The Sad Dahlias

The novel explores the inner turmoil of Mayeli, an apathetic schoolgirl infatuated with Alejandro “El Navajas.” Despite her friend Lupita’s warnings, Mayeli falls under Alejandro’s influence, though she ultimately resists his advances. Her life unravels, marked by domestic problems, school bullying, and Alejandro’s infidelity. After a series of painful experiences and moments of introspection, Mayeli seeks forgiveness from her mother and Lupita. Finally, she confesses her misdeeds at school, finding understanding and expressing her newfound perspective through a poem.