Barely Missing Everything

Juan is struggling through high school in El Paso, Texas, where basketball may be his only way out of the ghetto. His best friend, J. D., aspires to be a great filmmaker, constantly filming everything in his life even if it’s uncomfortable for others. Juan’s mother, Fabi, is a single mom trying to make a better life for herself and Juan, but she doesn’t always make good choices. She had Juan when a teenager and now is pregnant again. These three take turns being point-of-view characters in this gritty, realistic, contemporary novel that will keep teen readers engaged through the harrowing problems each faces. The people they invite into their lives or encounter along the way and the choices they make shape the life journeys of each. There is nothing easy about their stories, but this is a realistic picture of the lives of Mexican-Americans in many cities across the country. Author Matt Mendez is a terrific writer and storyteller with a real grasp of the issues and problems faced by his characters. Readers may have problems with the amount of Spanish used in the story, but this book is worth overcoming that.