First published 1994
In the mid-1950s Southwest, Mike McGurk, son of the foul-mouthed Texaco Turk, yearns for a mother's love and a sense of belonging. When he befriends Mexican-American war veteran Bobo Garcia, their unlikely bond leads them on a series of comic misadventures. From erotic entanglements with his cousin Lily to the embrace of Bobo's sprawling family, Mike grapples with the challenges of manhood. As he takes charge of his destiny, Mike's cathartic act ignites the Arizona desert with new life.
Genres: fiction, family-life, american-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Arizona
Period: 1950s
258 pages · Hardcover · Harpercollins