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2129 ratings | 487 reviews | avg rating:4.32

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David’s Bookshelves

to-read (171)
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789 books | 212 friends

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636 books | 47 friends

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David Bowles

Goodreads Author

Born

in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, The United States

Website

http://www.davidbowles.us

Twitter

DavidOBowles

Genre

Science Fiction & Fantasy, Young Adult, Poetry

Influences

Ursula K. Le Guin, Meg Medina, Margarita Engle, Octavia Butler, Robert ...more

Member Since

July 2007

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/davidbowles

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David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from south Texas. He has written several award-winning titles, most notably THEY CALL ME GÜERO and MY TWO BORDER TOWNS

His work has also been published in multiple anthologies, plus venues such as The New York Times, Strange Horizons, School Library Journal, Rattle, Translation Review, and the Journal of Children’s Literature.

Additionally, David has worked on several TV/film projects. In 2019, he co-founded the hashtag and activist movement #DignidadLiteraria, which has negotiated greater Latinx representation in publishing. He is presently the president of the Texas Institute of Letters.

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Combine Editions
David Bowles’s books

Average rating: 3.93 · 14,188 ratings · 3,095 reviews · 100 distinct works • Similar authors

	They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems 4.05 avg rating — 2,210 ratings — published 2018 — 12 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Two Border Towns by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Erika Meza (Illustrator) 4.27 avg rating — 1,217 ratings — published 2021 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ancient Night by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), David Alvarez (Illustrations) 3.88 avg rating — 630 ratings — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Rise of the Halfling King (Tales of the Feathered Serpent, #1) by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Charlene Bowles (Illustrator) 3.87 avg rating — 402 ratings — published 2020 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Prince and the Coyote by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Amanda Mijangos (Illustrator) 3.94 avg rating — 304 ratings — published 2023 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Guadalupe Garcia McCall (Goodreads Author) 3.87 avg rating — 289 ratings — published 2023 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Battle of the Bad-Breath Bats (13th Street #1) by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Shane Clester (Illustrations) 3.83 avg rating — 256 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Witch Owl Parliament by David Bowles (Goodreads Author), Raúl the Third, Stacey Robinson 3.57 avg rating — 265 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico 4.32 avg rating — 213 ratings — published 2018 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	They Call Her Fregona: A Border Kid's Poems 4.20 avg rating — 191 ratings — published 2022 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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David Bowles's Blog: Meme Floe

Texas Writer Award

I am humbled and honored beyond belief to be this year’s recipient of the Texas Writer Award, presented by the Texas Book Festival “to an esteemed writer in recognition of outstanding contributions to Texas literature.”

On the inside, I’m still that light-skinned Chicano living in Section 8 housing in Pharr, Texas, seeking refuge in libraries from the darkness around me, never ever dreaming that so

Series by David Bowles

A Border Kid's Poems (2 books)
by

David Bowles (Goodreads Author)

4.06 avg rating — 2,401 ratings

13th Street (6 books)
by

David Bowles (Goodreads Author),

Shane Clester (Illustrations)

3.99 avg rating — 581 ratings

Tales of the Feathered Serpent (3 books)
by

David Bowles (Goodreads Author),

Charlene Bowles (Illustrator)

3.85 avg rating — 482 ratings

Clockwork Curandera (1 book)
by

David Bowles (Goodreads Author),

Raúl the Third,

Stacey Robinson,

Damian Duffy

3.57 avg rating — 265 ratings

Garza Twins (4 books)
by

David Bowles (Goodreads Author)

3.52 avg rating — 231 ratings

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David is Currently Reading

David is currently reading

Legend of Exorcism: Tianbao Fuyao Lu (Novel) Vol. 2

by Fei Tian Ye Xiang

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Aug 06, 2026 01:25PM

David is currently reading

The Dispossessed (Hainish Cycle, #6)

by Ursula K. Le Guin

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Feb 13, 2026 02:56PM

David is currently reading

Witch King (The Rising World, #1)

by Martha Wells (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jan 31, 2026 12:07PM

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David’s Recent Updates

David is currently reading Legend of Exorcism: Tianbao Fuyao Lu (Novel) Vol. 2 by Fei Tian Ye Xiang	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 06, 2026 01:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David rated a book really liked it Legend of Exorcism: Tianbao Fuyao Lu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Fei Tian Ye Xiang	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 07, 2026 10:13PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David rated a book it was amazing Chaos Agent (The Villains Series, #2) by Lee Winter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 17, 2026 09:10AM · like
David rated a book really liked it The Fixer (The Villains Series, #1) by Lee Winter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 05:42PM · like
David is currently reading Chaos Agent (The Villains Series, #2) by Lee Winter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 05:42PM · like
David rated a book really liked it The Fixer (The Villains Series, #1) by Lee Winter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 05:42PM · like
David rated a book it was amazing Hotel Queens by Lee Winter (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 14, 2026 05:38PM · like
David rated a book it was amazing How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 12, 2026 09:00AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — How to Fake It in Society by K.J. Charles <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jun 09, 2026 05:39AM · 1 like · like · view books
David is currently reading Legend of Exorcism: Tianbao Fuyao Lu (Novel) Vol. 1 by Fei Tian Ye Xiang	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 07, 2026 02:25PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Legend of Exorcism by Fei Tian Ye Xiang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of David's books…

Quotes by David Bowles (?)

“When wounds are healed by love,
The scars are beautiful.”
― David Bowles, Shattering and Bricolage

tags: healing, kintsukuroi, poetry

72 likes

“I want to be part of your story. I want your story to rearrange the symbols in my mind. I want your voice to be my voice.”
― David Bowles, The Blue-Spangled Blue

tags: inspirational, romance

22 likes

“Maybe I'm deceiving myself. Perhaps I don't know him as well as I'd like to imagine. What does a person so willing to utterly remake himself hold inside his heart? Can I trust such a man? What motivates him?

In an instant she knew, and she felt a bit of relief.

Love. Love was what drove him.”
― David Bowles, The Deepest Green

tags: family, inspirational, motivation, romance

11 likes

See all David Bowles's quotes »

Polls

Vote for our June 2022 graphic novel!

Facebook poll: https://www.facebook.com/groups/28175...

The Witch Owl Parliament by David Bowles

1 vote, 50.0%

Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontës by Isabel Greenberg

1 vote, 50.0%

Poems to See by: A Comic Artist Interprets Great Poetry by Julian Peters

0 votes, 0.0%

My Boyfriend Is a Bear by Pamela Ribon

0 votes, 0.0%

2 total votes

1 comment

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Monthly Challenges: JULY 2024 COMPLETED TASKS	40	8	Aug 01, 2024 06:22AM
Nothing But Readi...: Keely's Reading Challenges	43	188	Dec 10, 2024 05:19PM

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David’s Quotes

“One planet, one experiment.”
― Edward O. Wilson

tags: environmentalism, science

68 likes

“Human nature is deeper and broader than the artificial contrivance of any existing culture.”
― Edward O. Wilson, The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth

23 likes

“...human beings are a species splendid in their array of moral equipment, tragic in their propensity to misuse it, and pathetic in their ignorance of the misuse.”
― Robert Wright

22 likes

“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.”
― Philip K. Dick, I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon

4336 likes

“The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly can he respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give.”
― Philip K. Dick

1110 likes

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David’s Groups

¡ POETRY ! — 22494 members — last activity Sep 21, 2026 02:04PM
No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read it!) Goodreads honors wordsmiths: poets and poetry promoted and prompted here. ~~~ "Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits." -- Carl Sandburg “God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer.” —Anne Sexton On Clouds – “…what primitive tastes the ancients must have had if their poets were inspired by those absurd, untidy clumps of mist, idiotically jostling one another about…” —Yevgeny Zamyatin “If the poet wants to be a poet, the poet must force the poet to revise. If the poet doesn’t wish to revise, let the poet abandon poetry and take up stamp-collecting or real estate.” —Donald Hall “Poetry is a rich, full-bodied whistle, cracked ice crunching in pails, the night that numbs the leaf, the duel of two nightingales, the sweet pea that has run wild, Creation’s tears in shoulder blades.” —Boris Pasternak “Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket.” —Charles Simic “Language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to, while all the time we long to move the stars to pity.” —Gustave Flaubert “Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It’s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that’s what the poet does.” —Allen Ginsberg. ~~~~~ Amy King, Moderator Amy King is the recipient of the 2015 Winner of the WNBA Award (Women’s National Book Association). Her latest collection, The Missing Museum, is a winner of the 2015 Tarpaulin Sky Book Prize. She serves on the executive board of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts and is co-editing with Heidi Lynn Staples the anthology, Big Energy Poets of the Anthropocene: When Ecopoets Think Climate Change. She is also co-editing the anthology, Bettering American Poetry 2015, and is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at SUNY Nassau Community College. ...more

Bizarro Fiction — 1121 members — last activity Sep 15, 2026 04:01PM
This is a group devoted to lovers of bizarro fiction. Whether you write it or read it, you are welcome here. Come join us in our love of the weird and ...more

McAllen Public Library — 61 members — last activity Dec 19, 2019 02:05PM
McAllen Public Library invites you to join our book discussion group to discover what your community is reading and to discuss literature.

Latino and Latin American Literature — 1339 members — last activity Feb 11, 2026 07:42AM
Best Writings of The Americas

VAO Publishing — 5 members — last activity Apr 04, 2012 02:35PM
VAO Publishing is a division of the 501(c)(3) non-profit Valley Artist Outreach. Our mission is to promote the voices of writers in the Río Grande Val ...more

American Westerns — 707 members — last activity Sep 19, 2026 03:50AM
The American Westerns group provides a forum for the appreciation and discussion of classic and current fiction of the Old West.

Vallujos: Los de Valle — 35 members — last activity Feb 19, 2017 04:53PM
The Rio Grande Valley of South Texas is full of culture and drama! Get to know the literature written by and about Vallujos.

Literate in the Rio Grande Valley — 13 members — last activity Sep 22, 2012 06:42PM
A group of people in the Rio Grande Valley, Tx who love to read!!

Spanish Writers — 72 members — last activity Jul 28, 2023 03:56PM
This group is opened to the whole world, is born with the target to treat any topic regarding writers and Hispanic literature. Not for it, the group l ...more

Urban Latino Book Club — 16 members — last activity Oct 19, 2017 08:52PM
The Urban Latino book club, Though welcomes all Authors and Genres, has been created as a platform, serving the literary works of our Latino Brothers ...more

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