Evangelina Takes Flight

Gr 6–10—This historical fiction title presents a little-known time period, namely, the beginning years of the Mexican Revolution. Set in 1911, it centers on 14-year-old Evangelina who loves the predictability of her life on the family ranch in Mexico. But that changes abruptly when the family learns that Pancho Villas's soldiers are on the way, looting and leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in their wake. Immediately, her large family decides to move north to Texas to stay with relatives until the violence in the country subsides. Once there, Evangelina is ridiculed by racist, ignorant children and teachers, but finds some measure of hope in a friendship with the local doctor who sees her potential. Tensions rise as more immigrants move into the community, and it takes bravery and truth to ensure that the immigrant children receive a just education. Spanish terms are skillfully woven into this primarily English text, serving to build round characters for monolingual and bilingual readers alike. Although Noble's debut novel is based on the life of her paternal grandmother, it does not provide source notes for its historical information. In particular, a subplot involving native people of the Comanche nation is problematic, as it is difficult to determine its accuracy.