The Boy Without a Flag: Tales of the South Bronx

by Abraham Rodriguez Jr.

Author Abraham Rodriguez, Jr. captures what it's like to grow up too fast amid the crushing poverty of the South Bronx. A gritty slice of New York Latino life—now reissued with a striking new cover.

Genres: Fiction, Short Story Collection

115 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Author Abraham Rodriguez Jr. is an author well-versed in the hardships of city life. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, he has opened the doors of inner-city America to the world by writing about an environment he knows best: his own.

Mr. Rodriguez is best known for his books The Boy Without A Flag, a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and Spidertown, winner of a 1995 American Book Award, which has also appeared in British, Dutch, German, and Spanish editions. Spidertown has been optioned by Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Rodgriguez's newest novel, The Buddha Book, which will be published by St. Martin's Press, is scheduled for release this year.

His work has appeared in dozens of anthologies and literary magazines including Story, Best Stories from New Writers, Chattahoochie Review, and Alternative Fiction & Poetry. He was the recipient of a grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts in 2000, and he has served as a literary panel member on the NewYork State Council of the Arts.

Mr. Rodriguez's current projects include writing the narration for a film called "Chenrezi Vision," and starting an East-Coast small press named "Art Bridge."

- From http://www.nationalbook.org/arodrigue...

Reviews

[Pete Dematteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

come on, Abraham, write some more books. no one describes the hopelessness yet the occasional enthusiasm like this writer. living in the south Bronx and surviving it is character building, and so was this book. the stories are absolutely arresting.

[Kenneth Chanko · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I stumbled upon this book. Several of the stories in this collection rival the best in Junot Diaz’s first book of short stories, “Drown,” which came out years after “The Boy Without a Flag.” Can’t quite understand why Rodriquez wasn’t similarly lauded. In any case, I’m looking forward to reading his novel, “Spidertown,” next.

[Fabianna Himet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abraham Rodriguez tells a short story about a boy that refused to salute the flag of the United States because he considered himself Puerto Rican, so it made perfect sense to him that the flag wasn’t his. This situation happened in his school, the teacher called his dad, and it is in this encounter where the boy was stunned to find that his father sided with the teacher.
It may appear seemingly trivial, but it represents a fundamental conflict immigrants encounter. There are different forms of cultural assimilation in the U.S leading to this dissonance between family members, some of those who immigrate eventually truly feel bound to the new location. It is not that they lose their identity, but they come to terms with the new nationality to survive and do better. It is a form of truce in which you understand that to get by; you have to blend in. How sad is this that we have to feel like we need to relinquish a part of ourselves, our roots, to survive? But for those who have migrated it is a familiar discord at some point. The father in the story portrays that truce because he wants his boy to have a safe transit and be treated better as he grows older.

For disclosure, I know P.R is a U.S territory. Still, our national identity is not as easily defined as sociopolitical boundaries but a complex product of colonization. And for many reasons, some (conflicting experiences, distorted narratives, longing, idk) that many still feel mainly Puerto Rican. The way we hold on to our puertorriqueñidad so tightly speaks volumes of our inner resistance.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays about the South Bronx and they are honest, raw, eye-opening, and often very tough to read.

All of the stories are about teens in the South Bronx and they share the harsh-reality of the poverty, broken homes, and rough coming-of-age in the community of mostly Puerto Rican heritage. The stories are heart-wrenching and often horrifying in their reality. Read with caution. Stories containing language, violence, and sexual content are both unapologetic in honesty and difficult to read. While I wouldn’t consider this a recommended casual read, I am thankful that I expanded my understanding of a world I did not grow up in and a childhood that I did not have. I hope that it grows my compassion and comprehension of cultures and poverty around me. Full review at http://bookshelf.threebooksanight.com...