Gary Soto writes that when he was five "what I knew best was at ground level." In this lively collection of short essays, Soto takes his ...
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reviews
Sep 03, 2009
Sandra
rated it: 
This series of essays record memories of Soto’s upbringing in 1960’s Chicano Fresno, California. The gentle anecdotes recreate the sights, sounds, things of a central California boyhood so vividly that the reader almost experiences it. I wonder if it is not a little too gentle for most teen readers. It would make a good companion to Dandelion Wine. Be warned about the vulgarisms and references to typical teen boy fantasies and preoccupations that might make the book a little strong for some
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Apr 11, 2008
Antonio
rated it:
I like this book because it talks about real life thing like what people do at all ages,
At any age, people sin. Knowingly and ignorantly, preconceived and spontaneously, but as humans we are prone to sin, it is inevitable. Young Gary Soto recreated a childhood experience in his autobiography, A Summer Life. In this book, he shared his story about the time he stole a pie from the German Market. To emphasize the guilt he possessed as a young six-year-old, Gary Soto utilizes rhetorical device More...
At any age, people sin. Knowingly and ignorantly, preconceived and spontaneously, but as humans we are prone to sin, it is inevitable. Young Gary Soto recreated a childhood experience in his autobiography, A Summer Life. In this book, he shared his story about the time he stole a pie from the German Market. To emphasize the guilt he possessed as a young six-year-old, Gary Soto utilizes rhetorical device More...
Oct 13, 2009
Samantha
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I felt that this book was okay but it really wasn't full of suspense and detail. It was long and made of shot stories. If i were the author I would have added more detail and had it a little more geared toward younger people. This book reminded me of child times because there both memories. I understood that things got harder as Gary grow up and became more intelligent. There was some good parts of this book and some bad.
Nov 21, 2011
Meredith
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In the lovely collection of short vignettes, Gary Soto takes us inside the mind of a young boy growing up in California in the 50's. It has a lot of validity for small-town life in any era and in any geographical location. I could easily visualize a friend of mine who grew up in Cimarron, NM, in the early 60's...living these stories. Beautifully written, also. A good read.
May 01, 2010
Mariah
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This is the young adult collection of Soto's excellent short stories. California barrio life is tangible, and teenagers everywhere naturally empathize with the young people in Soto's tales. Excellent stories show us Latino culture, yet help us understand how we are all the same, deep inside. For younger readers, Baseball in April is just as good.
Dec 14, 2009
Ingrid
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I really enjoyed this book because it tells me about a mexican family in the summer and how Gary's life was so full of Joy and eximent. The part I mosted liked was when Gary's baby chicks died and he was so terribly sad and I felt so bad for him because he really liked his pets.The genre of this book is a memoir because it's about Gary Soto's past as a child. The main charter is really adventerous because he goes to L.A with his friend and has a blast. Also another way he's adventerous is becau
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Sep 24, 2009
This book is great! It hits so close to home for me because I also grew up where Soto did. All of his stories are very good and some are even funny!
Sep 15, 2010
Arlene
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Gary Soto takes us back to his childhood in Fresno, California from about age 5 till he reached 17. These stories are short vignettes about life in the summer time there.
Mar 17, 2011
Mike
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I read this years ago. All I really remember was that he hated working at an auto tire shop.
Aug 12, 2008
Jim
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A wonderful collection of short stories that are drawn from the author's memories growing up as a latino in an immigrant neighborhood in Fresno, CA.
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