Bless Me, Ultima is an end of innocence tale written by Rudolfo Anaya who is a premier Chicano writer originally in 1973 and has been published many times since then. The main character Antonio is 6 years old in the 1940s and his experiences with death and religion fuel a very compelling story. The catalyst for change in Antonio's life comes as the local curandera, Ultima. She is a healer that uses good magic to cure anything from stomach aches to curses. She also teaches Antoino about the magic and harmony of the land which comes in stark contrast to the views of the Church which Antionio is very committed to as a young boy. There are four deaths that Antonio witnesses and these deaths and their circumstances force upon Antonio the questions of "is there a God?" and "why would he let this happen?" These are things that many adults face later in life and the fact that Anaya's main character and hero is 6 years old is impressive.
Anaya's description of the New Mexico planes and valley really reminded me of where I grew up and took me back to many of my own childhood experiences both good and bad. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and I believe that it should be a requirement for at least 5th and 6th grade readers.
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