This story took me completely by surprise. Who would have thought I would feel such affinity for a young Dominican American boy from New Jersey? Junot Diaz won my heart over and over, and then broke it over and over. I have a whole new appreciation for Alfonso, who this book was apparently written for. And, as happened when I read 'Angela's Ashes', I am left feeling that life has given me precious little to complain about. No small feat sometimes.

I am still, however, wondering... how should I pronounce 'fuku'?