Cover of Under the Mesquite

Under the Mesquite

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

Assigned across 2 curriculum lists

On reading-award lists:William C. Morris YA Debut AwardPura Belpré Author Award

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is assigned in US schools at grades 7–12. It appears across 2 curriculum references, 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.

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Grade range
Grades 7–12
First published
2011
ISBN-13
9781600608759

New to these terms? Reading levels by grade

More formats & details

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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.

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Where this book is assigned

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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, William C. Morris YA Debut 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

How we classify

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 2 curricula 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, read-aloud.

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