Lorraine López

In Buddhism, there is a place where hungry souls gather between lives awaiting rebirth so they can finally satisfy the desires that haunt them. In the San Fernando Valley, that place is Marina Lucero's house.The Realm of Hungry Spirits For Marina Lucero, whose father transformed his life through meditation and whose mother gave hers to a Carmelite convent, spirituality should come easily. It doesn't. After a devastating relationship leaves her feeling lost and alone, she opens her home to a collection of wayward souls-- the abused woman next door and her alcoholic sister, her aimless nephew and his broken-hearted best friend. Her house now full but her heart still empty, Marina then turns to the wisdom of Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, even a Santeria priest who wants to cleanse her home. As Marina struggles to balance the disappointments and delights of daily life, she'll learn that, when it comes to inner peace and those we love, a little chaos can lead to a lot of happiness.

Marina Lucero appreciates peace and order. Unfortunately the people around her do not. An ESL teacher in Southern California, all Marina wants is something to believe in. Like her mother, sequestered away in a Carmelite convent down in Mexico, or her late father, whose last days were spent in peaceful meditation. But when her house is full of freeloaders; when her best friend can't seem to escape an abusive relationship; and when the closest thing Marina has to a daughter is dangerously close to drowning in grief, faith feels in short supply. Desperate for a more tranquil life, Marina even considers an old Santeria ritual to help cleanse her soul. But is this spiritual housecleaning really the answer to her prayers? Or will Marina learn that a little disorder can lead to a lot of happiness?

Having lost their mother in early childhood, the Gabaldon sisters consider Fermina, their elderly Pueblo housekeeper, their surrogate grandmother. The mysterious Fermina loves the girls as if they are her own and promises to endow each with a special gift to be received upon her death. The oldest sister, Betty, always teased for telling tales, believes her gift is the power to persuade anyone, no matter how outlandish, her story. Loretta, who often prefers pets to people, assumes her gift is the ability to heal animals. Tough-talking tomboy Rita, believes her gift is the ability to curse her enemies. And finally, Sophia, the baby of the family, is sure her ability to make people laugh is her legacy. As the four girls grow into women they discover that Fermina's gifts come with complicated strings and what once seemed simple can confuse over time. Together they learn the truth about their mysterious caretaker, her legacy and the family secret that was nearly lost forever in the New Mexican desert...

Enrique, a young boy in Peralta Middle School, faces abuse at home and danger on the barrio streets. Yet he is driven to succeed by the desire to join that "other America" he sees on TV and in the movies, and is aided in his quest by compassionate teachers. His ambition finds expression in his determination to drop his ESL class in favor of taking French, and his story begins, "Call me HenrA--." Lorraine LA3pez (author of "Soy la Avon Lady and Other Stories") has created a vivid picture of barrio life, filled with honesty, insight, and humor for young adults. She paints a balanced and detailed landscape of Enrique's world. Although Enrique is confused and angered by his mother's refusal to stand up for him against the abuse of his stepfather, he also draws strength from the supportive and loving family of his friend Francisco. While some of his teachers are uncaring or inept, others provide help and encouragement at critical moments in his life. When Enrique witnesses his friend Horacio gunned down in a drive-by shooting and is seen by the assailants, gang members set out to kill him. As the novel reaches its climax, Enrique must make some agonizing decisions. Although specifically about barrio life, this novel is universal in its themes-the drive for success, the desire for love and family support, and the need for true friendship. LA3pez's fully delineated characters provide a rich and credible mural of our human comedy. Lorraine LA3pez's "Soy la Avon Lady and Other Stories" was selected for the Marmal Prize, and also won the IPPY Award for Multicultural Fiction.