By: Callie E
Ohio, Grade: 6

Dear Diary,
Mama gave me this diary today. It was my birthday. I turned 13. The date is October 14,1929. Life is fine for my family here in Mexico. It hot but I don't care. Me and Theresa run. We run fast. Mama says she wish she had our energy. Mama wishes a lot. And prays. Wishes and prays, what she does. Shh! Theresa's asleep. Mama coming down the hall. She be here soon. Got to go. Write when mornin' comes.

Dear Diary:
Well, it's been exactly two weeks since I've written. Things been bad. My family travel to America. It's just north. We travel with Montoya's. They nice. All 5 of em real nice an sweet. Oh look! I think I see a river! Mama wants me to stop writing now. Says Maria you put book down. I wanted to sass but I didn't. Didn't want to messup. I ain't good for slappin.

Dear Diary:
It's been a month. Us and those montoyas our friends live in a tiny house. And we work. We work for farmers. We're in California, now. That's what they call it right? I hope so. We work and ain't got much pay. We ain't slaves, I can tell you that. At school, Miss Lorella told us bout slaves. Sounds horrid. Be writing soons I can. I promise. Mama's makin me pray now. Pray to Jesus.

Dear Diary: It's been crazy here. Been 4 months. Winds are fierce. They're blowing with the black dust. Again,it's crazy. I've got to work now.

Dear Diary:
Well, I've got to break it to you sometime, so here goes. It's been a year since last time I wrote. At school the door said no school. Mama Says we gotta move back to Mexico. I hope things get better up here. I don't know what they're like where I'm from. The reason is I've made an American Friend. Her name is Caralina Justine, but she says call her C.J. C.J. is very nice and gentle and guess what? She loves to play baseball. I've never played baseball. She showed me how to bat once. Then the teacher cam up and said we'd ruin our dresses. Well, this turned out kinda good, actually.