 The passionate story of a family's spiritualjourney to the Vietnam Memorial Wall by a new and vibrant voice in fiction. LET THEIR SPIRITS DANCE A novel by Stella Pope Duarte HarperCollins 2002 The mother of a deceased Vietnam veteran hears an inner call to make a journey to the Vietnam Memorial Wall as her own death approaches. Alicia Ramirez makes a promise to reach the Wall to touch her son's name and honor his memory. Her promise sets into motion an invisible dimension that links the family to the history of the Mexicas, proud ancestors of the ancient Aztec Nation. Interspersed with flashbacks of their life in Arizona in the late 1960's thru 1980's, Let Their Spirits Dance, is the story of a family's illuminated journey to Washington, D.C. Along the way, the cross-country trip becomes a time of discovery and healing, especially for the main character, Teresa, the recently divorced school teacher daughter who feels the loss of her older brother almost as deeply as her mother does. In-between the struggles, Michael, the family's wiz-kid, presents a convincing look at parallel universes, and life beyond the grave. A lyrical, vivid novel, the writing of Stella Pope Duarte is reminiscent at once of Laura Esquivel and Alice Hoffman. Let Their Spirits Dance spins mysterious threads, connecting family, friends and an entire nation with the names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Story Highlights When a dying mother, Alicia Ramirez, hears the voice of her son thirty years after his death in Vietnam, she recalls the promise he made in 1968 as he boarded a plane headed for the bloody fields of Vietnam, that one day she would hear his voice again. But it is not until she learns about the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. from her daughter, Teresa, that she is able to decipher Jesse's mysterious message. Alicia realizes she must journey to the Wall to touch her son's name and honor his memory, and like a spark kindling a new flame, her promise inspires her warring children to join her. Let Their Spirits Dance, is the story of a family's journey across America toward reconciliation and hope. Told through the eyes of Teresa, Alicia's, school teacher, newly divorced daughter, the story uncovers Teresa's own belief, as revealed to her by Don Florencio, ancient seer and mystic, that Jesse would one day return in a new form. Among others joining Alicia and Teresa are Jesse's ex-addict brother, Paul, his flamboyant sister Priscilla, and his wiz-kid nephew Michael, whose talk of parallel universes suspends reality, connecting the living with the dead. Filled with humor and the ups and downs of a family traveling cross-country, the trip gathers old friends of Jesse's, Chris Montez, Willy Wong, Gates Williams, Yellow Hair, and an assortment of well-wishes strangers, and media coverage from coast to coast. Questions about Jesse's death never fully explained by the military, have plagued the family. They come to realize that the Wall is the magnet luring them on, the answers are there. Stella Pope Duarte's stunning debut novel portrays a family struggling with the universal scars suffered by all who have been touched by death through war. With this novel, Pope Duarte connects family, friends, and an entire nation with the names on the Wall, while honoring the men and women who served in Vietnam, and those left behind who watched and waited, but never forgot. ACCLAIM FOR LET THEIR SPIRITS DANCE “Stella Pope Duarte reclaims middle America not only for the Latino family of the lost soldier Jesse, but for all families who try to make sense of senseless loss. Duarte is a magical weaver with a sure hand and a pure heart.” Jacquelyn Mitchard, Deep End of the Ocean “The characters and the story had me hooked!” Victor Villaseņor, Rain of Gold “Stella Pope Duarte is a writer who will not be stopped. Her story takes its power from a larger love, and the quest is as pressing as any I've ever read.” Ron Carlson, The Hotel Eden “Partly a political novel and partly a family story, Duarte's tale seems barely able to contain the welter of emotion that tumbles from its pages. Deeply felt and often moving, this is an impressive first novel.” Booklist “Intelligent, unpretentious, and appealing.” Kirkus Review “An incredible first novel. You won't want to leave the world and the people Duarte brings to life in this pilgrimage of a Chicano family from Phoenix to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.” Charlene Taylor, Reader&rsquot;s Oasis “A story about the power of love and faith, family and commitment. A delightful, heartening first novel.” Sybil Downing, Denver Post “Such a rich and important book will have no trouble finding its place among the best in this country's literature about the American wars.” Rigoberto Gonzalez, El Paso Times “A compelling picture of loss grief and hope.” Ann Brown, Arizona Daily Star “Duarte proves herself a writer with great style and a unique voice that will hopefully continue to speak for la gente.” Gaile Robinson, Ventura County Star “A moving, beautifully crafted first novel.” Marc Leepson, VVA Veteran “Duarte's novel rings true. It's funny and it makes us care about these raucous and contentious people, especially the mother, whose wisdom and goodness are as irresistible to the reader as they are to her family.” Edward H. Garcia, Dallas Morning News |