Review by Booklist Review
Mexican American author Ruiz's debut novel, following his short story collection, Seven for the Revolution (2015), transports readers to the U.S.-Mexican border during the 1950s. The story follows the adventures of a plucky Mexican immigrant who is willing to do whatever it takes and to wait however long to win the love of his life. Fulgencio Ramirez is a proud Mexican American, guayabera shirt-wearing, part-time short order cook who longs to become a pharmacist like the father of his white girlfriend, Carolina Mendelssohn. As Fulgencio breaks through many and varied hindrances, so that he can finally secure a prosperous life and marry Carolina, a fateful misunderstanding breaks the couple apart. Regretting his mercurial temper and longing for a reconciliation, he discovers that a mystical curse, La Maldición de Caja Pinta, might be preventing the men from Fulgencio's maternal side of the family to hold on to love. Fulgencio acquires a merry band of otherworldly allies, and they embark on a fantastical quest to fulfill four reparations to the woman who placed the curse. With an atmospheric setting and beguiling prose, lavish details, fascinating, well-developed characters, and charming elements of magic realism, Ruiz conjures a magnetic story about the kindness of strangers, solid familial bonds, bold perseverance, and steadfast love.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
