A beautiful and transformative memoir, Maria's Scarf is the incredible story of a mother's love, a family's unbreakable bond, and a starry-eyed boy who never lost sight of his dreams.
As the fatherless biracial child of a Mexican immigrant, Danny Donnelly was never expected to amount to much. Before the age of nine, his single mother had moved her seven children more than thirty times-from the impoverished streets of South Central Los Angeles to rural Oregon and everywhere in between.
Sometimes there was no home to go to, so they slept in their '62 Chevy; sometimes dinner was a slice of bread; sometimes they showered in a nearby park. Desperate yet ever hopeful, they clung to the only thing they had-each other. Through it all, Danny longed for his father's love and approval, ultimately channeling his pain and transforming himself into Zoro, one of the world's greatest drummers.
Eloquent, hilarious, and remarkably tender, Maria's Scarf: A Memoir of a Mother's Love, a Son's Perseverance, and Dreaming Big, tells the story of a family fighting for survival against almost insurmountable odds. Through laughter, tears, and many misadventures, Zoro touches the heart of every reader-young or old, citizen or immigrant-and speaks to the dreamer in all of us, emboldening everyone to live fantazmical lives.
"Sometimes, we need to see how someone overcomes the obstacles in their life to muster up the courage necessary to meet our own. Maria's Scarf is a portrait of courage that will inspire dreamers, both young and old. A timely immigrant story of a family pursuing the American dream. You'll be thinking about these heartbreaking, hilarious, and harrowing adventures long after you put the book down!"
"Both Zoro and I were blessed to live our dreams. Maria's Scarf will inspire you to never give up on yours."
"I can't recall ever reading a book when I just wanted to stand up and cheer again and again, but that's how Zoro's memoir affected me. If I could, I would give this book to every young person in the world."
"Zoro's beautiful and touching memoir, Maria's Scarf, is a testament to the strength and tenacity of the human spirit."
"Captivating…exhilarating…inspiring…riveting…An eight-course meal with dessert! Bravo, Zoro!"
"Engaging and evocative, Maria's Scarf is a glorious portrayal of the poignancy of love, one that kept me turning each page. A magical story filled with surprise and delight, this unforgettable memoir serves as a testament to the power of a mother's love and one boy's sheer determination. Every mother who has dreams for her children needs to read this!"
"Filled with wit, wisdom, grit, and glory, Maria's Scarf will leave you with a hopeful sense of possibility and the desire to rock the world in your own way!"
"Zoro's memoir will make you smile. The story captures what it means to love hard, stay true to a dream, overcome huge obstacles, and reach for the stars. Like the author himself, Maria's Scarf is triumphant in spirit, full of heart."
"Zoro and our lifelong customer, Elvis Presley, were cut from the same cloth…Zoro's book pays tribute to the heroes who shaped his life in such a beautiful and honoring way that you can feel the love seeping off the pages. Elvis would have loved Zoro and this book!"
"This inspiring story will open hearts, fuel hopes, and restore faith for readers across multiple generations, backgrounds, and beliefs…Maria's Scarf is the kind of uplifting story you'll want to read and discuss with everyone you know. The absolute must-read of the year."
"With whip-smart prose and a talent for telling stories, Zoro catapults us into the world of music, but he also takes us on a journey of growing up and what it means to be a family. He captures his childhood as a dreamer that is authentic and pulses like a pattern of drum beats. Maria's Scarf is a gene
