“Awideanddeepviewofadynamic,multiethnicSouthernCalifornia...SusanStraightisanessentialvoiceinAmericanwritingandinwritingoftheWest.“--TheNewYorkTimesBookReviewNamedamostanticipatedbookofMarch2022bytheLosAngelesTimes,USAToday,andAltaFromtheNationalBookAwardfinalistSusanStraight,MeccaisastunningepictracingtheintertwinedlivesofnativeCaliforniansfightingforlifeandlandJohnnyFr穩ashasCaliforniainhisblood.Adescendantofthestate’sindigenouspeopleandMexicansettlers,hehasSouthernCalifornia’sforgottentownsandcanyonsinhissoul.Hespendshisdaysasahighwaypatrolmanpullingoverspeeders,ignoringtheirracistinsults,andpushingpastthetraumaofhisrookieyear,whenhekilledamanassaultingayoungwomannamedBunny,whoranfromthescene,leavingJohnnywithoutawitness.ButliketheSantaAnawindsthateveryyearbringtheriskoffire,Johnny’smomentofactiontwentyyearsagosparkedaslow-burningchainofconnectionsthatunitesavibrant,complexcastofcharactersinwaystheyneverseecoming.InMecca,thecelebratednovelistSusanStraightcraftsanunforgettableAmericanepic,examiningrace,history,family,anddestinythroughtheinterlockingstoriesofagroupofnativeCaliforniansallgaspingforair.Withsensitivity,furor,andacinematicscopethatcapturesCaliforniainallitsinjustice,history,andglory,shetellsastoryoftheAmericanWestthroughtheeyesofthepeoplewhobuiltit--andcontinuetosustainit.AsthestakesgethigherandtheintertwinedcharactersinMeccaslamagainstbarrierafterbarrier,theyfindthatwhenpushcomestoshove,it’salwaysbettertopushback.
