First published 1993
Chicaro lives in a dusty Mexican village where nothing ever seems to change. The twelve-year-old boy dreams of adventure beyond the adobe houses and narrow streets that have contained his entire world. When strangers arrive in town with mysterious plans, Chicaro finds himself caught between loyalty to his family and his burning curiosity about the wider world. His grandmother warns him to stay away from trouble, but Chicaro cannot resist following the newcomers as they explore the hills surrounding his village. What starts as innocent spying soon pulls him into events that will test his courage and force him to make choices no child should face. Through Chicaro's eyes, we see a boy learning that growing up means understanding that some doors, once opened, cannot be closed again.
Genres: fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Mexico
Period: 20th-century
115 pages · Paperback · Demco Media