Welcome to Litsy!

I‘m glad I read this, for the strangeness of it, the reminder that words are ours for the wielding to shape stories as we wish. Was aware of a theme of distance/observation (fitting for a detective main character I guess) and of recurring motifs, but not perceptive enough to piece together their importance. In that sense, as a reader I was distanced. Separated from the story by its opacity. I looked at words on a page, then closed the cover.

I couldn‘t get into this one so giving myself permission to DNF

To start tomorrow night

“It‘s fun to be a border kid, to wake up early Saturdays and cross the bridge to Mexico with my dad”

In They Call Me Güero, we meet a Mexican American boy named Güero who shares his unique life through poetry. With his light skin and red hair, Güero sometimes feels different, but he celebrates who he is through his love for reading, video games, and hanging out with his “misfit squad” of friends. Inspired by Güero, try writing your poem about something important to you—you might find that, like Güero.

They call me Güero invites you into the world of a pale-skinned, nerdy boy with a rich Latino heritage. Güero is a reader, a gamer, and a budding musician who rolls with a tight-knit crew of misfits. Through his sharp, heartfelt poetry, he brings everyday experiences to life—making poetry cool along the way. Dive into Güero‘s journey as he navigates life, friendship, and identity, one verse at a time.

“You're a border kid, a foot on either bank. Your ancestors crossed this river a thousand times.“

I felt neutral toward this book however felt as though other poetry books would be more suited toward working with younger grades.

Poetry. Twelve-year-old Güero 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.
“Güero“ is a nickname for guys with pale skin, Latino or Anglo. But make no mistake: our hero is puro mexicano, like Canelo Álvarez, the Mexican boxer. Güero is also a nerd reader gamer and musician who runs with a squad of misfits

“You're a border kid, a foot on either bank. Your ancestors crossed this river a thousand times.