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Gr 8 Up—This collection of short stories captures the liminal spaces inhabited by Victor Reyes Jr., a Mexican American/Chicano Fresno teenager who is caught between the dangerous allure of the streets and his creative aspirations. At times, the choice between becoming another "cholo" stereotype and going down another path eludes Victor. The gravity of the streets often proves to be beyond Victor's control. For example, the chain of events that lead to Victor being shot—and, as a result, dead for 2.2 minutes before regaining life—start from a...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

"I died when I was fourteen years old." Victor Reyes was shot in a gunfight and declared dead (though only for two minutes), and his mother thinks he's a lost cause for hanging out with cholos. Except that he's not a gangbanger at all. Victor doesn't know what he wants to be, but he knows he isn't a cholo and doesn't want to be treated like he's going nowhere. He develops an interest in cooking and shows talent for art, which o...Log In or Sign Up to Read More