Mecca, Straight - B+

                     This absolutely great novel delves deep into the culture of Southern California, Hispanic Southern California. The lead characters, Johnny, Matelasse, Merry, Ximema, are all the descendants of those who came when California was part of Spain's empire. They are a CHP patrolman, a florist, a nurse, a housekeeper. Life is hard for this group, almost all born and raised on the economic fringes of the white world, often in houses their grandparents or great grandparents built on the hardscrabble land of their forefathers. They are subjected to daily racial abuse, constantly being called wetbacks, asked if they're illegals, and most appallingly, being told to go back to where they came from. ICE is everywhere and even those whose families have been here hundreds of years live in fear and are always wary. Truly excellent.