Brave Little Dove

5/29/2018

Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
by Angela Cervantes

"You’re like a true-blue Fridanista!”

Paloma Marque is spending the month of June in Mexico City. While her mother pursues advanced studies, she can become acquainted with the city, language, and culture of her deceased father. Initially she is reluctant to leave behind her US friends, but she soon becomes captivated with her father’s native city, a handsome boy, the art of Frida Kahlo, and the mysterious disappearance of a jeweled ring.

With the help of two friends, Paloma goes in search of the missing ring. She finds herself caught up in a series of dangerous situations involving some nefarious individuals. Paloma summons up the deductive skills and courage of her favorite fictional detective Lulu Pennywhistle. She plots a strategy to recover the missing ring and return it to its rightful owner.

”Okay,” Paloma said to herself. “I just need to Lulu up and do this.”

Spanish phrases, art history, and Mexican culture are seamlessly woven into the adventure. The narrative often provides context clues, rather than direct English translations for these phrases.

Danger, hidden identities, and a secret system for passing information heighten the suspense. Angela Cervantes includes enough red herrings and plot twists to keep readers guessing. It’s easy be intrigued with this young sleuth’s escapades. Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring is a delicious blend of adventure and mystery. Let's hope that this sassy, savvy young Lantina detective will return with more puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover.

Faces of Frida: "I paint myself"

Frida was famous for her self portraits. She once said she painted self-portraits because she knew berself best.

Paloma is fascinated with the number of Kahlo self-portraits and wonders why the artist chose to use herself as a subject in much of her work.
In response to her daughter's observation, mom points out that these paintings might be considered the equivalent to today's selfies.

A large percentage of Frida's portraits portray her with hair tightly braided and pinned on top of her head. I like the paintings featuring her hair unbound and flowing free. I see her natural unaffected face in these images.

La Casa Azul

Explore La Casa Azul (The Blue House) with a virtual tour The Faces of Frida online collection available via Google Arts & Culture allows visitors to experience a unique perspective into the life and work of Frida Kahlo. It is possible to view a sweeping panorama or to zoom in and examine small details of three spaces from her home in Coyoacán.