Muchacho: A Novel by Louanne Johnson

by LouAnne Johnson

An inspiring YA debut from the author of Dangerous Minds .

Eddie Corazon is angry. He’s also very smart. But he’s working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he’s a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up—when they aren’t in jail.

Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something in Eddie he doesn’t even see in himself. A heart, and a mind, and something a poet. But in Eddie’s world, it’s a thin line between tragedy and glory. And what goes down is entirely in Eddie’s hands.

Gripping, thought-provoking, and hopeful, Muchacho is a rare and inspiring story about one teen’s determination to fight his circumstances and shape his own destiny.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Teen, Contemporary, Coming Of Age

Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

LouAnne Johnson is a former U.S. Navy journalist, Marine Corps officer, high school teacher, and the author of The New York Times bestseller Dangerous Minds (originally My Posse Don't Do Homework). In 1989, LouAnne began teaching reading and writing to non-English speakers as an intern at a high school in California. Since then LouAnne has taught English, adult basic education, developmental reading and writing at high schools and colleges. She also designs and presents workshops in classroom management and motivation. LouAnne has presented keynote and commencement addresses to numerous organizations, including the National School Boards Association, the National Council on Curriculum Development, National University and the European Council of International Schools. She has appeared on several TV shows, including Oprah, CBS Eye to Eye, NBC Weekend Today, Maury Povich, Tom Snyder, and CNN."

At present, she lives in rural New Mexico with her adopted canine companion, Nellie, and an adjunct instructor for an online alternative licensure program for future teachers.

Reviews

[Jair Huerta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I starting reading this book last year, it is ok but it took me a really long time to finish since it wasn't as good as I thought it would be and I often got bored reading it.

[Ricki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot, as a whole. It had some great lessons and kept my interest. As I read it, I felt a strong presence of the author, however. Many times, it didn't feel it was told from an adolescent's perspective, but rather, from the perspective of an adult trying to teach adolescents how to make good choices and navigate through the world. Eddie's voice didn't seem real to me, as I constantly felt the author's intentions. As a teacher, I feel like this book is a great read for my students because it models incredibly good behavior and actions, but I know many of my students will probably see the book as an adult trying to tell a teenager's story.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story and look forward to the author's visit at the university of Pittsburgh at Bradford. I have a feeling she will be a good speaker. The character development and plot were both weak and I never quite engaged with the story. It didn't ring true that a teenaged boy acted so mature and rational. Maybe I should have read her more famous book Dangerous Minds.

[Ira Nadhirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and beautiful. That's all.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Muchacho to listen to because I thought it might be appealing to the teens I serve, but I didn't know if I would actually like. Turns out it's pretty good. When you're reading the book you feel like you’re sitting down and having a conversation with narrator and main character Eddie. Eddie is living in New Mexico and attends Bright Horizons alternative school. Eddie's future could one of two ways he finishes high school or he becomes a full fledged juvenile delinquent, which some people have already pegged him as. Luckily- Eddie has supportive parents, teachers who inspire him and he also meets Lupe who makes he want to do more than just finish high school. Eddie's story bounces around a bit focusing on different events or memories- part it really feels like Eddies story complete with the language and situations (drugs, crime etc) he and other people in his life sometimes find themselves involved in- but the message in the book while it's endearing seems more like it coming directly from the author and it sometimes feels very contrived (if you really want something you can make it happen, one book or one person can change your whole life). I still think there are teens that would really like this book and relate to it and maybe also be inspired by it. The added bonus is that it's really short too.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:
Eddie Corazon sees no hope, no future. A juvenile delinquent living in a bad neighborhood, he's a junior only because he promised his mami he wouldn't drop out. He'll probably end up failing, anyway. But then things begin to change. First comes Mrs. Beecher who, before she was fired, showed him that there just might be a better way. Then comes Lupe. The most beautiful girl Eddie has ever seen and also the smartest. She has plans for her life and, slowly, Eddie begins to see that he too can have plans and make them realities.

My Comments:
I really liked this book. Told in first person by Eddie, it seemed pretty realistic as to Latino youth and their high school experiences. I totally loved the relationship between Eddie and Lupe. It was love at first sight and being together makes each other better. What I thought was somewhat unrealistic was Eddy joining a poetry group and reading his poetry. While I loved this book, I am wondering if the people who would really benefit from reading it will ever read it. I also listened to part of this on an audio book and it was fantastic! Really loved the voice of the narrator.

[Paolo Castellon]

I thought the book was a very interesting one and I will recommend it to anyone who likes urban drama. It is told from the perspective of a New Mexico teenager who is Mexican American and like he likes to say “I have more cousins than friends….that is the reality of being Mexican in New Mexico.
Two things that I liked about the book were how he changed point of view several times in the story. My second favorite thing was the way he describes his family members and how he either really likes them or really hates them.

One thing I certainly did not like about the book was the bad influences it brings but yet again reality is not always pretty. I did not like how it was so sexually explicit in some cases so if you are not one of those person who likes dirty books you should not read this one.
“ When mi and primo Enrique first tried to get me to ditch school and go to Mexico with him, I said no because I been doing pretty good on turning over a new leaf.”(62) I used this quote to show how he lies his lifestyle and as you can see it is not very good to act like this or even think of skipping school.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eddie Corazon has been suspended more times than he can count. His friends and cousins are gang members and drug pushers. But he knows deep down that he is smarter than any of the teachers at his alternative high school believe. Through encounters with a special teacher, a cop, a book seller, an uncle, and his girlfriend, Eddie begins to see his potential. Told in a stream of consciousness style, this is an entertaining, funny, touching, and uplifting story. Eddie’s voice is so strong that you can hear it clearly. We all know students like this, but rarely do we see so deeply inside. This is the best book I have read in a very long time. Louanne Johnson (author of Dangerous Minds) is channeling every male, Hispanic, tough-guy in my high school. Buy it! Read it! Pass it around!

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this appears at first glance like a young-adult book, I think it has more in it for teachers than for their students. I was struck repeatedly by the huge impact a single person doing the right thing at the right time could have on a teenager like Eddie.

The book is probably worth reading because it's very quick. And Eddie, the Mexican-American first-person narrator, is an endearing character -- introspective, smart but perhaps not aware that he is, afraid to do things that make him seem like he's not one of the tough guys. But I only rate the book 2* because I think it oversimplifies too much. It holds out hope to teens that if only they'll act like Eddie does, everything in their lives will get better almost easily. Compared to many of our teens, Eddie already has it made. I'm not sure how well they'll relate to him.

[Shaeley Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie is trying to "remake" himself using The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book as a guide. His insights on school (alternative), teachers, and life are fresh and interesting. I loved his poetry.

Some mature content.

[Elianny.0405gmail.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddy Corazon is an smart secret reader, who has change his life to became better for his future. He have a girlfriend whom name is Lupe but her father's does not like him around her because of his reputation.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was about how street life is and how you should do better in school.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Muchacho by Louanne Johnson is a bowl of cinnamon cheerios, a recognizable and familiar cereal with just an extra punch of flavor.

Eddie Corazon is smart, but he's also nearly a juvenile delinquent. And then, Lupe, a gorgeous girl, transfers to his school, and his world shifts. As Eddie gets to know Lupe, he discovers that maybe he has more choice about what his life can be. So many voices tell Eddie how he should live, but in the end, he has to make that choice for himself.

My dad handed me this book, and he said, "I think you might like this one." I love that about my dad -- we swap books back and forth. And he was right. I was fascinated by Muchacho and the narrative told by Eddie Corazon. While the writing jarred me because it reflected the way that Eddie Corazon would surely speak with a mix of English slang and Spanish, I found myself continually drawn to the story of Eddie as he tried to decipher his world and determine his place in it. Not my favorite read, the book still held my attention, and I wanted to finish reading it to find out Eddie's final choice. I'm glad I stuck it out.

If you enjoy coming of age stories, Muchacho is for you.

[Claire Wrobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. At first I thought it would be about Eddie’s struggle between being true to himself and being part of the criminal world, but really it’s a book about self-discovery and self-improvement. It’s a coming-of-age story about bettering yourself and realizing your potential, even if that means you have to fight against lies you’ve been told all your life about what you’re worth or what you can accomplish. Eddie is a very relatable character, and I really liked reading this. My only criticism was that throughout the book were random Spanish words, which was meant to represent how he’s bilingual and bicultural. But this book was written by a white woman, and it was very obvious that she didn’t know how an actual bilingual person thinks or speaks. It seemed silly at some points, and sometimes grammatically incorrect when she tried to mix Spanish and English. That’s my criticism. Overall, a surprising and heartwarming book.

[Miguel Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muchacho by Louanne Johnson was overall a great book. I enjoyed how the story was told by a teenager which I can relate to, which tells the audience reading the book about his life and how things are for him. I love how this book was able to mention "THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN". Another great book which I have finished reading. Both books are similar in their ways, being told by a teenager who explains what happens throughout his life while facing and overcoming their problems. Muchacho on the other hand was very inspiring because not only does it show that people are not who they seem but it also shows how someone can change.

[Diane DeSoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one books entices you to read a book discussed within, that's a good book, in my opinion. :) Muchacho tells the story of young man who overcomes struggles in school, with parents, police, and his own self-worth. After learning how to slow down and think through his decisions, Eddie proves to himself and those he cares about that he has the ability to take control of the path his life takes and to be comfortable being himself.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very enthrilling novel about a young man trying not to get caught up in criminal intentions while at the same time keeping a reputation as a bad kid at school. After he finds love he tries to fully change himself as a person.I think this book was written very well and it kept me wanting more every time we read in class. So if your looking for a book with a inspirational, uplifting story I would give this book a ten out of ten.

[rebekah pope · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the refugee girls I mentor is a reader. So when she recommended this book, I had to read it. And I am glad I did. It is a realistic story about a high school boy discovering his love for reading and writing and how this changes his life. The style of writing, stream of consciousness, took a little getting use because of the grammar was not perfect. Yet, this imperfect grammer lent authenticity to the story since this how Eddie thinks.

[Dulce · Rating 2 out of 5]

A dissapontment. Homestly the language she uses is not what a troubled hispanic teen qould use. Also the romance was unnecessary because it didnt even develop. I feel like she should of studied a bit more about hispanic culture and how teens handle life at their home life. It was just too fast paced and the story did not go well together. I still dont know who Eddie Corazon is.

[Marguerite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this 4 stars based on who I believe this book was written for: disenfranchised and disenchanted teens. It well written to the audience for which it is intended. The first person narrative works very well here. The author hits every note, pitch perfect. Overall, it’s a touching glance into the life of a contemporary teen.

[Anthony Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why the time/effort? I would have much rather poured through a Junot Diaz novel than deal with this watered down journey. I find it hardly believable that Eddie’s transformation makes sense at all. Please skip this read and move onto the next one. You’ll thank me later.

[Jada · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was amazing, I enjoyed it very much. Even though I wasn't able to fully relate to Eddie I still understand how he feels. I HIGHLY recommend this book to young kids like me who don't know what path to take yet.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have several students who will like this book even if they don't really like to read.

[Kevin Koppelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks into poverty and a lack of education from the side of someone wanting to change their lot in life.

[Maurico · Rating 4 out of 5]

i likes this book because they teach how to make someone really love you. I recommend this book because it is a very interesting and beautiful book because it shows you what love is.

[Jazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eddie and Lupe's relationship is a bit unrealistic. Love at first sight is cute but it just doesn't happen. Otherwise? This book is simple and honest. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 1 out of 5]

Language - PG-13 (27+ swears, 3+ "f"), Sexual Content - R; Violence - G
I only read to page 36 because I didn't want to read the sexual content anymore.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

written in the voice of a boy who writes poetry and attends an alternative school but gets his stuff together when he meets a girl

[Jasmin Castañeda]

His name is Eddie Corazon, but everyone just calls him Muchacho. No one realizes that under all his anger and bad behavior, that he’s intelligent, except for Lupe. In Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson, Eddie lives in a tough city in New Mexico where “anglos” think they’re superior to mexicans in the community. In a neighborhood where teenagers are pitted against one another, Eddie has a reputation to uphold. Even parents are weary of their children because of the financial status of the community. You gotta hustle when it gets hard. But thank you to Lupe, Eddie’s life changes for the better.
In Muchacho, most of the book is spent at Eddie’s school, Bright Horizons in New Mexico, an alternative school for students who just can’t handle being at the “regular school”. Initially, Eddie is ashamed for who he is, a secret reader. After all, being a smart ass will get you beat up. He is much like his father, which is why they have such a shaky relationship, they’re both stubborn.They were both very hot headed students who could care less about their education, until Lupe, full of grace, chose Eddie. A stroke of luck that resulted in love at first sight and a moment that will shape the rest of Eddie’s life. Eddie transforms from a careless hot head, to a level headed straight B student. Lupe, obviously a great influence, is driven and has lifelong goals. She knows exactly what she wants, and how to get it. Because of her drive and her refusal to back down, she exposes the “inner Eddie”. The poet, the pain behind the anger, the love.
In a community like Eddie’s’, shootings aren’t abnormal. Drive-bys and drug dealers are nothing more than what his town has to offer. Not to mention the shooting that shaped most of his life.At about 12 years old, Eddie watched his cousin blow someones face off as if it were nothing. Up until the life-changing moment where he met Lupe, he had dwelled on that shooting. He promised never to do anything like to harm others, but that didn’t stop him from crashing his dad’s car with Lupe, betraying her father’s trust, getting kicked out of his own home, and being arrested.
Muchacho by LouAnne Johnson is an easy read in the sense that it is very engaging. From page one, you are immersed into Eddie’s point of view, where you get the opportunity to see the world from a different perspective. It is difficult to keep up with the transitions from his memory to the present, but it is brilliantly organized. Because we are essentially in Eddie’s mind, he will switch from his childhood to today in a reflective manner. The evolution of Eddie’s mind is obvious through the diction of the book, and the developing tone and mood. The target audience is definitely 9th-11th graders in high school, specifically latinos/hispanos. I say this because of not only the main character Eddie and how he is between the ages of 9th-11th grade, but also because of the prominent inspiration from latin/hispanic communities, families, and language. As eddie would put it, this wouldn’t be such a significant book for “anglos” because it focuses on struggles that most latino/hispanic families not only face in their communities, but also at school, and at home

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently attended a seminar in which the presenter, Deborah Hipes, discussed "What's New in Young Adult Literature and How to Use It in Your Program." She always gives her top twelve books for High School and Middle School. I was somewhat surprised, as I had not heard much about many of the books she selected. On the other hand, it gave me some new reads to take a look at. When I asked her after the seminar which book would be her #1 choice for high school students, she said it was difficult to choose one, but it would probably have to be "Muchacho" by Louanne Johnson. I am so glad that she suggested the book. It is fabulous, and there are many ways that it could be used both in the classroom and in the library! It is interesting to note that Johnson is the author of "My Posse Don't Do Homework," which was made into the film, "Dangerous Minds."

"Muchacho" is set in New Mexico and is told in first person by Eddie Corazon, a sixteen year old alternative school student. He tells us that his educational path was set in second grade when he became a "sex offender" (he accidentally kicked the teacher in the crotch when she pulled on his infected ear). From there, he was put in Special Ed. and decided to live up to the labels put on him. He is actually a highly intelligent, sensitive, poetic young man. Several caring adults, including Ms. Beecher (a teacher fired for her unconventional teaching methods), Sgt. Chris Cabrara (who gives him a copy of "The Four Agreements" by Don Muguel Ruiz), his dad (who is tough but holds him accountable for his actions), and his uncle (who takes him in when his father kicks him out of the house for crashing his car), help Eddie find his way. Eventually, with the encouragement of his girlFRIEND, he decides to turn his life around and uses the principles found in "The Four Agreements" to do it. By the end of the book, Eddie's transformation has begun and there is a hopeful feeling that his future will be bright.

There is some sex talk, use of obscenities, drug use, underage drinking, and violence - but nothing gratuitous or graphic. It simply helps to paint a realistic picture of the world that Eddie Corazon inhabits.

Some might find the book a bit didactic, as Eddie and characters like villain T.J.Ritchie discuss their views on everything from immigration, to homosexuality, to education, to prison, to attitude. In this regard, however, the book would be an excellent choice for classroom discussion.

The book is filled with both humorous and touching scenes and would be appropriate for both teen boys and girls. There are some great read aloud scenes! Johnson's use of poetic language is absolutely stunning at times, especially in the poetry that Eddie produces later in the book. As it is National Poetry Month, the book would be great to use in a discussion of writing poetry (ie; Chapter 10).