Truth and Salsa

Mexico is a long way from Kalamazooand not just in terms of miles. Almost-thirteen-year-old Hayley Flynn is spending six months with her eccentric grandmother in the rural mountain town of San Cristobal. Her father recently deserted the family and Hayleys mom needs time to, as she puts it, work things through. Down in Mexico, everyone calls Hayley by her new, more glamorous chosen name, Margarita, and life is surprisingly excitingexotic birds, beautiful butterflies, holidays, colorful fiestas, and new friends like Lili. Hayley and Lili even win parts as extras in a Hollywood movie being filmed in the town. But there are also difficult lessons to be learned. Poverty and unemployment send Lilis father and other men from the village to Michigan to work as migrant workers so they can send money back home to their anxious families. Meanwhile Hayley is on the lookout for la fantasma (the ghost) that is said to haunt her grandmas house. With Lilis help she solves the mysteryand prepares for a new life with her mom back in the States.