They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems

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An award-winning novel in verse about a boy who navigates the start of seventh grade and life growing up on the border the only way that feels right—through poetry.

They call him Güero because of his red hair, pale skin, and freckles. Sometimes people only go off of what they see. Like the Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez, twelve-year-old Güero is puro mexicano. He feels at home on both sides of the river, speaking Spanish or English. Güero is also a reader, gamer, and musician who runs with a squad of misfits called Los Bobbys. Together, they joke around and talk about their expanding world, which now includes girls. (Don’t cross Joanna—she's tough as nails.)

Güero faces the start of seventh grade with heart and smarts, his family’s traditions, and his trusty accordion. And when life gets tough for this Mexican American border kid, he knows what to do: He writes poetry.

Honoring multiple poetic traditions, They Call Me Güero is a classic in the making and the recipient of a Pura Belpré Honor, a Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, a Claudia Lewis Award for Excellence in Poetry, and a Walter Dean Myers Honor.

 
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# of Pages: 112

Book Binding: Paperback

Year of Publication: 2021

Publisher: Kokila

Language: en

ISBN: 9780593462553

David Bowles is an award-winning Mexican-American author, poet, and translator. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, he draws on his cultural roots and experiences to create powerful and poignant works. He has published over 20 books for both children and adults, including They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems, which won the 2019 Pura Belpré Honor for Children's Literature. In addition to his writing, Bowles is also a professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he teaches courses on Mexican-American literature and creative writing. Through his work, he aims to promote diversity, inclusivity, and understanding of different cultures and perspectives.