Border Lore: Folktales and Legends of South Texas

by David Bowles, José Meléndez (Illustrator)

Award-winning translator and author David Bowles brings together twenty-five darkly memorable stories of the southern borderlands of Texas, retold in his unique voice. Ranging from the age-old folktales heard at his grandmother’s knee to urban legends collected down the years, each of these vital narratives is brought to stunning visual life by artist José Meléndez. An appendix classifies the pieces and enumerates motifs for scholarly research, and an introduction by noted folklorist Mark Glazer provides a larger context for the work.

Genres: Horror, Folklore, Fantasy, Latinx, Magical Realism, Short Stories, Mythology

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from south Texas. He has written several award-winning titles, most notably THEY CALL ME GÜERO and MY TWO BORDER TOWNS

His work has also been published in multiple anthologies, plus venues such as The New York Times, Strange Horizons, School Library Journal, Rattle, Translation Review, and the Journal of Children’s Literature.

Additionally, David has worked on several TV/film projects. In 2019, he co-founded the hashtag and activist movement #DignidadLiteraria, which has negotiated greater Latinx representation in publishing. He is presently the president of the Texas Institute of Letters.

Reviews

[Rajesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The common themes behind these short stories involve romance, courage, and obedience, and I know a lot of folks would like to have a peek on the romantic stories. Definitely recommend to my personal friends.

[Kim Childress · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the author speak at SCBWI annual conference, learned of this book, and as a lover of horror, folk tales, and always interested in short stories, I had to buy the book. And so glad I did. New legends and tales I’d not heard before, particularly love “Mary vs. Satan.” Loved!

[S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book read for work--engaging, evocative, and filled to the brim with brilliantly colored illustrations at the head of each chapter. I enjoyed learning about folktales I was otherwise unfamiliar with, even as a long-time Texan!

[Erkcan2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to learn a little bit of Border culture pick up this book! Many stories I had heard, but many I had not. Makes for fun reading.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining and interesting, glad to have just to flesh out my sense of Mexican/Texan lore.

[Madkropotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a bit disappointed with the book, but I can't say that it is the book's fault. Written by a local author, he focuses on short stories based on local folktales and legends. I instead was expecting more information on the origins of the local lore. The stories are not bad and the art that accompanies each story is a different spin on very common archetypes. Cool little book, just not what I thought it would be. Recommended for anybody interested in quick little stories of well known local stories.