Prizefighter En Mi Casa

Not what I expected. Vulgar Spanish words.

Twelve year old Chula, her brother, parents and Abuela are Mexicans who live in poverty in South Texas. Things get worse when her father, who had been a drunk, had a car accident that leaves him in a wheelchair incapable of working, and Chula with a debilatating head injury that results in epilepsy. The father squanders the very last of the family's money on backing an illegal prizefight with the mythical Dark One, El Jefe, against Golden Gloves, a local promising young white fighter from the rich side of town. Since the accident, Chula has been an outcast because of her epilepsy, disfigurement and poor accomplishments in school. And although she and all the neighbors are scared to death of the prizefighter and his spooky reputation of killing a man, Chula and the prizefighter become tender friends. Yes, the prizefighter killed someone, yes the fight with Golden Gloves ends as horribly as you can imagine, and yes, the prizefighter in Chula's casa helps her to find the prizefighter within herself. A concise, inspiring story full of the awful grit of a family struggling against tense and powerful odds.

Little girl befriends large hulking male giant. It's the kind of image that sticks in your brain, isn't it? From the little girl in Frankenstein offering him a flower to King Kong and Fay Ray, the idea of a beauty taming a beast regardless of age sets off something in our reptilian brains. Maybe it's the contrast of the characterss or the juxtaposition of hulk and human, but people gravitate to this kind of story. And yet, for all of that, "Prizefighter En Mi Casa", stands out. This isn't just a tale of a girl and her BFG. This is a story where the child in question wants to learn strength from her gigantic friend. Though we've seen this kind of story told a million times before, we've never seen it done so convincingly. It's a book that teaches power to the powerless. Give it up for the meek. Things were bad for Chula's family, but she never expected they'd become THIS bad. I mean, sure her dad's in a wheelchair and it was his drunk driving that gave Chula the epilepsy that's marked her at school as a freak. And sure her brother's running with a gang and her mother's growing colder and more distant by the day. But did they have to invite a monster into their home? His name is El Jefe, "The Boss" and he's not the Devil. He's the Boss of the Devil. A unbeatable prizefighter in Mexico, El Jefe has done Chula's father a favor and has come to southern Texas to take on a fight that could mean a lot of prize money. Once Chula gets past her initial fear of her enormous housemate, she finds she can confess to him the fears and thoughts she'd never dare speak out loud amongst her family members. Chula wants to be strong, but she doesn't know how to go about it. She seems trapped in a circle of poverty and suspects that by not taking her epilepsy pills she might grow stronger. But when she begins to learn more about El Jefe's past and the extent to which her brother is involved with the Dark Skins, Chula may have to redefine what is right, what is wrong, and what is human. Sometimes when I'm reviewing book I'll do some brief coo about the language and then quote a particular sentence I might have found moving or unforgettable. The problem with "Prizefighter En Mi Casa" is that if I went about quoting all the lines I liked I'd have to write paragraph after paragraph of significant verses before getting to any silly details like "plot" or "characters". So I'll make you a compromise. Here are a mere four lines of writing from the book that struck me as examples of primo writing. Make of them what you will: "El Jefe's shadow clawed the hall wall before his way big body." "Sprinkles scattered like lost children hoping to find their mothers soon." "Not to mention, nobody went down to the Playground after dark anymore unless they were dark enough in the heart not to be seen." "He placed his thick scaly hand on my cheek and smiled like people do when they think they have to and their face don't wanna." Did you see that? Did yo

Prizefighter en Mi Casa will be a great read aloud for my sophomore English class. Our themes are "The Hero" and "The Journey," and Charlton-Trujillo's novel deals with both. Chula is a very accessible narrator, and the brother-sister relationship feels true-to-life. The aura of mystery around El Jefe will keep my kids guessing. All these ingredients, plus excellent writing, make Prizefighter a fantastic choice for my classroom!

Remember when you were in growing up and school in South Texas? The Cocooey or the Boogeyman, and words like teenage pregnancy, welfare or Lone Star, Wetbacks and Whitetrash were not uncommon? This book takes me back to those days when I first moved to Texas and heard those words. I also have epilepsy in my family. I think this book brings out the good and the bad of all worlds in a courageous and spirited way. I love Chula's character and how she finds her strength as she copes with her "flashes"/epilepsy, school, her family, home life, and sibling rivalry with Richie. The mystery of El Jefe, his connections to the family, and their needs drew me more into the story. There is also in this story the everyday youth issues like school stuff (friends, enemies, and grades), gangs and crime, ethnic stereotypes & prejudices. I love the use of juvenile and mexican/Tex-Mex vocabulary and grammar. I can't wait for more from Ms. Charlton-Trujillo!

What I liked most about this book was that all the characters were brave in their own way. Especially Chula, who has more courage than any of the adults. I loved the way Chula and Richie fight but take care of each other too. They're just like real brothers and sisters. The story is exciting and a little scary, but it makes you think. El Jefe is mysterious and complicated -- I wish a prizefighter like him would come to stay at my house. I recommend this book no matter how old you are.