Heart of Aztlan is a novel which portrays life in Barelas, a barrio of Albuquerque, during the post-Korean War period. While the characters within the novel are fictitious, the situations in which they found themselves were only too real. The mood of the novel was one of hope while the characters continually found themselves in a situation of apparent hopelessness. The author\u27s dedication, perhaps better than any other words, summed up this seeming paradox. This book is dedicated to the good people of Barelas ... and to people everywhere who have struggled for freedom, dignity, and the right to self determination
