MALINCHE'S CHILDREN

Houston-Davila traces the 20th-century evolution of a southern California village from a Mexican enclave to a genuine, full-blown community in his poignant debut, which is structured as a series of interlocking short stories in which the author introduces different Mexican characters via a variety of intriguing conceits. He starts with the community's founder, describing the journey of Arnulfo Carmelas in "Taking Root—1900" as he becomes a successful farm worker and builds the tiny community that will someday bear his name. Other engaging characters include a woman named La Luna, who becomes the village healer in "La Luna—1910" before turning over the reins to Contemplación Guerra in a subsequent story entitled "Contemplación—1953." The focal point of the modern stories is Sammy Archuleta, a bright, precocious boy who struggles to make it through college after earning a scholarship in "Price Tags—1966" and then goes on to become a writer who must confront his own infidelity in the title story, which closes the collection in 1994. The unconventional structure works for the most part, although the less successful stories inhibit the flow of the narrative. Overall, though, the linked tales are a solid vehicle for Houston-Davila to introduce his varied cast and cover a significant array of ethnic issues in the process. This collection comes with a few literary warts, but it establishes Houston-Davila as a solid writer with some interesting things to say about the Hispanic immigration experience. (Apr.)

Forecast:This is a strong university press offering, but one that might have fared better with a local California press. Sales will depend on the University of Mississippi's ability to drum up interest in the West.