Down To the Bone
by Mayra Lazara Dole
by Mayra Lazara Dole
DOWN TO THE BONE by Mayra Lazara Dole
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 2/26/08
Publisher: HarperTeen
Reviewed by: Jaglvr
Rating: 4 Stars
How mortified would you be if one of your teachers read one of your private notes or letters out loud in front of the class?
Take that mortification times one hundred, and that’s what happens to Laura Amores on the last day of class. Except this
letter is from her girlfriend and describes in detail their forbidden love. By the end of the school day, previous friends have
deserted her, the nuns at her school have expelled her, and her mother has kicked her out of the house. At least until she
changes her ways and falls in love with a boy.
Thankfully, Laura (who has many nicknames throughout the story) has a good friend in Soli and her mother, Viva. They
let Laura stay with them indefinitely.
The story only gets worse for Laura. The girl she is in love with leaves Miami for Puerto Rico. To add pain to heartache,
Marlena tells Laura over the phone that she realizes their love was wrong and sinful and she is going to marry the man her
family wants her to wed.
Laura struggles throughout the book to come to terms with who she is. She has dated boys in the past, but only Marlena
has sent sparks through her body. Is she gay? Is she bi-sexual? Was it only Marlena that caused these feelings?
Laura meets many interesting people during the course of the story. They all help Laura define who she is and who she
will become. She is determined to win back her mother’s love. But in the end, is it really so important to have someone
love who they want you to be but not who you are? Laura struggles with society’s negative opinions of anyone not
heterosexual or who is different from the norm.
Ms. Dole is a fresh new voice in the GLBTQ genre. She speaks frankly about the issue for teens to grasp and understand.
The story is not always easy to read, but it’s one that you’ll be glad that you have. It will bring a deeper understanding of
those that may seem different than you, but who just want to be loved and understood like everyone should be.
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 2/26/08
Publisher: HarperTeen
Reviewed by: Jaglvr
Rating: 4 Stars
How mortified would you be if one of your teachers read one of your private notes or letters out loud in front of the class?
Take that mortification times one hundred, and that’s what happens to Laura Amores on the last day of class. Except this
letter is from her girlfriend and describes in detail their forbidden love. By the end of the school day, previous friends have
deserted her, the nuns at her school have expelled her, and her mother has kicked her out of the house. At least until she
changes her ways and falls in love with a boy.
Thankfully, Laura (who has many nicknames throughout the story) has a good friend in Soli and her mother, Viva. They
let Laura stay with them indefinitely.
The story only gets worse for Laura. The girl she is in love with leaves Miami for Puerto Rico. To add pain to heartache,
Marlena tells Laura over the phone that she realizes their love was wrong and sinful and she is going to marry the man her
family wants her to wed.
Laura struggles throughout the book to come to terms with who she is. She has dated boys in the past, but only Marlena
has sent sparks through her body. Is she gay? Is she bi-sexual? Was it only Marlena that caused these feelings?
Laura meets many interesting people during the course of the story. They all help Laura define who she is and who she
will become. She is determined to win back her mother’s love. But in the end, is it really so important to have someone
love who they want you to be but not who you are? Laura struggles with society’s negative opinions of anyone not
heterosexual or who is different from the norm.
Ms. Dole is a fresh new voice in the GLBTQ genre. She speaks frankly about the issue for teens to grasp and understand.
The story is not always easy to read, but it’s one that you’ll be glad that you have. It will bring a deeper understanding of
those that may seem different than you, but who just want to be loved and understood like everyone should be.