Family is one of the most prescient themes in Under the Mesquite. Family informs identity of the characters, the major conflict of the plot, as well as the source of inspiration for the story. Family presents the first obstacle of the story: Mami’s first cancer diagnosis. Through this family issue, the narrator Lupita comes into her own. As the eldest child, she feels the responsibility of leadership, and she takes care of her mother the way Mami takes care of her children.

The influence of her father on her writing, as well as her mother on her acting, drives Lupita to seek dreams and opportunities as though a promise for a better future has always been the family’s goal. At first, Lupita believes that she works hard for the sake of her family, but by the end of the novel, she discovers that the commitment to her family teaches her self-respect and confidence.

Lupita’s family is large and extremely close. Her parents encourage their children to be friends with one another, and although Lupita’s relationships with her siblings can be strained, the same closeness that promotes tension also promises unconditional love and support.