Hear and Answer Me!

About the Book

The theme of Hear and Answer Me! is three-fold, it is sociological, religious, and psychological; it depicts the plight of the Mexican farm laborer in the California desert. The sequel to The Carrot on a String!, the story relates the abuses suffered by Mexican migrant farm workers. In particular, however, it also narrates the story and the very real disappointments of Lazarillo del Cordero. Lazarillo is a young, Mexican teenager who leaves his mother and younger siblings in search of work so that he can support his family financially. The youth wanders throughout the countryside in search of employment. However, good fortune is not on his side. Out of loneliness and despair, he seeks guidance by talking with the spirits of his deceased father and older brother. Then, when all else seems to have failed, he turns to the Virgin Mother for help.

About the Author

Ronald Joseph Tocchini is a lifelong native of San Francisco. He holds a master's degree in Spanish and is working towards a doctorate in Romance Languages and Literatures at University of California, Berkeley. He is a former instructor of Spanish at City College of San Francisco.