Irreversible Damage
In this first book of a series on contemporary social justice activism, Katie, the youngest daughter of two Mexican-American lawyers, has lived a sheltered upbringing in a wealthy Paradise Valley neighborhood of Phoenix. Life there never prepared her for the upheaval and tragedy that was to surround her and many of her loved ones. Katie learns that changes affecting her life were instigated by forces and people far removed from her, and whose greed for political and financial gain means more to them than the lives they sacrificed along the way.
Motivated by these events and armed with the understanding that history shapes the present and will shape the future, Katie, surrounded by loyal friends, becomes a social activist whose ultimate achievement could changes the lives and the future of hundreds of thousands of people or leave her destitute or dead.
"An empowering story of a young woman's fight for justice. JL Ruiz is a valuable addition to Hispanics living in the United States, thanks to his writing nobility as portrayed in this lengthy novel about a young Mexican American girl growing up in Phoenix in our times. The story comes down to an imaginary second term for President Trump when the main character, Katie Suarez, is in college.
The author is motivated by his experience as an immigrant that faced two years of discrimination before he could get a position as professor in a local college. Ruiz is motivated to understand why Mexican Americans have faced disdain by others that have ingrained in them a feeling of low regard for themselves. That helps explain their low level of achievement, as compared with other immigrant groups, in his view.
Various episodes portray the author's view of what Mexican Americans must do. A Jewish friend tells Katie how they have dealt with anti-Semitism over the ages. They have stuck together, learned about and value their culture, helped each other and placed emphasis on education. Katie understood. The book describes episodes of new activism such as a strike and demonstrations that land her in jail. Falling in love with a fellow demonstrator offers a happy ending."
Ambassador Julian Nava, Hispanic Marketing 101