Names on a Map

November 12, 2007
In Sáenz’s lyrical sixth novel, Octavio Espejo leads an ordinary life in multiethnic 1967 El Paso: he sells insurance and is raising three children with his wife, Lourdes. Octavio was brought to the U.S. from revolutionary Mexico as a child and talks about the family’s roots across the border, but on the whole the family has silently Americanized. The Vietnam War and the counterculture, however, begin to change how his children conceive of themselves and their lives—teenaged twins Gustavo and Xochil in particular. Gus must make choices about facing the draft; Xochil, a rape victim when she was 12, attempts to reconcile the era’s passions with internal bitterness. Sáenz shifts perspectives fluidly among the family, relatives and friends. The climax is given away early, keeping the focus on the manner in which the characters come to know themselves—or fail to. The result is a beautiful mosaic of the borderlands as women’s liberation and the Chicano movement gain traction.

Starred review from January 15, 2008
Transpiring during a week in September 1967, this fourth major novel by Senz focuses on the confluence of two symbiotic events in the Espejo family: the death of Grandmother Rosario and her 18-year-old grandson's receipt of a U.S. Army induction notice. Senz creatively and effectively weaves these stories together using several alternating threads: all five members of the Espejo family plus two Vietnam soldiers narrate their respective stories. Though the grandson, Gustavo, eventually emerges as the lead character as he struggles over whether to obey the draft orders, the other characters battle their own private wars, such as rape and marital discord. Like his 2005 "In Perfect Light", this novel transcends its settingEl Paso's Hispanic communityand will appeal to a much wider readership. Senz's innate understanding and vivid description of the nation's angst at the time over the Vietnam War is commendable; it is perhaps no accident that the book's publication date coincides with the 40th anniversary of the Tet Offensive. Well written, moving, and highly interesting, this is Senz's best work yet. Highly recommended, especially for public libraries.Lawrence Olszewski, OCLC Lib., Dublin, OH

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2007
Told through multiple perspectives, Senzs novel explores the intimate thoughts and events of the Espejo family as they confront the imminent effects of the Vietnam War on their beliefs, choices, and lifestyle. Tension builds in the house as Gustavothe oldest sonreceives his draft notice; his twin sister develops a relationship with a man who has voluntarily enlisted; and the family matriarch dies suddenly, leaving the household in emotional turmoil. Writing in a sparse narrative style, Senz draws on many archetypes of the Vietnam era: the conscientious objector, the long-haired rebel, the patriotic father, and the worried mother. Pairing these traditional perspectives with a distinctly Mexican American culturelets the reader view the turbulence of the 1960s through fresh eyes, and while the alternating stories can sometimes feel truncated, they combine to create a rich, conflicting, and ultimately heartbreaking saga of a familys loyalty and love for one another.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)