The Brothers Torres

I am not a big reader, but I couldn't wait to get another chance to pick up The Brothers Torres and keep reading. I would knock out a chapter or two at a time, sneaking in a read whenever I could. Last night, I wanted to get in a chapter before bed but got so involved with the story that I finished it. The protagonist, Frankie, calls out to you, he's a truly recongnizable character no matter what your cultural background. Voorhees pulls you in with his solid characters and makes you giggle with his quick little one liners; smacks you around with a little drama, then makes you laugh about that. Any reader of high school age and up will enjoy this novel. Great work Mr. Voorhees, I look forward to your next book. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

I confess: I simply adore Frankie Towers. I haven't fallen so hard for a character since Ponyboy Curtis in the 7th grade. (And I'm old enough to know better!) You'll fall for him, too, as his honest, witty narration captivates you, enveloping you in his infatuation with the lovely Rebecca Sanchez, who may be even fuller of heart than heat--and she is smokin'--and immersing you in his disappointment with his caring-but-clueless parents. Frankie's voice supplies a fresh and original twist to a timeless teenage tale. I read the book straight through--couldn't put it down! I loved the realistic dialogue exchanges between Frankie and Zach. What a fun-loving pair of nerds with explosives. (And how refreshing that no one thought they'd blow up the school...on purpose anyway.) These loyal friends could've easily been plucked from my Midwestern classroom (or my husband's friends for that matter). The authentic portrayal of their friendship may be my favorite feature, of many favorite features, of the novel. When Zach comes to Frankie's aid despite his anger, it's such a heart-warming and true moment. I was particularly struck by the difficulty the boys have in negotiating the social scene and the "masks" so many young men feel pressured to wear to gain respect. In the characters Steve, Frankie's popular older brother, and Flaco, the leader of the local cholos, Mr. Voorhees captures that "tough guise" aspect of male culture, to quote Jackson Katz, and all its complexities exactly right. Working at his parents' restaurant, Frankie discovers an alternative to the allure of the gang in his brother's best friend--and Flaco's cousin--Cheo. Which role model will he choose to follow? Such a funny and moving story, it had a very strong emotional impact on me. Saturated with details of New Mexican flavors and landscapes and packed with action--on the soccer field, on the school campus, at the local mini-golf, and even a certain vehicle's back seat--The Brothers Torres has universal appeal beyond YA lit. It speaks to that lost and searching sixteen-year-old soul within all of us. Frankie discovers important truths about courage, forgiveness, and tolerance as his childish illusions are shattered by harsh economic realities in their small town of Borges. A treat as tasty as one of Mrs. Towers' stuffed sopaipillas, you oughta snap up this extraordinary coming-of-age novel and devour it! And somebody smart oughta snap up the film rights.

In the Brothers Torres, Frankie Towers comes of age in a small town in New Mexico. As Frankie juggles high school rivalries, life in his brother's shadow, his parents' expectations, and getting a date for homecoming (Rebecca Sanchez!), he takes some big steps into adulthood. Voorhees has a knack for tapping into the moments that mark the transition from youth to maturity, deftly intertwining adolescent concerns with the weightier issues that follow. He keeps it light with consistent pacing and a punchy, sly sense of humor that entertains without either underestimating the reader or minimizing the import of Frankie's experiences. The cultural references appearing throughout the book are well-chosen and will stand the test of time. (Julius Caesar and Star Wars make the cut, while SMS texting and YouTube fortunately do not.) The novel, Voorhees's first, skillfully covers the genre's standard components (love interest, sibling/peer/parent conflicts, awakening to the complexities of the adult world), and distinguishes itself through its setting in New Mexico. The venue allows for an exploration of the Latino experience (Frankie is a "half-breed" - Anglo father, Latino mother), and the interplay between mixing cultures is increasingly relevant in cities and towns across the country. Also, descriptions of the desert, tourists, fire ants, mesa parties, and stuffed sopapillas create a robust sense of place, lending depth to the characters and the story. Voorhees hits the nail on the head with Frankie's voice, the dialogue, and the sensibilities of his characters - particularly the students. In contemporary young-adult fiction, achieving authenticity is as critical as it is difficult. Readers will not be surprised to learn that Voorhees spent several years teaching high school English. Clearly it was not just his students who were taking good notes.

I confess: Playing with explosives and fire ants isn't exactly my thing. But this novel does a wonderful job of telling you about some young men with a penchant for such mischief, and you will find yourself not only liking them, but also wishing that messing around with firecrackers was the extent of their problems. Unfortunately, things are more serious than that in the run-down New Mexico town of Borges, and the story that Voorhees has crafted is textured, thoughtful, and suspenseful. It might be a bit much for children under, say, 14, but for anyone 15 and up, this book is great!

A fabulous read whether you're 17 or 47! Really, I can't remember the last time I read a book in 2 days. Nor can I remember the last time I read a book that so perceptively brought me into the mind of a teenager, and in many ways into the mind of the teenager each of us has been and still might be from time to time. Voorhees' prose sails, his dialogue is fat-free and witty, and his depiction of the American southwest is pitch perfect. Reading this book will make you lose respect for the publishing industry marketing people who pigeonhole books in categories like "young adult books," but you won't spend too much time feeling peeved because you will love the story of Frankie Towers and will feel lucky to have found a fresh new author.