L'œuvre de Fred Aceves est profondément informée par son riche héritage culturel en tant que fils d'un père mexicain et d'une mère dominicaine. Ses années de formation dans des quartiers ouvriers en Californie et en Floride lui ont donné une perspective ancrée qui résonne tout au long de son écriture. Ses voyages mondiaux étendus et un parcours professionnel diversifié lui ont doté d'une vision du monde unique, façonnant sa voix littéraire. Ces expériences convergent dans son premier roman, explorant les thèmes de l'identité et de l'environnement avec une perspicacité authentique.
A talented debut author presents a raw and funny novel that is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming, with a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering one's self. 5 1/2 x 8 5/16.
This own voices story from the acclaimed author of The Closest I've Come unflinchingly examines steroid abuse and male body dysmorphia. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and Matt De La Peña. David Espinoza is tired of being messed with. When a video of him getting knocked down by a bully's slap goes viral at the end of junior year, David vows to use the summer to bulk up-- do what it takes to become a man--and wow everyone when school starts again the fall. Soon David is spending all his time and money at Iron Life, a nearby gym that's full of bodybuilders. Frustrated with his slow progress, his life eventually becomes all about his muscle gains. As it says on the Iron Life wall, What does not kill me makes me stronger. As David falls into the dark side of the bodybuilding world, pursuing his ideal body at all costs, he'll have to grapple with the fact that it could actually cost him everything.