In Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya follows Antonio Márez, a young boy growing up in rural New Mexico during and just after World War II. When Ultima, an elderly curandera, comes to live with his family, Antonio begins to see his world differently: Catholicism, Indigenous spiritual practice, the pull of the llano, and the violence of the wider world all press in at once. The novel tracks his questions about good and evil, justice, and what kind of man he is meant to become, with a style that moves easily between everyday detail and the uncanny.

WHY WE PICKED IT
Because it’s a cornerstone of Chicano literature and one of the great coming‑of‑age novels of the twentieth century, now in a fresh trade paperback with new contextual material. Bless Me, Ultima is a strong pick for readers interested in the U.S. Southwest, spiritual and cultural hybridity, and stories where the supernatural feels woven into ordinary life.

DETAILS
• Author: Rudolfo Anaya
• Foreword: Denise Chávez
• Afterword: Carmella Padilla
• Contributor: Manuel Muñoz
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication Date: September 17, 2024
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN: 9781538769843
• Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days