Because of this writing style, all of Laura's interactions with her friends, including the transgendered Tazer, come off as woefully artificial. Everything is quickly glossed over as Laura seems more intent on weaving Spanish words, Cuban food, and silly nicknames into this whiplash-inducing account of her life. Laura relates her story in a frantically paced dialogue that barely pauses to acknowledge the seemingly life-changing events that are occurring around her. While this description might make 'Down to the Bone' seem weighty in its tone, it's actually very light and buoyant, perhaps too much so. But Mami is firm about her conditions, and if Laura remains a lesbian, she wants nothing more to do with her. Despite Mami's awful treatment - among other things, she calls Laura immoral and a degenerate - Laura wants desperately to be allowed back home so she can again see her younger brother Pedri. Mami, Laura's unyielding mother, throws Laura out of the house without a second thought, leaving Laura to take shelter with her wild best friend Soli and Soli's big-hearted new age mom, Viva. In fact, both Laura and Marlena initially don't even label themselves as lesbians they just know they're in love. Laura refuses to reveal the identity of her girlfriend, Marlena, since both are closeted and come from strict Cuban-American families.

Unfortunately, 'Down to the Bone,' while easy enough to read and mildly entertaining, doesn't leave much of an impact.Īs the novel starts, Laura is expelled from her strict Catholic high school after it's discovered that a confiscated love letter was written to her by another girl.

In theory, an energetic, upbeat novel about a Cuban-American teenager struggling with her sexuality while being supported by an offbeat set of friends seems like a great idea.

Down to the bone by mayra lazara dole