Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Seventh-grader G ero starts writing poems, thanks to his teacher. A Mexican-American, he's at home in Spanish or English and on both sides of the river.
It 's fun to be a border kid, to wake up early Saturdays
And cross the bridge to Mexico with my dad.The town's like a mirror twin of our own,
With Spanish spoken everywhere just the same
But English mostly missing till it pops up
Like grains of sugar on a spicy pepper.
We have breakfast in our favorite restor n
Dad sips caf de olla while I drink chocolate
Then we walk down uneven sidewalks, chatting
With strangers and friends in both languages.
Later we load our car with Mexican cokes and Joya,
Avocados and cheese, tasty reminders of our roots.
Waiting in line at the bridge, though, my smile fades.
The border fence stands tall and ugly, invading
The carrizo at the river's edge.
Dad sees me staring,
Puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Don' t worry, m' ijo:
"You're a border kid, a foot on either bank.
Your ancestors crossed this river a thousand times.
No wall, no matter how tall, can stop your heritage
From flowing forever, like the R o Grande itself."
David Bowles grew up and still lives in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. A many- faceted writer, he's the author of Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico. He's a professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Synopsis
He is known by nicknames like "Red" or "el Pecas." Mostly, though, people just call him "G ero." Trusting in his family's traditions, his trusty accordion and his three friends The Bobbys, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope. He writes poetry.
Synopsis
Winner of Pura Belpr Honor
ALSC Notable Children's Book
Walter Award Honor Book
School Library Journal's 2018 Best Books
NCTE 2019 Notable Verse Novels
Shelf Awareness 2018 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year, Middle Grade
Twelve-year-old G ero is Mexican American, at home with Spanish or English and on both sides of the river. He's starting 7th grade with a woke English teacher who knows how to make poetry cool.
In Spanish, "G ero" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
Synopsis
Pura Belpr Author Honor Book, 2019
ALSC Notable Children's Book, 2019
Walter Award Honor Book, 2019
Claudia Lewis Award for Excellence in Poetry, Bank Street 2019
NCTE 2019 Notable Verse Novels
Tom s Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
TIL Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book 2018
Skipping Stones Award
mericas Award, Commended Title
School Library Journal's 2018 Best Books
Shelf Awareness 2018 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year, Middle Grade
Twelve-year-old G ero is Mexican American, at home with Spanish or English and on both sides of the river. He's starting 7th grade with a woke English teacher who knows how to make poetry cool.
In Spanish, "G ero" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
In Spanish, ""G ero"" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
"
Synopsis
Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2020-2021
Pura Belpr Author Honor Book, 2019
ALSC Notable Children's Book, 2019
Walter Award Honor Book, 2019
Claudia Lewis Award for Excellence in Poetry, Bank Street 2019
NCTE 2019 Notable Verse Novels
Tom s Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
TIL Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book 2018
Skipping Stones Award
mericas Award, Commended Title
School Library Journal's 2018 Best Books
Shelf Awareness 2018 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year, Middle Grade
Favorites of 2019, Americas Society / Council of the Americas
Twelve-year-old G ero is Mexican American, at home with Spanish or English and on both sides of the river. He's starting 7th grade with a woke English teacher who knows how to make poetry cool.
In Spanish, "G ero" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
In Spanish, ""G ero"" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
Synopsis
Bluebonnet Award Masterlist 2020-2021
Pura Belpr Author Honor Book, 2019
ALSC Notable Children's Book, 2019
Walter Award Honor Book, 2019
Twelve-year-old G ero is Mexican American, at home with Spanish or English and on both sides of the river. He's starting 7th grade with a woke English teacher who knows how to make poetry cool.
In Spanish, "G ero" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
In Spanish, ""G ero"" is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our red-headed, freckled hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo lvarez, the Mexican boxer. G ero is also a nerd--reader, gamer, musician--who runs with a squad of misfits like him, Los Bobbys. Sure, they get in trouble like anybody else, and like other middle-school boys, they discover girls. Watch out for Joanna She's tough as nails.
But trusting in his family's traditions, his accordion and his bookworm squad, he faces seventh grade with book smarts and a big heart. Life is tough for a border kid, but G ero has figured out how to cope.
He writes poetry.
Claudia Lewis Award for Excellence in Poetry, Bank Street 2019
NCTE 2019 Notable Verse Novels
Tom s Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award
TIL Jean Flynn Award for Best Middle Grade Book 2018
Skipping Stones Award
mericas Award, Commended Title
School Library Journal's 2018 Best Books
Shelf Awareness 2018 Best Children's & Teen Books of the Year, Middle Grade
Favorites of 2019, Americas Society / Council of the Americas