You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
The novel by Federico Erebia is personal, candid in its details, and very coherent in terms of the overall idea that stitches together a chronological sequence of fragmentary memories into a unified canvas. This idea is love in its various manifestations: brotherly love, parental love, love for a man or a woman, teachers' love for children, love to what you do in life, and finally, love for oneself, which often takes a lifetime to find.
Love is pouring from the novel, connecting you to the characters. This book shattered my heart and put it back together again.
For two brothers, love, caring for each other, and empathy become a way to exist in a world hostile to them, where they feel unwanted and unloved. The harsh mother, avenging her children for her unhappy fate, the willless, though kind, father, unable to stand up for his child, the prejudices of the North American town, the Hispanic community with its conservative Catholic pressure—all this is the reality in which Pedro and Daniel grow up.
The author describes this growing up with meticulous detail and reverent attention to age psychology, from the choice of plot points to the childhood trivia stored in the narrator's memory, to the simplicity and naivety of the moral questions the boys ask themselves and the world. Here, we see the first impressions of school, moments of brotherly conspiracy, the violence of hiding one's feelings, and the awakening of sexuality with physiological signs that often frighten the child with their incomprehensibility.
They are both gay, but they each have different ideas of happiness and plans for the future: one dreams of becoming a doctor, the other a priest. Each has a different path: one is a lifetime long, and the other is too short to experience this unattainable happiness.
The novel is full of vivid episodes showing the complex, problematic inner world of the brothers, their unconventional thinking, and ways of interacting with others, which they have to reinvent.
The book is written in light, aphoristic language in a lively, almost cinematic manner.
Love is pouring from the novel, connecting you to the characters. This book shattered my heart and put it back together again.
For two brothers, love, caring for each other, and empathy become a way to exist in a world hostile to them, where they feel unwanted and unloved. The harsh mother, avenging her children for her unhappy fate, the willless, though kind, father, unable to stand up for his child, the prejudices of the North American town, the Hispanic community with its conservative Catholic pressure—all this is the reality in which Pedro and Daniel grow up.
The author describes this growing up with meticulous detail and reverent attention to age psychology, from the choice of plot points to the childhood trivia stored in the narrator's memory, to the simplicity and naivety of the moral questions the boys ask themselves and the world. Here, we see the first impressions of school, moments of brotherly conspiracy, the violence of hiding one's feelings, and the awakening of sexuality with physiological signs that often frighten the child with their incomprehensibility.
They are both gay, but they each have different ideas of happiness and plans for the future: one dreams of becoming a doctor, the other a priest. Each has a different path: one is a lifetime long, and the other is too short to experience this unattainable happiness.
The novel is full of vivid episodes showing the complex, problematic inner world of the brothers, their unconventional thinking, and ways of interacting with others, which they have to reinvent.
The book is written in light, aphoristic language in a lively, almost cinematic manner.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
This story was absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways. A beautiful story about overcoming great odds and learning about one’s true self.
A tender and heartbreaking coming of age story featuring two Latinx, gay and neurodiverse (dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, OCD) Mexican American boys trying to survive their abusive home life and constant bullying and microaggressions at school.
Parts of this story were so hard to read - their mother treats the boys terribly - both verbally and physically abusive. They are from a very Catholic, strict family, with toxic ideas of masculinity about how a 'good Mexican American' boy should behave. They also are forced to get circumcised as teens against their wills.
Set in 1970s Ohio spanning childhood into adult in the 80s and 90s with the onset of HIV/AIDS, this story is told in alternating POVs and was good on audio narrated by Frankie Corzo and Tim Pabón. Highly recommended for fans of books like Aristotle & Dante or Fifteen hundred miles from the sun and Ander and Santi were here by Jonny Garza Villa.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a heavy read and should be read with care especially for anyone for whom these topics might be triggering!
CW: domestic violence, homophobia, racism, dyslexia, OCD, ADHD, cPTSD, anxiety, speech impairment
Parts of this story were so hard to read - their mother treats the boys terribly - both verbally and physically abusive. They are from a very Catholic, strict family, with toxic ideas of masculinity about how a 'good Mexican American' boy should behave. They also are forced to get circumcised as teens against their wills.
Set in 1970s Ohio spanning childhood into adult in the 80s and 90s with the onset of HIV/AIDS, this story is told in alternating POVs and was good on audio narrated by Frankie Corzo and Tim Pabón. Highly recommended for fans of books like Aristotle & Dante or Fifteen hundred miles from the sun and Ander and Santi were here by Jonny Garza Villa.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This is a heavy read and should be read with care especially for anyone for whom these topics might be triggering!
CW: domestic violence, homophobia, racism, dyslexia, OCD, ADHD, cPTSD, anxiety, speech impairment
I loved reading this powerful story about two brothers, Pedro and Daniel. At times, I was brought to tears by the gut-wrenching abuse and adversity they faced, but also admired the resilient bond between them. Being Mexican-American, I related to many cultural references, and the dichos (sayings) throughout convey the truths in their world. Moving and full of heart and emotion, one I couldn’t stop reading!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Pedro and Daniel, two Mexican American brothers growing up in 1970s northern Ohio, are both out of step with the rest of their large family. Pedro, darker skinned like his father, grapples with a stutter and constant abuse from his mother, while gregarious Daniel enjoys playing with dolls and makeup -- and both are gay in a Catholic family. And while Pedro grows up to become a doctor and Daniel studies to be a priest, they both struggle to live authentically as gay men in a world rife with homophobia and the fear of HIV and AIDS.
This powerful book, occasionally laced with poetry, Spanish dichos (proverbs), and illustrations (by Julie Kwon), is based on the author's relationship with his brother Daniel who died in 1993 at the age of 30. It is utterly heartbreaking in the relentless depiction of abuse and colorism demonstrated by the boy's mother and the impact such physical and emotional violence had in their lives. While I would rather read stories that celebrate how far we've come in supporting our LGBTQ+ community, the increased pushes for anti-gay and anti-trans legislation right now make it necessary that we don't forget stories like these that show the pain, fear, and lack of acceptance that so many queer children and adults still face.
It may take the reader a little time to adjust to the shifting voices in the book -- the first part is all told in 3rd person, and after that the story alternates between Pedro's and Daniel's POVs, with the first few chapters reflecting their younger ages and less well-developed storytelling -- but I think it adds to the immediacy of the story and the lives of these two boys. Some passages may feel a little info-dumpish, especially the on-the-train conversation between the brothers about the then-state of medical understanding of HIV and potential treatments, but they do provide useful information for the narrative.
Achingly beautiful and melancholic. I wish we could go back to the 1970s and 1980s and do better by our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Four stars.
TW: child abuse (physical and emotional), domestic violence, bullying, homophobia, colorism, racism, death (off page), depictions of illness
Thank you, Levine Querido/Chronicle Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
This powerful book, occasionally laced with poetry, Spanish dichos (proverbs), and illustrations (by Julie Kwon), is based on the author's relationship with his brother Daniel who died in 1993 at the age of 30. It is utterly heartbreaking in the relentless depiction of abuse and colorism demonstrated by the boy's mother and the impact such physical and emotional violence had in their lives. While I would rather read stories that celebrate how far we've come in supporting our LGBTQ+ community, the increased pushes for anti-gay and anti-trans legislation right now make it necessary that we don't forget stories like these that show the pain, fear, and lack of acceptance that so many queer children and adults still face.
It may take the reader a little time to adjust to the shifting voices in the book -- the first part is all told in 3rd person, and after that the story alternates between Pedro's and Daniel's POVs, with the first few chapters reflecting their younger ages and less well-developed storytelling -- but I think it adds to the immediacy of the story and the lives of these two boys. Some passages may feel a little info-dumpish, especially the on-the-train conversation between the brothers about the then-state of medical understanding of HIV and potential treatments, but they do provide useful information for the narrative.
Achingly beautiful and melancholic. I wish we could go back to the 1970s and 1980s and do better by our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Four stars.
TW: child abuse (physical and emotional), domestic violence, bullying, homophobia, colorism, racism, death (off page), depictions of illness
Thank you, Levine Querido/Chronicle Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Holy genre-defying heck! This book is incredibly tender. You will fall in love with these two boys and even more so with their profound love for one another. You will feel all the feels. I sure did.
For a debut novel, I was most impressed with Erebia’s ability to build and masterfully deploy two distinct voices - one of Pedro and one of Daniel. If I had missed a chapter heading, I would have been able to tell which POV we were in solely based on the writing style. I truly felt I was inside each of their minds. Well done!
A few other things I loved:
- The inclusion and deployment of dichos. They were deeply special to the story.
- The clear intentionality behind what Spanish was followed by an English translation.
- Well-narrated audiobook. I opted to both listen and read along for the majority as I do think solely listening would have been more difficult to discern the translations as a non-bilingual reader.
- The full circle use of “my one true treasure”.
- The impact-focused inclusion of major trigger warnings with appropriate resources printed inside the cover. Other authors: take note!!!
TLDR:
Well-written, smart, and impactful novel. This book making it into the world is a thoughtful, beautiful tribute to Jesús Daniel and will be undoubtedly powerful in the hands of teens & adults who can see themselves in these pages.
For a debut novel, I was most impressed with Erebia’s ability to build and masterfully deploy two distinct voices - one of Pedro and one of Daniel. If I had missed a chapter heading, I would have been able to tell which POV we were in solely based on the writing style. I truly felt I was inside each of their minds. Well done!
A few other things I loved:
- The inclusion and deployment of dichos. They were deeply special to the story.
- The clear intentionality behind what Spanish was followed by an English translation.
- Well-narrated audiobook. I opted to both listen and read along for the majority as I do think solely listening would have been more difficult to discern the translations as a non-bilingual reader.
- The full circle use of “my one true treasure”.
- The impact-focused inclusion of major trigger warnings with appropriate resources printed inside the cover. Other authors: take note!!!
TLDR:
Well-written, smart, and impactful novel. This book making it into the world is a thoughtful, beautiful tribute to Jesús Daniel and will be undoubtedly powerful in the hands of teens & adults who can see themselves in these pages.
Such a hard-hitting story--even more so because it's based on the author's close bond with his own brother. It's impossible not to feel for both of them in all the hardships they face. I also personally appreciated how beautifully written the story is. The Spanish words and phrases and dichos are included so seamlessly, and use of poetic devices throughout really makes the voice stand out. Highly recommend!