{"id":13118,"date":"2022-11-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-22T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/booksyalove.com\/?p=13118"},"modified":"2022-11-22T07:32:53","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T13:32:53","slug":"he-wants-to-shine-carlos-gomez-freestyles-heavy-on-the-style-by-chuck-gonzales-graphic-novel-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/booksyalove.com\/?p=13118","title":{"rendered":"He wants to shine! CARLOS GOMEZ FREESTYLES…HEAVY ON THE STYLE, by Chuck Gonzales (Graphic novel review)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"book<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Take a chance?
Stay in the background?
Be himself? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years after moving to so-white South Dakota for Dad’s job, their Mexican-American family still faces racism at every turn, including the nosy ladies across the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For youngest kid Carlos, it’s been disastrous – his lisp<\/a> got worse, he’s terrible at PE, and his classmates call him queer and tease him for loving art and fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, RJ arrives in fifth grade and actually talks to Carlos (without spitballs). Her BMX bike team<\/a> enters the town charity talent show and invites Carlos to ride with them – once he ditches the training wheels (his balance is just so bad\u2026.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have big competition – his big sister Marie dazzling with her interpretive dance, middle brother Juan’s astonishing magic act, and a chainsaw-wielding stump carver – plus the yummy biscochito cookies<\/a> that Mom and the nosy ladies make for the bake sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can Carlos’ bike skills catch up in time?
Will his flair for fashion and sparkles win over the judges?
Will that bully Scott ever quit pushing him down? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This graphic novel has its roots in the artist’s own childhood as a lisping, non-athletic Mexican-American gay kid who didn’t fit in with his South Dakota classmates and found his own happier future in another place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What act would you perform for a talent show?
**kmm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book info<\/strong>: Carlos Gomez Freestyles\u2026Heavy on the Style \/ written & illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. Reycraft Books, 2022. [author site<\/a>] [publisher site<\/a>] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n