Gary Soto

Gary Soto writes that when he was five "what I knew best was at ground level." In this lively collection of short essays, Soto takes his listener to a ground-level perspective, recreating in vivid detail the sights, sounds, smells, and textures he knew growing up in his Fresno, California, neighborhood. The "things" of his boyhood tie it all together: his Buddha "splotched with gold," the taps of his shoes, and the "engines of sparks that lived beneath...

Two Mexican American brothers hope that junior college will help them escape their heritage of tedious physical labor.

The author describes his experiences growing up as a Mexican American in Fresno, California.

In order to look more like his father, Ricky borrows a mustache from a school costume, but when he loses it on the way home his father comes up with a replacement.

Maya, the flower girl, describes a Mexican American wedding through snapshots of the day's events, beginning with the procession to the altar and ending with her sleeping after the dance.

Rudy anxiously prepares for and then goes out on a first date with an attractive girl who is older than he is.

Twenty-one poems about growing up in an Hispanic neighborhood, highlighting the delights in such everyday items as sprinklers, the park, the library, and pomegranates.

The author's twenty-one poems are about the themes of life and each is preceded by a personal anecdote.

Luis is convinced that he will not perform well on the baseball field without following his unique pre-game ritual.