This was a delightful light-hearted book I enjoyed so much, I promptly found some more books by the same author to add to my shelves. (We already own and love Nacar: The White Deer.)
After an exceptionally short courtship, Elizabeth Borton gave up her life in the States to marry a young man in Mexico. She moved to Monterrey in the 1930s and, with the generous help of her husband's large family, adopted the ways and life of her new homeland. She writes of her mishaps as a young bride in an unknown culture with wit, hope, and warmth. An insert in the middle shows many wonderful photographs of the author and her family.
Many of the anecdotes feature the Catholic faith, integral to the lives of the author's friends and neighbors, though perhaps experienced differently than in America today.
This is the Young People's Edition printed by Bethlehem Books. I have never seen a non-young person's edition and cannot speak on the differences between them. This edition is not diminished by adaptation and is just as enjoyable by adults as by young adults. I think the focus on a newly married young woman means the book is most appealing to teenagers or adults rather than younger readers. There are also references to courtship rituals, pregnancy, drinking, and smoking.
There is one episode early in the book (pp. 26-27) in which a young maid threatens to kill herself. The story is told as if young woman was merely being melodramatic with no intention to actually harm herself, but you might want to preview that scene before sharing with a young person who has lost a friend or family member to suicide.
This is one of the books recommended in the Mater Amabilis curriculum for high school geography when studying North America. I think it would be a wonderful choice for a free read, though it's difficult to know how much has changed in Monterrey since the 1930s. It's as a memoir of an earlier time, not necessarily an accurate depiction of life today.
I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased the book directly from the publisher during one of their frequent sales. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.
