It’s not often I find books written by Mexican women, so it was a rare treat to read Reyna Grande’s Dancing with Butterflies. It is about 4 women involved with a Mexican Ballet Folklorico group based in LA. Some are illegal immigrants, others born in the US, some dancers, one director, one costume maker, all struggling with their own issues. The plight of Mexican women and the beauty of Mexican Art-especially Folklorico are subjects close to my heart and are beautifully portrayed here. Sometimes you can almost hear the music while you’re reading.

However, much of the book made me sad. All the alcholism and abuse, poverty, stuggle for jobs and identity that the Mexican community faces were shown here in very real honesty. I was greatful to Reyna Grande for leaving us with some hope at least by the end.

What Grande writes about comes directly from her own experiences. She is an author to watch, and I will be looking for her first novel, Across a Hundred Mountains.