We Were Here

Gr 9 Up—Miguel has been sentenced to one year in a group juvenile detention home and forced by the judge to keep a journal. It is through this journal that his story is told. The boy hasn't had an easy life—his father died in combat and Miguel grew up in a poor neighborhood in Stockton, California. At first, juvie just seems like his ticket out of dealing with his mother and his current problems, but after befriending Mong and Rondell he is convinced that if he escapes with them he will have a chance for a better life. Miguel works through identity issues as he tries to come to terms with his half-white/half-Mexican culture, deal with grief, and understand his place in the world. Miguel's diary entries capture the boys' day-to-day activities, including fights and meeting girls, as they make their ways to new beginnings. The reason for Miguel's incarceration is not revealed until the end of the book (Delacorte, 2009). Henry Leyva provides authentic narration, and his Latino accent is spot-on. Fans of coming-of-age stories, urban Latino teens, and reluctant readers will embrace this book. A must for communities serving Latino and urban populations.—Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ