Bless Me, Ultima

Antonio is a very empathetic and reflective boy. Antonio is six years old at the beginning of the novel. He is at the center of a conflict between the Márez values of his father and the Luna beliefs of his mother; while his father would like him to become a cowboy, his mother desperately wants him to become a priest. He works as an apprentice to Ultima, absorbing her wisdom about life and learning the characteristics and names of herbs and plants she uses in his work. Over the course of the novel, Antonio experiences several tragedies that make him question the meaning of sin and morality and the truth of religion. Eventually, he determines to find his own path in life and create his own religious faith.