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Guadalupe Garcia McCall
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Shame the Stars (Shame the Stars #1) Hardcover – September 1, 2016

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
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In the midst of racial conflict and at the edges of a war at the Texas-Mexico border in 1915, Joaquín and Dulceña attempt to maintain a secret romance in this young adult reimagining of Romeo and Juliet.

Eighteen-year-old Joaquín del Toro's future looks bright. With his older brother in the priesthood, he's set to inherit his family's Texas ranch. He's in love with Dulceña--and she's in love with him. But it's 1915, and trouble has been brewing along the US-Mexico border. On one side, the Mexican Revolution is taking hold; on the other, Texas Rangers fight Tejano insurgents, and ordinary citizens are caught in the middle.

As tensions grow, Joaquín is torn away from Dulceña, whose father's critical reporting on the Rangers in the local newspaper has driven a wedge between their families. Joaquín's own father insists that the Rangers are their friends, and refuses to take sides in the conflict. But when their family ranch becomes a target, Joaquín must decide how he will stand up for what's right.

Shame the Stars is a rich reimagining of Romeo and Juliet set in Texas during the explosive years of Mexico's revolution. Filled with period detail, captivating romance, and political intrigue, it brings Shakespeare's classic to life in an entirely new way.

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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    12 - 17 years
  2. Print length
    320 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    7 - 12
  5. Lexile measure
    830L
  6. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  7. Publisher
    Lee & Low Books
  8. Publication date
    September 1, 2016
  9. ISBN-10
    1620142783
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1620142783
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up—A story of the love of a young couple during the Mexican Revolution in 1915, with a Romeo and Juliet twist. The unrest of the revolution affects everyone in two fictional towns, Monteseco and Las Moras. Joaquín writes poems and his thoughts in a journal about the revolution but has never shared them with anyone. Dulceña writes articles about the revolution for her father's newspaper under a pen name. Her pieces are about the violence the Texas Rangers cause against the Mexican citizens in the region. The Rangers even resort to killing the Mexican citizens when they do not follow the Rangers' orders. Dulceña's father's printing shop comes under fire for what he prints in the newspapers. Joaquín and Dulceña keep their relationship a secret because of the happenings of the revolution. Their letters are covertly delivered by a friend of their families. The couple try to meet at night when no one is around and hope not to get caught, very much like the protagonists of the source material. The author keeps readers in suspense, while slowly revealing details about the characters' involvement in the revolution. An author's note sheds light on McCall's inspiration and research, and a glossary gives definitions of Spanish words used throughout the book. VERDICT A good purchase for historical fiction collections, especially where there are fans of Ashley Hope Pérez's Out of Darkness.—Minerva Alaniz, Texas Tech University Library

Review

* "Pura Belpré winner McCall delivers an ambitious, sardonically relevant historical novel--a must-read, complex twist on a political Shakespearean tragedy." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The historical aspects of the narrative are eye-opening. McCall infuses the little-discussed uprising in South Texas with Spanish (defined in a glossary) and primary-source newspaper clippings, and gives women a vital role in the Tejano fight for justice. A powerful story of love in the face of great odds." -- Booklist

"Sophisticated readers will appreciate the intricate political and ethical questions raised, as well as their relevance to contemporary border issues. McCall's depiction of two important female characters, who stand out for their strength and grace in an otherwise staunchly traditional—and often hot-headed—male hierarchy, is especially compelling." -- Publishers Weekly

"Keeps readers in suspense, while slowly revealing details about the characters' involvement in the revolution. . . A good purchase for historical fiction collections, especially where there are fans of Ashley Hope Pérez's Out of Darkness." -- School Library Journal

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lee & Low Books; Standard Edition (September 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1620142783
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1620142783
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 17 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 830L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 12
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

About the author

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Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Guadalupe Garcia McCall

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I was born in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. My family immigrated to the United States when I was six years old. I grew up in Eagle Pass, a small, border town in South Texas. Eagle Pass is the setting of my debut novel in verse, Under the Mesquite, released in the fall of 2011 from Lee & Low Books. After high school, I went off to Alpine, in West Texas, to study to become a teacher. I have a BA in Theatre Arts and English from Sul Ross State University. There, I met my husband, Jim. We have three grown sons, James, Steven, and Jason. We've lived in Somerset for several years now. We love living the simple life in the country, where I get to be close to what I love, nature.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
32 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is not only great to have students read to help them feel culturally ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book was a requirement to read in my adolescent literature class at UTRGV. My professor had been having us read books that have been written by authors who are from the Rio Grand Valley and who have written about their experiences. This book is not only great to have students read to help them feel culturally accepted in a classroom, this book is also great to read for fun. McCall does an amazing job at developing a love story that is the underlying story to the bigger picture, the Mexican Revolution that is affecting the cities close to the border. Joaquín much fight to protect his one true love while also trying to protect his family. Overall this is a great book for anyone to read.
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Barbara Renaud Gonzalez
4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed this book very much
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2016
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I enjoyed this book very much. Wish it was more lyrical -- but. The author has done a masterful job of assembling a Texas story that desperately needs to be told.
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Mcav22609
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2023
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Such an eye opening perspective of history. I had heard of these but never understood the why, of the mantaza. .
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Crystal
5.0 out of 5 stars Get it Now
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
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Under the Mesquite and Summer of the Mariposas, McCall’s previous books, are fantastic works of storytelling. Her writing is lyrical whether she’s creating prose or poetry. Having read and loved her first two books, I was predisposed to enjoy this newest novel. In addition, as a former resident of Texas, the story immediately caught my attention. Though I lived there for sixteen years, my knowledge of Texas history was sketchy at best so this seemed like an excellent way to find out more about my former home. The story along with the thorough author’s note was eye-opening to say the least.

In Shame the Stars, McCall shares a part of history not often covered in our school history texts. The conflict might be mentioned, but it is highly unlikely that students would learn about the lynchings, executions and other atrocities. This novel is one way to learn some of that missing history. The story begins with Joaquín expressing his frustration at the way tejanos are treated and how their rights are being trampled by the Texas Rangers. Over time Joaquín witnesses more and more injustices by Rangers. They see no need to have a search warrant, they kill without trials and behave as if the law does not apply to them. For Joaquín it seems that danger is surrounding their community and he and his father have very different ideas about what to do about this.

One way Joaquín deals with his feelings is through writing poetry. Most of the story is told in typical narrative style, but every so often a poem, a newspaper clipping, letter or other snippet of text is included. I appreciated the addition of non-traditional texts. These felt like primary sources and made it seem like readers could see a piece of the past.

Beyond this unveiling of history, the story is also a romance. Joaquín has loved Dulceña for years and falls more deeply in love with her as time passes. She loves him too, but makes it clear that she doesn’t want the role of damsel in distress or quiet little lady to be tucked away at home. She’s an intelligent and brave young woman who has dreams of her own and she will not let her dreams be ignored just because she’s female. I appreciated her and the other strong women in this book. There are women leading and fighting for their families and communities in many ways.

The book is often compared to Romeo and Juliet not only because of the great love between the two young people, but also because their families are at odds. The families have been very close in the past, but both fathers have completely different ideas about how to best protect their family in dangerous times. The break between the families is a result of love and protection rather than a hatred for one another and that makes it all the more heartbreaking.

Recommendation: Get it now. This is an intriguing historical romance that will leave readers with much to ponder. Shame the Stars presents a beautiful love story set against a backdrop of deadly conflict. (originally reviewed at the blog Rich in Color)
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Zach from Texas
2.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Get Through It
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2019
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I love Mexican American Studies, and I love YA literature. I was so excited when I heard about this book, and purchased the Kindle version immediately. While the history presented seemed pretty accurate in its depiction of the Texas Rangers and the terrorism Tejanos faced during the 1800's, the writing itself felt pretty stilted. I would occasionally read lines from the story to my fiance or colleagues, and they induced groans and laughs. I think that some of this might be attributed to the story's historical setting, which might explain why the characters spoke so formerly. But it just didn't feel authentic. The Juliet-type female character was inspiring in her feminism, but not exactly believable. Not because there weren't women in this era pushing back against patriarchy, but just because it felt very * girl power* in a way that lacked nuance or sophistication. This complaint also applies to how the story handles the racial conflict between Anglos and Tejanos: the characters argue with each other in a way that felt too much like essays or speeches. In real life, people interrupt each other, and they don't speak in page-long paragraphs or diatribes. I read a couple chapters each week for a couple of months, but ultimately I just wasn't able to get through the story. I really appreciate and respect the story the author is trying to tell, and Mexican American history and stories deserve to be told, but I just didn't enjoy the story's style or execution. I was hoping to assign this book in my 7th grade Texas history classroom, but I think I'll have to find a different text.
2 people found this helpful
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5.0 out of 5 stars a most read!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2016
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I loved this book! I have to admit that at the beginning I thought that it was going to be one of those boring cliché love stories, but shame the stars is something totally different. The way the author combines historical facts with the narrative of story is amazing. the story centers around Joaquin del Toro a young Mexican American who lives in south Texas during the 1915 rebellion and his endless love for dulceña. this book is a most read!
One person found this helpful
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