29 August 2025: ROSA BY ANY OTHER NAME by Hailey Alcaraz, VRH/ Viking, August 2025, 416p., ISBN: 978-0-593-52557-9

“But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate, then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight”

– The Black-Eyed Peas (2003)

“On Wednesday, President Trump referred to undocumented immigrants as ‘animals’ during a White House meeting with California leaders who oppose sanctuary city policies. ‘We have people coming into the country, or trying to come in, we’re stopping a lot of them. And we’re taking people out of the country, you wouldn’t believe how bad these people are.’ Trump stated. ‘These aren’t people, these are animals.’”

– League of United Latin American Citizens (2018)

Tuesday, September 6, 1955

“Julianne made a soft humming sound, clearly curious but not bold enough to push for more information. At least not yet. ‘Well, all right, then. I suppose now I should tell you the next bit.’

My heart lurched. ‘There’s more?

She leaned toward me even though we were already sitting fairly close to one another. ‘You see, I agree with a lot of what you said about people not liking me and him together. So we’ve come up with a plan.’

‘A plan?’ I repeated, unable to keep the dread out of my voice. ‘What sort of plan?’

Her denim-blue eyes glinted, and she suddenly had the scheming demeanor of an aspiring bank robber. ‘We’re going to the Silver and Blue Ball together.’

‘What’ I nearly shouted. Why? Why would you want to bring him here for that?’ I struggled to keep my voice low, both to avoid being overheard and to conceal my terror at this notion. I couldn’t begin to fathom why they’d want to flaunt this romance like that, to throw themselves in the crux of scrutiny and scandal. 

‘We want to use our love for one another as a force for good.’ she said, flushing instantly at the disbelieving look I gave her. ‘Like I said, I know it’s not without risks, which is why we want to take a stand. To speak out against the stigma of a relationship like ours. There shouldn’t be anything wrong with what we’re doing, and yet–

‘Julianne, is that what this is really about? Is this all some sort of protest or rebellion–’

‘No!’ she interrupted, eyes wide. ‘No, of course not, Rosie. We truly care about each other. Really, you have to believe me. I love him. Her voice caught a bit at this, like just talking about her feelings for Ramón was enough to make her tearful. ‘We both believe in a better world. A more equal one. And we both want to be a part of making it happen. It’s something we talk about all the time. We think this thing between us, it could be meaningful for others as well. Maybe if we show up together, somewhere that’s a big deal to folks, then we can make a statement. But we’ll need your help.’

I couldn’t stop myself from snorting. It was ridiculous and silly and idealistic and exactly the type of thing Ramón would be drawn to.

Maybe they had more in common than I’d thought.

Maybe there was something here.

My pulse raced as I considered this plan. I tried to see it all from another angle–from their angle–like El Foro had shown me. I tried to keep my fear from boxing me in.

But it wasn’t easy.”

It’s 1955 in Phoenix, Arizona, the year after the Supreme Court’s monumental and unanimous  Brown v. Board of Education decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional, overturning the "separate but equal" doctrine established during Reconstruction in Plessy v. Ferguson. 

Rosa Capistrano is a very light-toned Mexican-American adolescent with a lot of smarts and loving, hard-working parents. Rosa’s beginning her senior year in high school with hopes of attending Arizona State. She dreams of a career in journalism. That’s why, despite having been born and raised in the barrio of South Phoenix, she has changed her name to “Rosie,” is passing for white, and is trying to keep her head down as she attends the fancy North Phoenix High School across town where curriculums are focused on college-bound students rather than the no-frills vocational high school in her own neighborhood.

Rosa’s best friend at school is Julianna, a popular student, a beautiful young white woman, and the daughter of the city’s elected sheriff. The two girls are both on the staff of the school paper.

Rosa’s best friend at home is Ramón. Their Mexican immigrant fathers served together in the Second World War and the kids have all known one another since birth. Ramón is a good guy who feels like a cousin to her.

It’s because of Rosa, but purely accidental, that one day Ramón and Julianna catch a look at one another. The crosstown pair quickly becomes inseparable. 

ROSA BY ANY OTHER NAME is Romeo and Juliette all over again. Ramón and Julianna. = Romeo and Juliette. You know they’re gonna die. And they do. 

Given the prejudice and related slurs of those days, this one is surely relevant today, given a President whose words for Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans too often recall the hatefulness of Adolf Hitler. It sure seems that many Hispanics are projecting an unspoken-but-palpable wariness and fear these days, when I pass them on the street and nod Hi.

What is most heartbreaking, of course, is that this stuff never ends. The idealism of the Sixties in which I grew up–the dreams of peace and equality–seem to have dried up. Innocent people of color are still regularly killed by police who profile and shoot first, and ask questions later. The Defense Secretary openly posts about taking the vote away from women, and has “paused” observances of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Holocaust Days of Remembrance.

It was cute when George Banks sang in the Mary Poppins film about the Age of Men. But this stuff out of the White House about love for the Gilded Age (the era of robber barons, segregation, widespread corruption, and devastating poverty) is anathema to  those of us with hopes of a country where all are respected, have access to health care, get enough to eat, and are free pursue their dreams.

Thus, ROSA BY ANY OTHER NAME, set seventy years ago, is a powerful young adult story for these days. It’s a page-turner and an eye-opener that imparts an important history lesson for my grandkids’ generation.

Richie Partington, MLIS

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