The Tortilla Curtain

In this book, bad things happen. A lot. I should have known before even getting to the story that it might end up this way - the book opens with a quotation from The Grapes of Wrath. And, in a way, this book serves as sort of a new age Grapes of Wrath. Only instead of Okies moving to California in search of the American Dream, it's Mexicans.

Candido and America Rincon live in a hidden lean-to shelter at the bottom of some canyon only a mile or so from the soon-to-be-gated community of Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher (along with son Jordan and dogs Sachaverell and Osbert). America is pregnant. Candido is constantly looking for work to save up money so they can live in a place with a real roof. But when Candido gets accidentally thrown into the bushes on the shoulder of Canyon Road by Delaney's spotless white Acura, the lives of each spiral rapidly downward.

Dogs are lost. Walls are built. Open-minded liberals turn into full-fledged racists. The book is entertaining, truthful, and quite sad when you take a step back to look at it. And like Grapes of Wrath, it always leaves you wondering when there will be even a trace of good news.