First published 1973
Jacky knows hunger like other boys know playground games. The young boy scrapes by in a world that offers him little beyond empty stomachs and broken promises. When circumstances force him to leave Wichita behind, he sets out for Corpus Christi with nothing but his wits and an unshakeable belief that America holds something better for him. The road south tests every survival skill he possesses. Adults fail him repeatedly, money stays scarce, and comfort remains a luxury he cannot afford. Yet Jacky refuses to let hardship crush what burns inside him. He guards his independence fiercely and holds onto his capacity for love even when the world shows him cruelty. His journey becomes a test of whether hope can survive when everything else falls away. This American story follows one boy's determination to claim his place in a country that promises opportunity but demands everything in return.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, american, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, resilience
Setting: America, Corpus Christi, Wichita
Period: 20th-century
592 pages · Paperback · Sphere