"A novel of family, country and revolution..."

It begins with the shooting of a young Latina by Texas police. The ensuing riot brings out the state's National Guard and after the soldiers gun down 23 people in San Antonio, the mayhem spreads throughout the country.

When the problems hit Los Angeles, Manolo Suarez becomes caught up in the trouble. At first the former U.S. Army Ranger tries to defuse the violence, but then, after the senseless killing of two neighborhood children, he falls in with a Latin activist group.

Quarantine Zones for members of the Hispanic community soon follow as a way of curbing the violence and as the security director of the La Defensa del Pueblo, Suarez is right in the center of the maelstrom. With his family sent to one of the centers, Manolo has to make some hard decisions as the country moves towards the brink of civil war.

The winner of the 2008 International Latino Book Award, this novel was originally self-published before being released by Grand Central. It focuses on some of the concerns raised by immigration policy and underscores the dangers of extremism on both sides of this explosive issue.

Reviewed by Bob Walch
Posted October 10, 2009