Call Me Henri
Grade 6-9–Enrique has a tough life, starting with ESL class. He wishes he could take a sensible language like French, which he's sure would be easier than English. Middle-school complications, however, are easier than those at home where taking care of his sibling triplets while his mother works consumes almost all of his free time. Not that his abusive stepfather, Juan, shows any appreciation. Still, Enrique stalwartly tries to balance all the requirements as best he can. Things disintegrate when he finds one of the babies not breathing and has to call 911, following directions that keep Yunior alive until the EMTs arrive. Authorities recognize that Enrique is a hero but shouldn't be the sole caregiver, so Juan's mother comes to help out, causing even more trouble. When his friend Horacio gets involved with drugs and is shot, and Enrique sees who did it, all of the elements come together to create impossible challenges and equally difficult solutions. All readers will empathize with Enrique's problems, but Latinos will particularly appreciate the language and cultural cues that are embedded as issues of immigration, green cards, and prejudicial stereotypes appear without taking the focus off an admirably human and resilient protagonist.–Carol A. Edwards, Douglas County Libraries, Castle Rock, COCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.