Under the Mesquite
by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is assigned in US schools at grades 7–12. It appears across 1 curriculum reference, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.
This page shows where Under the Mesquite is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
- Grade range
- Grades 7–12
- First published
- 2011
- ISBN-13
- 9781600608759
Where to find this book
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About this book
Throughout her high school years, as her mother battles cancer, Lupita takes on more responsibility for her house and seven younger siblings, while finding refuge in acting and writing poetry. Includes glossary of Spanish terms.
Where this book is assigned
Pura Belpré Author Award
- recommended·7th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
- recommended·8th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
- recommended·9th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
- recommended·10th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
- recommended·11th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
- recommended·12th gradesource: Pura Belpré Author Award winners (American Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2012 Belpré Author Award
Similar grade-level books
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See all books like Under the Mesquite→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Common questions
- What grade level is Under the Mesquite?
- Under the Mesquite is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–12. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign Under the Mesquite?
- Under the Mesquite appears on reading lists for Pura Belpré Author Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Under the Mesquite banned in schools?
- Under the Mesquite does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 7–12 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Not yet documented in a state-level framework on this site.
- Removal / banning records
- No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: award-winner.