by Xavier Garza
ISBN: 978-1-55885-835-0
Publication Date: October
31, 2016
Bind: Trade Paperback
Pages: 64
Ages: 8-12
Joe López is in seventh grade, and he dreams of being an artist
as good and successful as his grandfather. He’s thrilled when the new art
teacher compliments him on his pencil drawings of roosters and offers to teach
him how to paint with oils. She even suggests that he might want to enter his
piece in the county fair!
Still thinking about the possibility of painting with oils and
not just kids’ tempera paint, Joe and his best friend Gary see Luis, a chubby
sixth grader, running down the hall. Soon they see why he’s running: Martin
Corona, the school’s biggest bully, is in hot pursuit. They watch as he slams
Luis against the lockers and demands money. Much to his surprise, Joe finds
himself defending Luis. Luckily, the vice principal shows up just in time to
rescue both Luis and Joe.
Reluctant to be a tattletale, Joe tries to avoid Martin and his
gang. Even though he knows it’s just a matter of time before Martin exacts his
revenge, fear doesn’t keep him from going to football games and trying to
impress the girl he likes. And when he meets Martin Corona under the bleachers
after school one day, it’s a conversation with his Grandpa Jessie about la
lucha—or everyone’s individual fight—that helps Joe and his friends not only
survive the encounter, but put the bully in his place.
This bilingual “flip” book for intermediate readers also
includes Garza’s black and white sketches depicting bullies, heroes and the
roosters that Joe loves to draw. Award-winning author and illustrator Xavier
Garza once again writes an action-packed novel that will appeal to all young
teens.
“Garza’s bold, black-and-white illustrations reflect the age
level of both the protagonists and the target audience—preteen Latino
boys.”—Kirkus Reviews
XAVIER GARZA is a prolific author, artist and storyteller. His
work includes Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel (Cinco Puntos
Press, 2011), a Pura Belpré Honor Book; Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other
Stories / Kid Ciclón se enfrenta a El Diablo y otras historias (Piñata Books,
2010); and The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La señora Asno
se enfrenta a la Llorona y otros cuentos (Piñata Books, 2015). He lives with
his family in San Antonio.
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