About This Book

In this novel in verseunprecedented in Chicano literaturerenowned poet Juan Felipe Herrera illuminates the soul of a generation. Drawn from his own life as well as a lifetime of dedication to young people, "CrashBoomLove" helps readers understand what it is to be a teen, a migrant worker, and a boy wanting to be a boy.

Sixteen-year-old Csar Garca is careening. His father, Papi Csar, has left the migrant circuit in California for his other wife and children in Denver. Sweet Mama Lucy tries to provide for her son with dichos and tales of her own misspent youth. But at Rambling West High School in Fowlerville, the sides are drawn: Hmongs vs. Chicanos vs. everybody vs. Csar, the new kid on the block.

Precise and profound, "CrashBoomLove" will appeal to and resonate with high school readers across the country.