I Hunt for Stars Alone: A Novel

by Ricardo Quintana-Vallejo

After 9/11, a young Mexican boy relocates to an Indiana town with his mother and brother. Facing a society wary of foreigners, he navigates the complexities of identity, sexuality, and bullies, alongside his steadfast friends Ji-Hyeok and Emily Rossi. As he matures, his youthful voice takes the form of free verse, filled with boundless potential, while his older self reflects in sonnets, crafting the systematic structure of his memories.“Beautiful and moving. I mean, emotionally, but also the pace. Formally, it's so brilliant. The juxtaposition of free verse and sonnets, the melding of past and present, and the yearning and tenderness. Really, yours is such a distinct voice––sorrowful and shimmering and funny. A great book.” —Nate Lippens, author of My Dead A Novel“It develops so beautifully. You have to get to the end point! Now is the time to put something like this out. It’s just a beautiful journey. This is gorgeous work.” —Noelia Cerna, author of Las Piedrecitas

247 pages, Paperback

Published February 15, 2024

Reviews

[Sue Abbotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While there are stark moments of darkness here, the overwhelming arc of the novel is toward a refreshing reminder of human compassion and people's capacity for kindness and love. The protagonist's voice smartly switches between the questing and uncertain free verse story of a growing adolescent trying to find his place and identity in the world and the more mature reflection (related in sonnet form) of an adult looking back and reassessing past relationships and events, often with surprising twists. I read it in just two sittings--hard to put down!

[Carys Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book written in verse, it felt like an epic novel. A great story from start to finish, I feel like I lived the authors whole life with him.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

El mejor libro que pude haber comprado!

[Marc Valle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt close to the characters in this story and like any great book, I’ll miss a few of them. They felt real to me, like I could give them a call and pick up where the book left off. This is the skill of a gifted writer and Ricardo Quintana-Vallejo does not let down in his first novel, I Hunt For Stars Alone.

Aside from wonderful character dynamics between our protagonist and all the people that color his world, the book is beautifully written and thoughtfully layered with real emotions. Each piece of verse, which constitutes a chapter, packs a punch. Every word paints the inner world of our hero in his youth and as an adult narrator.

The story centers on a teenage boy from Mexico and his immigration to the U.S. The narrator (the protagonist as an adult) illustrates our hero navigating his new world in the Midwest America in the early 2000s. As the story progresses, he must figure out how to deal with bigotry, a new stepfather, and a dissolving relationship with his brother. To overcome these challenges, he turns to music, books, movies, and a few good friends. Still, he’s faced with obstacle after obstacle, wins and loses, tiny victories and big mistakes.

For someone such as myself, who has considered himself a lifelong artist and social outsider, I felt a sense of validation. Our hero is just not like everyone else who wants to score touchdowns, and party hard. He just wants to figure out his world while trying to figure out himself. And although my demographic background does not completely match our protagonist's background, I felt what any one of my favorite authors have made me feel–like I’m not alone in this world and in this universe, and the stars still burn bright no matter how much our lives have let us down. It’s up to us to keep looking. I highly recommend I Hunt For Stars Alone by Ricardo Quintana-Vallejo.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is different from many I've read, one where free prose and constraint of the poetic sonnet is used interchangeably and adapted to the experiences of the narrator. The novel hones in on a Queer Mexican immigrant boy from Mexico City to the Mid-West as he has suburbia experiences like many of the U.S. teenagers experience, you know, like typing "PEN15" on your calculator. Here, the main character has Mexican roots, as a result, there are various cultural references of having a childhood in Mexico during the 90s which sort of contrasts to the boy's upbringing in Indiana. If you're curious about that biculturalism and some U.S.-Mexican pop culture, definitely check out this novel! The discovery of self in these characters is beautifully written. I'd recommend this book specially to young readers in high school or middle school.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read! This book quickly pulls you in, thanks to its unique form, sensory details, and the rich and complex inner world of its protagonist. It feels very grounded, and its characters are whole and truly compelling. The complicated experiences explored in this novel are very timely, and it was refreshing to see them so candidly depicted. We need more stories like this one.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I am voluntarily leaving a review after having received a free copy of this book.*

Wow. This hit harder than I expected it to. At first I was a little confused with the combination of free verse and sonnets, but once I realized what was going on, it seemed very fitting for the story being told. Well-written and deeply felt.

[Fernanda Guadarrama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is unique and beautifully written. I accompanied the main character through his acknowledgement and negotiation in the borderlands of identity, sexuality and culture. Queer, music, memories, tenderness, support bounds and nostalgia are key aspects for this novel. He is such a talented author.

[Alejandro Villalobos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most honest stories I've ever read. It's frank and truthful both in form and substance. It is a warm heart-to-heart hug in the form of a novel which explores current topics with a very sensible approach.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. It’s written so beautifully and has a touching narrative. I’m a fan of both poetry and fiction, so it was a perfect gift. The story is especially important considering the current political climate.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is a Mexican boy whose family has moved to a new town. It was not long after 911 so the townsfolk look at them with distrust. Can he get through it? How will he deal with it all? See how he gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Angel Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed greatly reading this novel. As a Mexican living in a foreign country, I could relate to the life experiences of the main character. This is the first novel written in verse/sonnets that I have read and it makes me want to try reading other novels with a similar writing style.