Antonio

Antonio Marez y Lunas is a six-year-old boy when the story begins and it covers roughly two years of his life. He is the first-person narrator of the story and the protagonist. Antonio is the youngest of six children and lives on a plain just outside Guadalupe, New Mexico with his family. He is the only boy living in the home, as his brothers are older and all away fighting in World War II. Antonio takes his role as his mother’s pride and joy seriously and tries to be a respectful, helpful child. When Ultima comes to live with his family, Antonio is immediately drawn to her as a mentor and begins a spiritual journey that she facilitates in part.

A lot happens to Antonio in the short period of time that the book covers. He learns about religious beliefs outside of the Catholicism he has always...