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Muchacho
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"An inspiring YA debut from the author of "Dangerous Minds."
"Eddie Corazon is angry. He's also very smart. But he's working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he's a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up--when they aren't in jail.
Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something i ...more
"Eddie Corazon is angry. He's also very smart. But he's working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he's a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up--when they aren't in jail.
Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something i ...more
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208 pages
Published
September 8th 2009
by Random House
(first published January 1st 2009)
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I starting reading this book last year, it is ok but it took me a really long time to finish since it wasn't as good as I thought it would be and I often got bored reading it.
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Simple and beautiful. That's all.
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I picked up Muchacho to listen to because I thought it might be appealing to the teens I serve, but I didn't know if I would actually like. Turns out it's pretty good. When you're reading the book you feel like you’re sitting down and having a conversation with narrator and main character Eddie. Eddie is living in New Mexico and attends Bright Horizons alternative school. Eddie's future could one of two ways he finishes high school or he becomes a full fledged juvenile delinquent, which some peo
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Summary:
Eddie Corazon sees no hope, no future. A juvenile delinquent living in a bad neighborhood, he's a junior only because he promised his mami he wouldn't drop out. He'll probably end up failing, anyway. But then things begin to change. First comes Mrs. Beecher who, before she was fired, showed him that there just might be a better way. Then comes Lupe. The most beautiful girl Eddie has ever seen and also the smartest. She has plans for her life and, slowly, Eddie begins to see that he too c ...more
Eddie Corazon sees no hope, no future. A juvenile delinquent living in a bad neighborhood, he's a junior only because he promised his mami he wouldn't drop out. He'll probably end up failing, anyway. But then things begin to change. First comes Mrs. Beecher who, before she was fired, showed him that there just might be a better way. Then comes Lupe. The most beautiful girl Eddie has ever seen and also the smartest. She has plans for her life and, slowly, Eddie begins to see that he too c ...more
Jan 31, 2014
Paolo Castellon
added it
I thought the book was a very interesting one and I will recommend it to anyone who likes urban drama. It is told from the perspective of a New Mexico teenager who is Mexican American and like he likes to say “I have more cousins than friends….that is the reality of being Mexican in New Mexico.
Two things that I liked about the book were how he changed point of view several times in the story. My second favorite thing was the way he describes his family members and how he either really likes th ...more
Two things that I liked about the book were how he changed point of view several times in the story. My second favorite thing was the way he describes his family members and how he either really likes th ...more
Eddie Corazon has been suspended more times than he can count. His friends and cousins are gang members and drug pushers. But he knows deep down that he is smarter than any of the teachers at his alternative high school believe. Through encounters with a special teacher, a cop, a book seller, an uncle, and his girlfriend, Eddie begins to see his potential. Told in a stream of consciousness style, this is an entertaining, funny, touching, and uplifting story. Eddie’s voice is so strong that you
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While this appears at first glance like a young-adult book, I think it has more in it for teachers than for their students. I was struck repeatedly by the huge impact a single person doing the right thing at the right time could have on a teenager like Eddie.
The book is probably worth reading because it's very quick. And Eddie, the Mexican-American first-person narrator, is an endearing character -- introspective, smart but perhaps not aware that he is, afraid to do things that make him seem lik ...more
The book is probably worth reading because it's very quick. And Eddie, the Mexican-American first-person narrator, is an endearing character -- introspective, smart but perhaps not aware that he is, afraid to do things that make him seem lik ...more
I enjoyed this book a lot, as a whole. It had some great lessons and kept my interest. As I read it, I felt a strong presence of the author, however. Many times, it didn't feel it was told from an adolescent's perspective, but rather, from the perspective of an adult trying to teach adolescents how to make good choices and navigate through the world. Eddie's voice didn't seem real to me, as I constantly felt the author's intentions. As a teacher, I feel like this book is a great read for my stud
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Jun 07, 2011
Shaeley Santiago
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
HS students, Fernando
Eddie is trying to "remake" himself using The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book as a guide. His insights on school (alternative), teachers, and life are fresh and interesting. I loved his poetry.
Some mature content. ...more
Some mature content. ...more
I enjoyed this story and look forward to the author's visit at the university of Pittsburgh at Bradford. I have a feeling she will be a good speaker. The character development and plot were both weak and I never quite engaged with the story. It didn't ring true that a teenaged boy acted so mature and rational. Maybe I should have read her more famous book Dangerous Minds.
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Eddy Corazon is an smart secret reader, who has change his life to became better for his future. He have a girlfriend whom name is Lupe but her father's does not like him around her because of his reputation.
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This book was about how street life is and how you should do better in school.
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Muchacho by Louanne Johnson is a bowl of cinnamon cheerios, a recognizable and familiar cereal with just an extra punch of flavor.
Eddie Corazon is smart, but he's also nearly a juvenile delinquent. And then, Lupe, a gorgeous girl, transfers to his school, and his world shifts. As Eddie gets to know Lupe, he discovers that maybe he has more choice about what his life can be. So many voices tell Eddie how he should live, but in the end, he has to mak ...more
Eddie Corazon is smart, but he's also nearly a juvenile delinquent. And then, Lupe, a gorgeous girl, transfers to his school, and his world shifts. As Eddie gets to know Lupe, he discovers that maybe he has more choice about what his life can be. So many voices tell Eddie how he should live, but in the end, he has to mak ...more
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. At first I thought it would be about Eddie’s struggle between being true to himself and being part of the criminal world, but really it’s a book about self-discovery and self-improvement. It’s a coming-of-age story about bettering yourself and realizing your potential, even if that means you have to fight against lies you’ve been told all your life about what you’re worth or what you can accomplish. Eddie is a very relatable character, and I really
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Jun 13, 2018
Diane DeSoto
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
Teen book clubs, reluctant readers
When one books entices you to read a book discussed within, that's a good book, in my opinion. :) Muchacho tells the story of young man who overcomes struggles in school, with parents, police, and his own self-worth. After learning how to slow down and think through his decisions, Eddie proves to himself and those he cares about that he has the ability to take control of the path his life takes and to be comfortable being himself.
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It was a very enthrilling novel about a young man trying not to get caught up in criminal intentions while at the same time keeping a reputation as a bad kid at school. After he finds love he tries to fully change himself as a person.I think this book was written very well and it kept me wanting more every time we read in class. So if your looking for a book with a inspirational, uplifting story I would give this book a ten out of ten.
One of the refugee girls I mentor is a reader. So when she recommended this book, I had to read it. And I am glad I did. It is a realistic story about a high school boy discovering his love for reading and writing and how this changes his life. The style of writing, stream of consciousness, took a little getting use because of the grammar was not perfect. Yet, this imperfect grammer lent authenticity to the story since this how Eddie thinks.
A dissapontment. Homestly the language she uses is not what a troubled hispanic teen qould use. Also the romance was unnecessary because it didnt even develop. I feel like she should of studied a bit more about hispanic culture and how teens handle life at their home life. It was just too fast paced and the story did not go well together. I still dont know who Eddie Corazon is.
Why the time/effort? I would have much rather poured through a Junot Diaz novel than deal with this watered down journey. I find it hardly believable that Eddie’s transformation makes sense at all. Please skip this read and move onto the next one. You’ll thank me later.
The book was amazing, I enjoyed it very much. Even though I wasn't able to fully relate to Eddie I still understand how he feels. I HIGHLY recommend this book to young kids like me who don't know what path to take yet.
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I have several students who will like this book even if they don't really like to read.
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This the book that inspired me to make poems and perform spoken poetry ;)
Looks into poverty and a lack of education from the side of someone wanting to change their lot in life.
i likes this book because they teach how to make someone really love you. I recommend this book because it is a very interesting and beautiful book because it shows you what love is.
Eddie and Lupe's relationship is a bit unrealistic. Love at first sight is cute but it just doesn't happen. Otherwise? This book is simple and honest. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
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Language - PG-13 (27+ swears, 3+ "f"), Sexual Content - R; Violence - G
I only read to page 36 because I didn't want to read the sexual content anymore. ...more
I only read to page 36 because I didn't want to read the sexual content anymore. ...more
Nov 15, 2016
Jasmin Castañeda
added it
His name is Eddie Corazon, but everyone just calls him Muchacho. No one realizes that under all his anger and bad behavior, that he’s intelligent, except for Lupe. In Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson, Eddie lives in a tough city in New Mexico where “anglos” think they’re superior to mexicans in the community. In a neighborhood where teenagers are pitted against one another, Eddie has a reputation to uphold. Even parents are weary of their children because of the financial status of the community. You
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I recently attended a seminar in which the presenter, Deborah Hipes, discussed "What's New in Young Adult Literature and How to Use It in Your Program." She always gives her top twelve books for High School and Middle School. I was somewhat surprised, as I had not heard much about many of the books she selected. On the other hand, it gave me some new reads to take a look at. When I asked her after the seminar which book would be her #1 choice for high school students, she said it was difficult t
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LouAnne Johnson's Muchacho is inspiring and motivational with its special style and the authors personal style of writing. Eddie Corazon is the main character living in New Mexico, its a novel about a teenage boy who is angry at the way he is living his life and decides to change it when a special girl come along. This book was very touching to me and it made me open my eyes to several things.
The author presents the theme of how love is powerful and change what other may think is impossible. No ...more
The author presents the theme of how love is powerful and change what other may think is impossible. No ...more
The book Muchacho is really interesting. The author of the book is by LouAnne Johnson. The book could relate to many people’s life. The book was so good I couldn’t stop reading it. The reason I couldn’t stop reading it was because it is so addicting, also because it was very attention grabbing the way the author describes the characters and the stuff that goes on in the book. The thing I liked about the book was the way the author setup the book with suspense and you just couldn’t wait to find o
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crisis | 1 | 2 | Mar 31, 2012 04:20PM | |
| crisis | 1 | 1 | Mar 27, 2012 02:12PM | |
| stress management | 1 | 2 | Mar 27, 2012 02:02PM | |
| Stress Management | 1 | 2 | Mar 06, 2012 11:44AM | |
| Choices | 2 | 5 | Mar 02, 2012 11:27AM | |
| choices | 1 | 1 | Mar 01, 2012 08:31PM |
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LouAnne Johnson is a former U.S. Navy journalist, Marine Corps officer, high school teacher, and the author of The New York Times bestseller Dangerous Minds (originally My Posse Don't Do Homework). In 1989, LouAnne began teaching reading and writing to non-English speakers as an intern at a high school in California. Since then LouAnne has taught English, adult basic education, developmental readi
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“He thinks if he tells us for hundred times a day that he went to Stanford University, then we'll appreciate what a big sacrifice he's making to be a teacher who gets paid crap.”
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“We'll talk to them in Spanish and if they don't understand us, we'll say it louder and slower, and shake our heads because how stupid can you be not to be able to speak such a simple language.”
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