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Lupita Manana

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When 13-year-old Lupita's father dies in a commercial fishing accident in the seas near their small Mexican village, Lupita's mother makes a difficult decision. Lupita and her brother Salvador must cross over the border to the U.S. to earn enough money to support their mother and younger siblings. But crossing over the border is a difficult and dangerous business, which can end in capture, imprisonment, or death. Young Adult.

Paperback

First published March 21, 1981

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About the author

Patricia Beatty

63 books42 followers
Patricia Beatty (1922 - 1991) was an American author of award-winning children's and young adult historical fiction novels.

She was born in Portland, Oregon, and was a longtime resident of southern California. After graduating from college, she taught high school English and history, and later held various positions as a science and technical librarian, and also as a children's librarian. She taught Writing Fiction for Children at several branches of the University of California.

She wrote over 50 novels, and co-write 10 of them with her husband, John L. Beatty.

Beatty died in Riverside, California in 1991.

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5 stars
169 (22%)
4 stars
184 (24%)
3 stars
257 (34%)
2 stars
100 (13%)
1 star
45 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for Rachel.
1,322 reviews59 followers
January 26, 2016
A completely engaging novel about how two adolescents, Lupita and Salvador, must sneak into the United States looking for work after their father dies in a fishing accident and leaves the family destitute. Beyond being a "refugee" story, Lupita Manana encompasses the protagonist's coming of age as she grows from an idealist young child to a realist who lives with over-extended family, works for barely no pay, and ultimately loses her brother to hooligan behavior and deportation. A bittersweet story, to be sure, but we are left knowing that Lupita, at least, is a survivor.
Profile Image for Delia.
394 reviews10 followers
September 23, 2019
I first read this when I was about ten or so. My thoughts on the book back then are much different from my thoughts on the book today at age 35. I'll have to sleep on this one.

(several sleeps later)

When I first read this, I was blown away by it. A story told from the perspective of a young Mexican girl who had to illegally cross the border to help her family? Score! As a Mexican-American girl, I had never read anything like this at that point in my life. Even if it was bit dated when I first read it, I still found so many parallels between Lupita's story and those of people I know. I gushed about it to anyone and everyone. The fact that the author is actually Canadian didn't cross my mind once.

So 25 years later, I still have the book and I decided to pick it up again (it being Hispanic Heritage Month). I found it much more difficult to enjoy this time. It's not necessarily Lupita's story that I found unbelievable. Many tidbits of her story still ring true, even today. My problems were elsewhere. I thought the dialogue a bit...robotic, in a way? Aside from Lupita's optimism and young naivety, she seems very plain. Where's the slang? Her quirks? Anything? And even siblings most joke from time to time. The American born cousins had more personality than her, which I found disturbing. I have three older siblings, the oldest born in Mexico, the closest of which is nearly 8 years older than me and, growing up, we still managed to have some fun despite the differences in our ages and where we grew up. I really don't like to say this, but I think Patricia Beatty perhaps just didn't know enough about Mexican kids to properly give them the voice they deserve.

That brings me to my next point. The reason this book was so important to me was because it was actually written from a Mexican girl's perspective. Her story was more real to me than anything else I had read at the time. It didn't matter to me that the author wasn't own-voice. Back then, own-voice wasn't even an idea. Nowadays, finding an own-voice book isn't as difficult as it used to be. They're coming out and there's plenty of stories out there from the perspectives that I wish were available to me when I was younger.

So it's hard for me to rate this book. It's not the best book, but still pretty important. It wouldn't be my go-to, but it's still worth picking up. So I'm giving it a 3.5, rounded up to 4.
Profile Image for Lynn.
3,411 reviews69 followers
September 9, 2019
Story of an undocumented girl living in the US from Mexico. The book is very timely but dull and lacks an interesting narrative. The author’s afterword is more interesting than the novel. Would have been better as a non-fiction story.
1 review
Read
February 5, 2018
This book is a sad yet, thrilling tale that fallows two main characters, Salvador , and Lupita. the book shows the struggle of two kids trying to make there, and there families lives better. The goal throughout the story is cross the border, ( due to there fathers death) and make money to help there mother back in encenada. Of corse this causes them many troubles such as La Migra (immagration police) and having to work with no cards and or papers.

I love this book although I do have a few problems with it's way of showing there story the book tends to get very repetitive once they cross the border such as, once they find a job in colton they then have to move to there aunts due to La Migra and then it basically restarts a cycle already put in place.

All in all though, this book was very enjoyable had thrilling action and heart break eaither way you will not reading this wonderfull story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3 reviews
May 23, 2019
This novel was amazing. Lupita mañana is about a girl (Lupita) and her brother's journey across the border between the U.S and Mexico after their father passed away. When their father died they took the risk to cross the border to support their family with money. The reason why I loved this book was because I can relate to the journey they went through and to the struggles, like fitting in and the fear in their everyday life. To sum it up this is a really good book and I would really recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
16 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2009
Lupita Manana is a book about immigration. The setting takes place in Mexico and New York. The main characters are Lupita, Salvador. And the other characters are Caramela, Captin Ortega, Uncle Consuelo, Dorotea and Aunt Consuelo. This is a pretty good book because if you want to learn Spanish words, it tells you them in the book.

Captin Ortega sends his son named Paco to Senor Aguilars hotel to get Lupita's mama{Caramela}. Paco informs Caramela that her husband has died because of a bad weather. Caramela tells Lupita and Salvador that their father has died but she doesn't tell the younger siblings. Lupita and Salvador go to Captin Ortega's ship to get some coins that belonged to their Papa. Captin Ortega threw the coins at them and Lupita had to pick them up. Caramela tells Lupita and Salvador that they must go to New York to pay the money lender. They first time that they cross the border, they sneak, but they get caught by La Migra. Then Salvador find a friend who will cross them, but Salvador must give him his father's cross and a little money. They sneak on a car and train and made it to Conston. They find this job at a restaurant, but they only get paid $2.25 They went to their Aunt Consuelo's house, but her aunt had told them that they couldn't let them stay there and that they could not give them any money. But then she made up her mind. She let them stay there but Lupita and Salvador had to buy the groceries and pay half of the rent. Later they started working with his uncle in the fields. Salvador found this friend named Lucky. Lucky invited them to a ball. At the ball came La Migra, where they saw Salvador and took him back to Mexico. Luckily Lupita escaped and goes tell her Aunt Consuela and her uncle tells her that Salvador will make his way back.

This book is a very detailed story. I love details so I rated this book a 5 star.
Profile Image for Asher Escobar.
1 review
May 14, 2018
Lupita Manana, a book written by a white woman named Patricia Beatty. This book was published on March 21st 1981 . This book was not a highly rated or recommended book for middle schoolers. Sadly, the book did not win any awards. Although this book did have over 70 reviews and 150 ratings. One mother complained saying, “This was required reading for my son's 8th grade English class. Though it gave us an opportunity to talk about the current immigration situation, the book was so totally depressing. It's true her life is depressing, but I am sure there is a better picture of illegal immigrants out there. I appreciated that it was a true story but the writing was unimpressive and uninspiring.”

The setting of this book took us to multiple destinations in the world. Our main character is a girl named Lupita. The time were this book took place was somewhere between 1986 to 1990. The story begins in Mexico and ends all the way in the United States. Her older brother is Salvador, a sixteen year old boy. Salvador character is portrayed as the oldest brother of Lupita, he may look as a good guy at the beginning but towards the end, everything flips. Lupita is the second oldest child, she is our main character. Although she is optimistic, this does not stop her from thinking tomorrow will be better.

This story begins with Lupita discovering her father has been killed at sea. Now Salvador and her must travel all the way to the United States to help their mother make more money to save their home. Salvador and Lupita go on a dangerous path where they almost risked getting taken back. They reach to Tijuana but we're close to being deported. Both of them arrive to their destination. Once their they struggle because they were sent to come to a rich aunt. Yet what they found was a disappointment. Once their they had to help their aunt and drunken uncle get more money to pay for where they will be sleeping. Toward the end Lupita is troubled by her brother and his new friend “Lucky”. Salvador got deported but Lupita escaped.

My opinion on this book is bad. The book is good in story, but out of character shape. I don't recommend this book by all means, because this book is an offensive way of saying us latinos are a bad example to young children. This puts us on a bad position. When they say “wetbacks” or “ponchos” it makes it seem as if we truly are dirty and filthy. Another example is when Lupita and Irela were at a clothing store and the clerk said she couldn't try on the clothing because she looked “dirty”. This is like calling us animals in a way.

The author is trying to “demonstrate the complexity and consequences of present day immigration.” Although it is a clear statement that she does not support immigration. She states that, “Our personal response and the response of our country to needs of these persons as whole determines whether or not we are able to reconcile our conflicting attitudes and live up to our Constitution and our society’s commitment to equality and justice for all.” Knowing that most immigrants suffer she tries to make it seem like if we take immigration lightly. What type of immigrant would want to be deported? Even though Donald J. Trump has lost his mind, this doesn't mean we have lost ours.

Here is a question that can seem like a riddle to those who have no hearts, “Should immigration into the United States be considered a right or a privilege?” It should be considered a privilege. Coming to a place where they say, “It is a free country.” What does that mean, free from what? From all the latinos and african americans they hate? So I say yes, Immigrants should be allowed here in the United States of America. If we allowed what we now call “white people” here first as immigrants 100 years back, then we should let our immigrants come to the United States of America . The United States of America is the land of opportunity. Not the land of segregation, we should be free. We should not stop people from dreaming forward. If the United States of America the land of opportunity, then why are we being separated from those whose ancestors were once immigrants. We weren't born here, we stole this country from the first Native Americans. We are somewhere we don't belong. Stolen land, from people who lived here thousands of years ago where taken away. So why when we come to a place we don't belong we get kicked out?

Overall, my opinion of this book is horrible. I understand that the author is doing this to explain how immigrants have to struggle everyday they try to come to a “better place”. Little do they know it would only affect them in even more dangerous levels. This book is a good book. So, this book can be a good book. Depending on how one takes it, but if I were to recommend this book to anybody, it would be to an immigrant. That immigrant can compare on how they struggled to get to the United States. They are the only ones who truly know how coming out as an immigrant can be difficult.

I am only an eighth grader and I read this book as a seventh grader. To this day I still do not like the book nor do I want any of my younger brothers reading this book as an assignment. I clearly do not like this book and I loved the author's hard work, but this seemed very offensive especially for me being a 13 year old honduran mixed guatemalan. I respect others opinions so please respect mines.
Profile Image for Eliza.
137 reviews25 followers
December 5, 2008
I liked the descriptive language that was included, but I was a little disappointed in the Lupita character. She was a bit of a drag, and her optimism was a little forced. It got on my nerves for some reason. I have yet to recommend it to anyone :oS Is that bad?
12 reviews
December 24, 2008
This book sucks. It is very very very very boring. Lupita and her brother Salvador must cross the border to the US. Lupita is supposedly incredibly optimistic. Really thought, she's and her brother Salvador are both just bipolar.

Lots of Love,
Michelle D.
Profile Image for 07TyraN.
12 reviews
August 25, 2011
I personally didnt like it at all it had to much drama in the book for me.I didnt like the story line at all it was a little confusing for me to understand what was going on.
Profile Image for Tamara Evans.
1,038 reviews47 followers
November 21, 2019
This is a heartbreaking story about a two teenagers forced leave their home in Tijuana, Mexico after the death of their father to support their mother and siblings in the United States.

The book begins with thirteen year old Lupita Torres going to visit her mother at her job as a maid. The Torres family consists of seven members: parents Carmela and father Hernando, fifteen year old Salvador, thirteen year old Lupita, two sisters, a five year old brother and one year old Hernando. Fairly early in the novel, the Torres family is thrown into chaos when Hernando Sr. is killed in a fishing accident. After the death of their father, Carmela decides that the two oldest children must go to the United States to stay with her well off sister Consuelo in California, work and make money to send back and support their remaining family members.

Unbeknownst to Lupita and Salvador, getting from Tijuana to the United States is a treacherous journey that can end with capture, imprisonment or death. As they make their way from Mexico to the United States, lies have to be told to protect themselves from danger.

When they finally arrive in the United States, they are constantly plagued by the fear of being discovered and deported by the Mexican police or the American police. As a way to not worry her mother, Lupita sends letters and money presented a happy rosy future versus her stark reality of work long days in the vegetable fields.

This is a timely book in that it show the reader different motivations for immigrants coming to the United States. It also provides insight into the mind of undocumented immigrants and their constant fear of being removed from a life they’ve worked hard to create.
Profile Image for Asucena Fuentes.
17 reviews
April 9, 2020
We were required to read this in 6th grade and from what I remember not a lot of people liked it. I of course like it and reading it today reminded me why. This was my first fiction book about the challenges immigrants face trying to get a better life.

I really connected with the characters because both my parents were challenged in unimaginable ways to not only get a better lives for us but our family back in Mexico as well. I thought the book paid tribute to some of those challenges. What I did not like was the two main characters relationship towards the end. Lupita and Salvador went through so much in the beginning only for their relationship to get strained because of money. I thought it didn't make sense because going through what they did together people tend to feel closer and appreciate each other more, but I realize that maybe it's meant to signify that money changes people. It was a good read that I was able to finish quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
4 reviews
Read
February 6, 2018
Lupita Mannana is a nice book to read on your free time. It has a nice story and its not too long. The book is about a Mexican family that just lost their dad while he was fishing. The mom needs the two kids Lupita and Salvador to go to America to get money for the family. This book is interesting and has a nice adventure story to it. I will say it is not my favorite but it is a good book. The book does get straight to the point and hooks the reader. i do recommend this book to to readers who like an adventure and is not too long. This book has a great story, not too long, and has a few Spanish phrases. This book contains great adventure that is very realistic. I truly recommend this book to everyone who wants a nice quick story.
Profile Image for Stefan.
145 reviews2 followers
September 3, 2018
An interesting book. Lupita and her brother, Salvador, decide to cross the border to America after their father died. Their mother does not make enough money to support them and their younger siblings, so they head north to California, to find the rich aunt that they can live with.

I found the book interesting and informative. The beginning caught my interest, but the middle as they were running away started to lose some of its tension, but after they reached their aunt, the plot began to have both internal and external conflicts.
Profile Image for Ariel.
18 reviews
November 10, 2020
I could definitely see that this was a product of its time, a book of the 80s. However, I’m sure this was groundbreaking as a true insight into the lives of undocumented immigrants. My heart ached for Lupita and it still does. Knowing that people close to me have a similar story heightens my interest in this story. I appreciate the author’s obvious research she put into the story, and I hope she truly did the experience justice. I have always loved realistic fiction, and historic fiction as this has now become, and this book just solidifies my love for the genre.
Profile Image for Alexis Hassabelnabi Yousif.
43 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2023
I must have read this book 2 decades ago or so… incredible how it has stuck with me all these years. The cover of the copy I read was different from the one shown here on Good Reads. I’m surprised to see some found it boring as it was so jarring to me at such a young age. Perhaps it depends on your own background going into the read? Highly recommend to all young Latino readers out there and anyone looking for an authentic Latino perspective outside of their own narrative and the ones they come into contact with day to day.
1 review
August 22, 2019
It was good and nice to read a book that looked into the actual people that battle fear of deportation along with exploring the reasons why they seek refuge and hope in the USA. It also gave beautiful glimpses into the Mexican culture along with the battles to lose some of that to be acclimated with American culture for survival purposes. It is written from 1981 so the afterword also gives insight to the immigration laws of that day.
1 review
April 8, 2020
Salvador and Lupita Torres a brother and sister from mexico.The two brother and sister hid in a fruit crate to evade immigration to get to America.When they went to America they got separated.While separated they started making new friends.Salvador gave up on Lupita. Eventually Salvador was deported back to Mexico and Lupita stayed and fought for Mexicans rights.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
April 12, 2022
I HATE THIS BOOK IT CAUSED ME NIGHTMARES ABOUT READING THIS BOOK AGAIN. I AND THE 87 OTHER STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO READ AND WRITE ABOUT THIS BOOK AND AFTER THAT WHOLE SEMESTER WE ALl CAME BACK WITH SEVERE PROBLEMS. I FEEL LIKE THIS BOOK HAS CHANGED MANY PEOPLES LIVES IN A BAD WAY. I AM NOW AFRAID TO GO IN CARS THAT ARE NOT MINE OR TRAVEL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Profile Image for Joyce.
141 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2019
Contrary to some of the reviews, I find this book and story authentic. The story is probably a lot milder and less cruel than reality. I enjoy learning some Spanish terms. It is wonderful to look at things from another perspective.
1 review
August 25, 2019
Me gusta este libro
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shereen.
137 reviews
November 1, 2019
More like 3.5 stars, and I like the main character and the subject is important, especially in this climate, so I rounded up.
121 reviews
February 20, 2021
Okay story. Does give you a sense of illegal immigrant struggles, but I felt much of the story unfinished.
Profile Image for OroroMuntoe.
3 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2022
All i remember about this book is that they passed by riverside ayyyeeee SOY LA 69.
Profile Image for Mariah.
68 reviews
May 18, 2022
This novel is fun and adventurous. I have not read it in a while, so I hope to read it again.
Profile Image for Deb.
282 reviews1 follower
March 14, 2017
This book is .... not good. It was written by a (presumably) well meaning white woman in 1981. I read it because I'm going to use it for lit circles at the middle school where I now teach 7th grade language arts. I chose it in part because it was just what we had available at school. I wanted stories with female MC's, POC, and with stories my students, many of whom are immigrants and children of immigrants, might relate to. Many voted to read this story, and I do think it will overall be a good story for them. I'll certainly supplement it with current articles. But in the future, if budgets allow, I'll find books by Mexican and Mexican American writers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews