Gordo

By Jaime Cortez

Written from the keen, open perspective of children coming of age on the migrant farms of Steinbeck Country, Gordo provides insight on generational dynamics, exploring the forces of culture, status, wealth, and ethnicity in shaping one’s identity

Speaking directly to the experiences of undocumented migrant workers, and the tensions between those who are documented and those who are not, the full breadth of identity as disenfranchised Latinx Americans is explored through the unfiltered, inquisitive lens of children whose own identities are in flux, as they straddle the world of their parents and the world beyond

Touching on issues of sexuality and gender dynamics, we witness the trauma endured by women and men both, as alcohol and violence play major roles in relenting control and providing escape in the midst of such harsh working conditions

The retro aesthetic paired with classic storytelling makes for a compulsive collection that will draw fans of House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Drown by Junot Diaz, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, and When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka.

Blurbs from Rabih Alameddine and Rebecca Solnit make for a promising start to what we imagine will be much more praise to come, especially as the brilliant John Freeman has spearheaded the editing of this book from the get-go

Jaime has been an essential figure in the conversations about immigration, sexuality, and the Latinx community. His stories have previously been published far and wide, being featured in publications and anthologies focusing on children’s literature, Chicano identity, and LGBTQ voices

• Language: English
• Publisher: Grove Press, Black Cat
• Release date: Aug 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9780802158093