Chili Queen: Mi Historia

Gr 8 Up—This first-person historical fiction novel presents a slice of life in San Antonio, TX, in the late 1800s—a city bustling with life even in the evenings. Cowboys, businessmen, vaudeville actors, military men, and others from diverse ethnic backgrounds make their way to the plaza chili stands for dinner, companionship, and entertainment. Seventeen-year-old Mexican American Lupe Pérez and her family have their own booth with its simmering chili and stewing beans, eaten with warm corn tortillas and washed down with coffee. However, life is not easy for Lupe and her family, and the teen worries about their dwindling clientele. She observes other successful stands, taking the initiative to learn new practices from the Chili Queens who serve food and amuse guests with stories and songs. Next, she convinces her family to allow these practices at their own booth, inspiring Mamá to create new, secret chili recipes and Papá to share tales from his vaquero past that Lupe can retell. This narrative is supported with meticulous research evidenced in primary source photos, recipes, and music scores of the era. Spanish dialogue is used to lend authenticity to the characters and the time period, although English meanings are immediately provided.