I was intrigued by the cover photo, and in this case, an interesting cover led to a very worthwhile read. Who knew? Araceli is the live-in maid to a semi-enlightened wealthy southern California family. A former art student in Mexico City, she came north when her options there ran out. Tobar gives us an original character here: Araceli is described as blockishly built and taciturn, but everything we learn about her makes her seem a radiant beauty. When her employers disappear leaving her and the children with little food and no money, the child-averse Araceli takes the two young boys on an L.A. odyssey in search of their grandfather. Some of the results are predictable - Araceli is illegal, after all - but there are passages of striking beauty in this novel. Tobar is a veteran journalist and he puts a keen eye and terrific narrative sense to work here. Best of all, this intricate story is reported, which means that the flawed characters are presented rather than judged. Thought provoking, sad, and occasionally funny.
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