First published 1992
Manolo Olivar lives in the shadow of his legendary bullfighter father, who died in the ring when Manolo was three. Everyone in their Spanish town expects the eleven-year-old boy to follow the same path to glory. They see greatness in his bloodline and assume courage runs in his veins. But Manolo knows a secret that terrifies him: he fears the bulls that made his father famous. The townspeople arrange for his training, speaking of his destined future with certainty. His mother watches silently as others shape her son's fate. Manolo struggles between the expectations pressing down on him and his own desires. He must find the strength to choose his own path, even if it means disappointing everyone who believes they know who he should become.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, coming-of-age, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, family-expectations, identity-crisis
Setting: Spain
Period: 20th-Century
Paperback · Perfection Learning