This is a collection of poetic memories from Gary Soto which chronicle some of his most memorable moments growing up as a Mexican American in the U.S. He prefaces each story with a short anecdote about how the poem got written, and gives insights into his own ways of coping with adolescence and being a minority.

Okay, so I take it back. I had claimed that Soto's works in my classroom anthologies were timeless but it was the fact that my favorite Soto poem has indeed temporarily expired that led me to search for new material in this book. Here's what happened:

I love the poem "Oranges" as a teaching tool in the classroom. The kids experience a narrative poem that inspires the appropriate discussion and interest, and it's easy to understand, similar in theme to a Soto short story ("Broken Chain") and overall it just provides everything I need. Well! This year, for the first time, it caused my students to fail miserably at containing their erupting laughter behind interested faces, when for 6 years, no one so much as giggled!

Apparently, in 2010, a poem that uses the word "fingering" in any context is asking for trouble. And, it turns out, even the concept of two oranges seems too much like testicles to my darling 7th graders. Who would've thought? I guess I should've---but I never had any of this nonsense before! :) So, I need to find a similarly-themed, similarly easy-to-understand, similarly concise poem for next year until the word "fingering" can be disassociated from its most popular association. How many years is that?


Any suggestions for great, easy poems for 7th grade that deal with 7th grade issues? This collection didn't have anything that interested me.

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This is a great book for pre-teens and teens and even adults. The poems are easy to relate to and address real life for teens. Gary Soto captures what life is about for everyone through his own experiences which serve as models for these poems. ( )

Gary Soto uses his own life experiences to paint pictures with words. His poems highlight growing up in poverty with humor and fondness. ( )

Old Children's Book. Liked it as a kid, but haven't read it in years. ( )