“Down to the Bone” by Mayra Lazara Dole. (Harper Teen, 2008) $17. 367 pp.

Life can be confusing sometimes — especially when you’re a teenager. Your parents tell you one thing, but your own moral compass tells you something else. Teachers give you information but learning on your own proves them wrong. You’d like to believe what your friends tell you, but you know from experience that they don’t know everything, either. Even your own body betrays you by handing you good hair one day and zits the next.

In the new book “Down to the Bone” by Mayra Lazara Dole, a young woman knows what she wants, but her family and many of her friends hate her for it. Can she stay true to herself?

The last day of school before summer vacation is supposed to be muy bueno, but for Laura Amores, things go terribly. Laura is daydreaming in class, re-enjoying a love letter when Sister Asunción tears it from her hands and reads it aloud. Within minutes, the entire school — possibly the entire Cuban community of Miami — knows that Laura is in love with a girl.

As the whispers of tortillera run through the halls, Sister drags Laura to Mother Superior’s office and calls Laura’s mami. Demanding that Laura reveal the name of the “degenerate” who wrote the letter, Mother Superior kicks Laura out of school. Mrs. Amores then kicks Laura out of the house.

With the summer stretching ahead of her and nowhere to live, Laura takes shelter at the home of her best friend, Soli. Laura has a job, and she plans to pay her share. Soli’s mother says she can stay as long as she likes. But Laura wants to go home. She misses her mami and little brother.

When Laura finds out that her former love is dating a man in Cuba, Laura doesn’t believe that Marlena could forget everything so easily. How could Marlena throw away a relationship that meant so much?

But as summer moves into fall, Laura begins to think that Marlena may be right. If Laura falls in love with a boy and forgets about being attracted to girls, maybe Mami would let her move back. But is being accepted worth living a lie?

I was intrigued by this book not because of what it’s about, but because of what it is: a book that’s meant for teenage girls who are struggling with their own identities, but one that won’t scare them half to death, either.

“Down to the Bone” is almost a coming-of-age story, filled with confusion, self-awareness, self-realization, peeks of life-goes-on happiness and the kind of support that girls going through these very emotions will need. Dole gives Laura a great (albeit quirky) personality, and the friends she makes and family she creates will leave you — and any girl who reads it — cheering.

If you know a teenager who is beginning to confront her own gayness or one who’s struggling with the issue of acceptance, give her this book. “Down to the Bone” just might be the pick-me-up she needs.



This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 19, 2008.