Book Review of Ghost Brother
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The Children’s Book Review
What to Expect: Friendship, family, immigration, grief, loss, bullying, discrimination.
Set against the backdrop of Mexican-American tensions in South Texas, this young adult novel takes readers on a rollercoaster ride that blends murder mystery and ghost stories with a heart-wrenching exploration of grief, racial discrimination, and bullying.
Carlos is dead, but that won’t stop him from trying to help his twin brother, Cris, and Cris faces multiple challenges. As well as struggling to fit in in their high school, Cris is also struggling with the difficulty of reuniting with their absentee father, their mother’s crippling grief at Carlos’ death, and the local sheriff’s determination to pin his own son’s death on Cris. Cris has also fallen for the new girl in school, Selena—but Carlos knows that Selena has some secrets of her own and that she knows more about the crash that killed Carlos and the sheriff’s son than she’s admitting.
Although Carlos desperately wants to help his brother navigate these challenges, he faces the ultimate obstacle: communicating across the veil that separates life and death. Carlos must find extraordinary ways to protect his brother and heal the rifts threatening his community.
Sharing the narrative spotlight, Carlos and his brother are both impetuous and conscientious, with a deep love for each other and their friends and family that readers will admire and respect. The story is rich in cultural detail, including Latinx language and cultural references, that lend authenticity to the first-person narrative. The dual narrative perspective allows the serious issues of bullying, discrimination, and grief to be explored in a multifaceted and sensitive manner.
Exciting and thought-provoking, this novel is sure to have readers intrigued until the last page.
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About the Author
Sylvia Sánchez Garza is an advocate for literacy, education, and the arts. She believes in showcasing creative talent, especially in the Rio Grande Valley, to inspire all ages in her community. Garza is a Gold Star, literary award-winning author. Her book Cascarones has won several literary awards. As an author and poet, she speaks and presents at schools and events regarding literacy, reading, writing, and the importance of “sharing one’s story.” Her work has been published in literary magazines, three anthologies, and three books. Awaken, a poetry book; Cascarones, a coming-of-age young adult novel; and a new release young adult novel titled Ghost Brother.
Garza has a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Our Lady of the Lake University’s School of Business and Leadership, a master’s in educational administration from Lamar University, a master’s in fine arts in creative writing from National University, and a bachelor’s in English with a minor in sociology from Pan American University. She serves on the South Texas ISD School Board, is a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Director for Region 1, and holds an officer position on the TASB board. Sylvia is also a board member of the South Texas Literacy Coalition and the South Texas Culture and Arts Foundation, a member of the Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA), and a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). She is a founder of the Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Memorial Book Festival, a member of the Authors Guild, Texas Authors, and the Writer’s League of Texas.
Dr. Garza grew up in Weslaco, where the local library, The Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Public Library, is named after her father, a migrant farmworker, veteran, superintendent, mayor, and author.
For more information, visit sylviasanchezgarza.com.
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