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Behind the Eyes
Hector Robles has spent his sixteen years in the projects of El Paso trying to stay unnoticed. His peaceful obscurity is shattered when his impulsive brother challenges the leader of a gang called the Discipulos. Suddenly Hector is drawn into their world of violence and hopelessness. When a marker is placed on his life, Hector tries to escape by going away to a school for students with troubled pasts. But it isn't easy to function when he s paralyzed by the fear that they ll find him, even there. Ultimately, by confronting external threats and the internal pain of his memories and mistakes, Hector begins to understand what manhood really means.
Author Biography: Francisco X. Stork is also the author of The Way of the Jaguar, a prize recipient in the 1999 Chicano/Latino Literary Contest. He lives in Massachusetts.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2006
11 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Francisco X. Stork
20 books55.5k followersFrancisco X. Stork was born in Mexico. He moved to El Paso Texas with his adoptive father and mother when he was nine. He attended Spring Hill College, Harvard University and Columbia Law School. He worked as an attorney for thirty-three years before retiring in 2015. He is married and has two grown children and four beautiful grandkids. He loves to discover new books and authors. His favorite books are those where the author's soul touches his. He does not read reviews to his books so you should feel free to write whatever you want. Also, he is genuinely interested in learning about books and life from his friends on this site. He would love it if you find his books worthy to be read, but that's not why he wants to be your friend.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 19, 2016
Imagine having you're father and brother suddenly killed, and you're mother and sister struggling for money and safety. Well that is the life of 16 year old Hector who lives in El Paso, Texas, and a bad part of it. Hector has always been known as the one with a future, the one better than the rest of the kids. He always got straight A's on his grades and is always a good student but recently has trouble with the law. He is soon sent to military camp. The genre of this book is realistic fiction because it is fiction because it could happen in real life. I love this book because it has such good words and is a good story.
As soon as Hector is sent to military school where he is roommates with another 16 year old boy named X-Lax. They become friends but Hector develops a serious fear for a boy named El Tapo. Hector becomes a good kid, gets good grades, and becomes a sick basketball player. However, El Tapo always follows him so Hector makes the decision to sneak up at night and kill him, Hector instead comes to a compromise and they become not as bad. The setting of the book is a military camp someone in a Texas desert. This is revelent because if they weren't in the desert they would escape. In the end, Hector is offered a scholarship to a college, but he asked to stay at the military school.
The 3rd person point of view effects the story because you can never really tell what Hector is thinking. A major event that changed the story is when Hector had the flashback of Filiberto dying. It made him less soft and pissed off. The title of this book relates to the story because it means there is more than just the eyes there is also stuff behind it as well.
I was angry when I found out that the book was over, but I was surprised when I found that Hector didn't accept the letter at college. I also liked the way the author used words that have a powerful effect on the reader. My favorite part was when Hector was balling up playing basketball he was getting buckets like Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving. I thought the ending of the book was a pretty good ending for such a good book.
I'd rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it has such a good story and I strongly encourage anyone to read this because it is just such a good book and is so dramatic, I truly hope this author makes a sequel.
As soon as Hector is sent to military school where he is roommates with another 16 year old boy named X-Lax. They become friends but Hector develops a serious fear for a boy named El Tapo. Hector becomes a good kid, gets good grades, and becomes a sick basketball player. However, El Tapo always follows him so Hector makes the decision to sneak up at night and kill him, Hector instead comes to a compromise and they become not as bad. The setting of the book is a military camp someone in a Texas desert. This is revelent because if they weren't in the desert they would escape. In the end, Hector is offered a scholarship to a college, but he asked to stay at the military school.
The 3rd person point of view effects the story because you can never really tell what Hector is thinking. A major event that changed the story is when Hector had the flashback of Filiberto dying. It made him less soft and pissed off. The title of this book relates to the story because it means there is more than just the eyes there is also stuff behind it as well.
I was angry when I found out that the book was over, but I was surprised when I found that Hector didn't accept the letter at college. I also liked the way the author used words that have a powerful effect on the reader. My favorite part was when Hector was balling up playing basketball he was getting buckets like Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving. I thought the ending of the book was a pretty good ending for such a good book.
I'd rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it has such a good story and I strongly encourage anyone to read this because it is just such a good book and is so dramatic, I truly hope this author makes a sequel.
December 28, 2017
A good book, but Stork's worst, too simple, read his other ones and skip this one.
April 29, 2008
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com
Sixteen-year-old Hector Robles's life will never be the same again. Living his entire life in the projects of El Paso, Texas,he's always stayed away from the gangs--but his brother Filiberto brought an end to that. A little more than a year after the death of their father, Hector, Fili and their younger sister Aurora have a run-in with some members of the Discipulos. Hector would like to keep out of their way after that, as would Aurora, but Fili sets his sights on Gloria...Who just happens to be dating Chava, leader of the Discipulos.
Fili just can't let it go. His conflict with Chava escalates until one night, he ends up dead. In less than a year and a half, Hector has lost his older brother and his father. Even though it's not something he could have imagined himself doing, Hector goes after Chava.
Chava does more damage to Hector than Hector does to him, leaving Hector with various rather serious injuries, including the loss of his hearing in one ear. When he recovers, a social worker has some rather grave news for him: Chava wants him dead. The only way he can keep safe, as well as protect his mother and sister, is to leave town.
Mrs. Garzo, the social worker, tells him there's one good place for him to go now. He's charged with the aggravated assault of Chava, and there's a school in another city that accepts kids who have been in trouble with the law. There, he'll be safe from the Discipulos, he'll get a good education, and his mother and sister won't be involved with the gangs anymore. Hector makes a decision: he'll go to Furman.
There, he makes friends with a colorful cast of characters, and could maybe have a fresh start and a new life...If his past can ever stop following him.
BEHIND THE EYES is divided up into three parts. The first and last part deal with Hector's time after his brother's death, and the second part takes place before Fili's "accident." Francisco X. Stork tells the story of whatever is going on in each section of the book in the past tense, and flashbacks are in the present tense, which threw me a little at first, but I quickly got used to it. The non-chronological division of the book was also a little odd, but I did like the way it was divided, and, in the end, it made sense.
Stork is a brilliant writer, and BEHIND THE EYES is a page-turner. It's told in a fresh, captivating voice, and the story itself is a fascinating one. It was inspired by Stork's own time living in the projects of El Paso, and some of the Chicano teenagers he knew there. That Stork knows what he's writing really shows, and it adds an extra dimension to an already wonderful book. The characters are diverse, fascinating and believable, each one well-thought out and three-dimensional. It's a character-driven story, and a fantastic one. This is definitely one of my favorites of 2006.
Sixteen-year-old Hector Robles's life will never be the same again. Living his entire life in the projects of El Paso, Texas,he's always stayed away from the gangs--but his brother Filiberto brought an end to that. A little more than a year after the death of their father, Hector, Fili and their younger sister Aurora have a run-in with some members of the Discipulos. Hector would like to keep out of their way after that, as would Aurora, but Fili sets his sights on Gloria...Who just happens to be dating Chava, leader of the Discipulos.
Fili just can't let it go. His conflict with Chava escalates until one night, he ends up dead. In less than a year and a half, Hector has lost his older brother and his father. Even though it's not something he could have imagined himself doing, Hector goes after Chava.
Chava does more damage to Hector than Hector does to him, leaving Hector with various rather serious injuries, including the loss of his hearing in one ear. When he recovers, a social worker has some rather grave news for him: Chava wants him dead. The only way he can keep safe, as well as protect his mother and sister, is to leave town.
Mrs. Garzo, the social worker, tells him there's one good place for him to go now. He's charged with the aggravated assault of Chava, and there's a school in another city that accepts kids who have been in trouble with the law. There, he'll be safe from the Discipulos, he'll get a good education, and his mother and sister won't be involved with the gangs anymore. Hector makes a decision: he'll go to Furman.
There, he makes friends with a colorful cast of characters, and could maybe have a fresh start and a new life...If his past can ever stop following him.
BEHIND THE EYES is divided up into three parts. The first and last part deal with Hector's time after his brother's death, and the second part takes place before Fili's "accident." Francisco X. Stork tells the story of whatever is going on in each section of the book in the past tense, and flashbacks are in the present tense, which threw me a little at first, but I quickly got used to it. The non-chronological division of the book was also a little odd, but I did like the way it was divided, and, in the end, it made sense.
Stork is a brilliant writer, and BEHIND THE EYES is a page-turner. It's told in a fresh, captivating voice, and the story itself is a fascinating one. It was inspired by Stork's own time living in the projects of El Paso, and some of the Chicano teenagers he knew there. That Stork knows what he's writing really shows, and it adds an extra dimension to an already wonderful book. The characters are diverse, fascinating and believable, each one well-thought out and three-dimensional. It's a character-driven story, and a fantastic one. This is definitely one of my favorites of 2006.
January 22, 2016
In a bad part of El Paso, TX where gangs control life in your neighborhood while you have to guard you and your sister for protection against them. Yes life in the area was bad enough and it was getting worse. In Behind the Eyes by Francisco X. Stork a boy named Hector has to protect his sister Aurora and his mom from the gang that killed his older brother and his father. What lies ahead is in Hector’s faith because he can make friends or he can make enemies if you mess with him or his family. The book Behind the Eyes had me asking for more by its deep story line and the twists of events that occur.
The possible theme for this book is to mature and do the right choices because Hector was always crying and being immature to his family and was making poor choices. Francisco X. Stork wrote this book with series of events happening to Hector and his family. Francisco also included some flashback that shows how Hector remembers how his father died and his brother. His mom soon sends him to a place called Furman where he will be safe from a gang called the Discipulos. He then stumbles upon new people in the place and gets new friends and has some enemies in the place. You can find out more about it by reading Behind the Eyes. Francisco’s style of writing makes me think, and imagine being Hector and you can feel his emotions, whether the character is mad, happy, or sad.
The story takes place in the projects in El Paso, TX in which Hector and his family live. The places that they described living in the projects made me imagine being in their. They described the place as dirty with all the trash, walls coming apart, small rooms, and gunfights heard from outside when rival gangs fought. In a way the author is showing that this place is dangerous for me but for Hector this is what he faces everyday.
Hector is a very unique character to anyone else in the book. The author made me believe that he was going to be an annoying boy but later he matures and finds out that life is tough, and he has to toughen up. In the beginning he acts childish and doesn’t want to do anything. For example, when his mom called him to do something he never wanted to do it and always told his sister to do it. He also always kept fighting with his older brother for no reason. Later on in the book his brother and father dies and it is up to him to protect his family. He is then sent out to Furman where his mom thought he would be safe there from the gang. He then meets new people and then goes on with them in Furman.
In conclusion, I thought that this book was well written and that the author did really well. I would recommend this book to anyone that would like to read about a person that is trying to survive the conditions he’s in. This book is also had some cursing and was very descriptive when there was violence and I would also recommend it to readers above the 8th grade level.
The possible theme for this book is to mature and do the right choices because Hector was always crying and being immature to his family and was making poor choices. Francisco X. Stork wrote this book with series of events happening to Hector and his family. Francisco also included some flashback that shows how Hector remembers how his father died and his brother. His mom soon sends him to a place called Furman where he will be safe from a gang called the Discipulos. He then stumbles upon new people in the place and gets new friends and has some enemies in the place. You can find out more about it by reading Behind the Eyes. Francisco’s style of writing makes me think, and imagine being Hector and you can feel his emotions, whether the character is mad, happy, or sad.
The story takes place in the projects in El Paso, TX in which Hector and his family live. The places that they described living in the projects made me imagine being in their. They described the place as dirty with all the trash, walls coming apart, small rooms, and gunfights heard from outside when rival gangs fought. In a way the author is showing that this place is dangerous for me but for Hector this is what he faces everyday.
Hector is a very unique character to anyone else in the book. The author made me believe that he was going to be an annoying boy but later he matures and finds out that life is tough, and he has to toughen up. In the beginning he acts childish and doesn’t want to do anything. For example, when his mom called him to do something he never wanted to do it and always told his sister to do it. He also always kept fighting with his older brother for no reason. Later on in the book his brother and father dies and it is up to him to protect his family. He is then sent out to Furman where his mom thought he would be safe there from the gang. He then meets new people and then goes on with them in Furman.
In conclusion, I thought that this book was well written and that the author did really well. I would recommend this book to anyone that would like to read about a person that is trying to survive the conditions he’s in. This book is also had some cursing and was very descriptive when there was violence and I would also recommend it to readers above the 8th grade level.
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February 13, 20239 Copies
September 8, 2010
**SOME SPOILERS** Behind The Eyes is about a Boy named Hector who is dealing with many problems in his family. His family is endangered when his Brother Filiberto steals Chava's (the leader of a gang called The Dicipulos,or in enlish, The Diciples) girl. So they have a competition to see who keeps her resulting in Filiberto's death. When Hector beats up Chava and gets arrested he has to choices, go to jail or go to a special 'military' school. But when he gats there he has even more problems. He even meets a murderer who he soon befriends. He makes a lot of friends and at the end of the book he gets a scholarship to a college but he refuses and decides to work another year at the 'military' school. The book ends with him and his tractor.
I really loved this book. It was very emotional and it made me think a lot about life and what i would've done if I were in his position. I liked the relationship he had with Sanson it was very brotherly and how they had each other's backs. It had very real life situations and hard dicesions. I liked the scenes with X-lax, those were really funny. Over all, I just really enjoyed this book and I really urge anybody reading this to give it a try. You might find something to relate to. :)
I really loved this book. It was very emotional and it made me think a lot about life and what i would've done if I were in his position. I liked the relationship he had with Sanson it was very brotherly and how they had each other's backs. It had very real life situations and hard dicesions. I liked the scenes with X-lax, those were really funny. Over all, I just really enjoyed this book and I really urge anybody reading this to give it a try. You might find something to relate to. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2010
This book is about a guy name Hector Robles who is 16 and he lives in El Paso, Texas. His father and his brother were killed by a gang drive by shooting. He discovers that a marker has been placed on his life. A social worker finds out and relocate him to SanFrancisco in a different school, but they don't relocate the rest of his family, his mom and his sister. Hector spends time thinking what it would be like to have his family by his side. Then his teacher, Mr. Ortiz, tells him about a contest from the Lions Club. The topic of the essay contest is "What is Happiness?" and Hector writes about the Declaration of Independence. Hector writes an essay and wins first place. at the Lions club luncheon
Hector reads his essy aloud and he breaks down.
Hector reads his essy aloud and he breaks down.
September 5, 2011
This book was really good showing me the struggles people encounter when dealing with things involving gangs. How people can get into life or death situations. This book shows that its best not to get into those kinds of situations, and it also shows what can happen to people and their family afterwards and how they end up. from being a good kid Hector turns into someone he never thought was inside him. He is sent away to this camp as away to get another chance at start of life. He learns how to deal with the issues that are going through his head. He makes his life better and knows what he wants to do later with his future and life.
December 12, 2013
Hector is a 16 year old growing up in El Paso Texas. He tries his hardest to stay away from the violence that surrounds him. Unfortunately his older brother does not feel the same way by stealing the girlfriend of one of the gang leaders in the area. His brother is killed and Hector somehow is in trouble with the law because of a violent act that he committed himself. He is given an opportunity to get away from the horrors of the city by going to a special school for troubled boys.
July 29, 2010
A hard book to read. You really have to be ready for everything while reading. I enjoyed how realistic it seemed, sometimes to realistic. You never know about life unless you look at it from a different point of view. Hector's story had a lot of mature themes and a lot of struggle, but you have to take it one step at a time.
January 25, 2010
If this would have been the first Stork book I'd read, I wouldn't have read Marcelo, so I'm glad I got this one after.
I finished it, and I'm glad I did, because it was well written, it just wasn't as beautiful as Marcelo.
I finished it, and I'm glad I did, because it was well written, it just wasn't as beautiful as Marcelo.
April 29, 2011
this book was very interesting it give you a veiw of what life around gangs is..in this book a boy has an older brother Filberto who likes a girl named Gloria but she is the lady of a gang member named chava who doesnt let her brake up with him..that s when everything turns bad..
June 30, 2011
Another book that would entice an adolescent male reader. Be careful of the language if you are looking to use this in a classroom setting. Definitely a look into gang life I would have never known - it does make you think.
Want to Read
April 23, 2008this book is intresting because is about teens vioence and gangs and how teens get revenge is intresting if you like reading about gangs
May 30, 2009
OK, but nothing special.
not-for-me
October 7, 2009yet another instance of my being f*bombed out of finishing a book...
too bad, so sad.
too bad, so sad.
May 16, 2012
this is pretty intresting there were times when i didnt wan t to read it but that was at the begining.. overall the book is just great.
May 16, 2014
Not enough plot or character development.
June 9, 2015
Great story line. A little graphic for my 7th graders.
June 10, 2016
Hchvugug
February 13, 2021
I recently had to read this book for my freshman year in high school. I enjoyed reading it. It's a fun read and it has some humorous parts as well. The book actually reminds me of Holes.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews