful, vibrant, insightful, easy-to-read, interesting book that portrays real issues relating to teenagers, sexual orientation, and their taboos. This book addresses the strong, negative views that parents face with their homosexual children, especially in the Hispanic community.

I'd love Homo Hummus, Faggy Frijoles and Dripping Dyko Donuts, please. If this doesn't sound like a "different" dinning experience, I don't know what does! Mayra Lazara Dole's new first novel, Down to the Bone, will not only entice you with wild, lively characters, and a Miami setting so alive it will make you want to pack your bags and head here, but also with unique humor that will make you laugh out loud. There's a scene when the group of teen characters are talking about Soli attempting to burn her quinces photo album that will make you laugh your heart out! You can't help but be intrigued with Laura's uniqueness and her friends, all different in their own special way: Marlena, Laura's Puerto Rican sexy, religious lost love. Tazer, the handsome B.O.I playwright (have you ever meet one?). Viva, the way cool New Age Mima. Chispita, the loving, loyal puppy you wish you had who wears a "size three bikini." Pedri, Laura's adorable little bro. Mami, the "wacked-out" homophobic mom. El Gringo and his dearly missed "sister." Diego, Soli's slick, DJ rapper boy-toy. Francisco, the Cubanito musician/hairstylist GUY of Laura's life? (Say what?) Gisela, the temptress and, the Crew. Will they support or judge Laura? This book will have you thinking, asking questions, laughing and crying all in one reading. It's a serious and joyous story that will touch many lives. And by the way, I think I'm going for Number 7, the Flaming Fembo Frijoles. How about you?

At 17, Laura Amores is a Cuban teenager in Miami who attends a Catholic high school. But when she is caught reading a letter from a friend and not paying attention to the class, the nun reads the letter aloud. Turns out, the missive is from Laura's girlfriend, and details an intimate relationship Laura has kept hidden from everyone.

Suddenly friends Laura has known her whole life turn on her. Her own mother is mortified at her immoral behavior and throws her out of the house, refusing to speak to or even see her until she decides to become straight. Even the girlfriend seems to buy into that mentality, returning to Puerto Rico when her brother discovers their relationship and choosing to settle down into a loveless marriage instead of fighting for her heart's desire.

The only people who stick by Laura is her childhood friend, Soli, and Soli's mother, Viva. They take her in when she has nowhere left to go, and they love her unconditionally. Soli, an over-the-top hairdresser with a zest for life, tries to convince Laura to embrace her sexuality. But the pain of being outed in front of her classmates, coupled with being shunned by her own family, has left Laura confused. If she weren't gay, none of this would have happened.

This story is a wonderful look at the confusion that many feel when they're on the path to discovering their own sexuality. Laura denies that she is gay -- her belief is that she was in love with a girl, but she can't say the words out loud, even to her new queer circle of friends, for fear of a rejection similar to that she suffered when she was first outed. So instead, she vacillates between a growing attraction to a beautiful girl she meets at a gay club and the desire to be accepted as "normal" and "straight." Throw in a growing friendship with a confident lesbian who self-identifies as a "boi," Soli's unrelenting pressure to own up to her own heart, and her mother's continuous cold shoulder, and the reader will find it hard to put this book down until the very end.

Laura's journey rings true. Many times I found myself frustrated with her, only because she couldn't readily embrace who she was, but I had to keep reminding myself she was only 17. The road to self-acceptance is a hard one, for anybody, and the author doesn't go easy on her character. Laura is torn apart emotionally, her life a roller coaster that anyone who remembers their own turbulent teenage years will identify with all too well. When she finally begins to figure things out for herself, the change is vividly written:

"Something comes over me. I feel as if I've finally taken off a tight iron mask that I've been wearing all my life."

"It's about finally letting go of the fear that didn't allow me to be who I truly am."

There is something for everyone in Laura's story, whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, genderqueer, or questioning. Through her tale, she grows into a stronger person, more sure of herself and her heart. In the final pages of this book is a lesson we can all embrace, an acceptance not only of ourselves but of others around us, as different as they may be. Laura learns to embrace her sexuality ~ and, through the process, learns who loves her unconditionally and, in return, is deserving of her love.

I'm a cuban born lesbian raised in Miami, and this book really resonated with me. It took me back to my coming out days and all those emotions I went through with my family. The story was moving, uplifting, funny, sweet, and a little bit sad at times. By the end it had me in tears of joy. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone because of the message it brings. It's about being true to yourself regardless of what people think. And it doens't matter where you are from or what your story is we can all relate to this message.
Books like these are what kept me going when I was a teenager.

I could not put this book down till the end. I had to know what would happen to these amazing characters. They really touched my heart & I cried & laughed along with them. So many challenges that young people face trying to grow up & be true to themselves. I loved learning about the Cuban culture & the diversity in this book was enlightening. I highly recommend it !!!!

I can say that this book was an enjoyable read. From the vibrant details encompassed in the environment that made me feel as though I was truly standing in the living room of a cuban home in the middle of Hialeah to the way the characters were so greatly detailed.