Set in South America, "Where Mangoes Fall" delves into myths, legends, and a culture of superstitions. Ama believes in Paraguayan myths and legends. Still, when the local card reader tells her that three people will die if she searches for her friend's missing baby, Ama has to make difficult decisions about truth and loyalty, which is even harder when she discovers secrets about her own life.In the beginning...Ama is a young girl growing up in Paraguay. She has less than most but is learning English and wants to play the Paraguayan harp like the old man on the street corner downtown. As she tries to obey the rules and accomplish her goals, she is constantly haunted by visions of her past and the gang that terrorizes her. This not only scares her daily but has left her with a confused understanding of truth versus legend: she believes she was saved by a mythical creature on the night the gang dragged her to their lair. As Ama struggles with accomplishing her wants and needs, she again faces the reality of her culture when her friend's baby is snatched. Once again, Ama must decide what is real and fight against those who hide behind legends to avoid reality. She seeks the advice of an old blind man, a card reader, and her friend who weaves the precious, Paraguayan lace. As Ama fights horrifying truths, she discovers that loyalty is difficult when others have betrayed her, but life is like spiderweb lace: twisted together and beautiful.In the end...L K Dominguez has written a novel that truly brings out the beauty, friendships, and superstitions in a culture rarely seen. This coming-of-age story is written to be insightful but conscious of the most innocent readers. It incorporates and reflects on the 1922 poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay: "The Ballad of the Harp Weaver," a poem about a mother's ultimate sacrifice. It also questions culture, life, and the desire to wonder: Do we belong where we began?
