Baseball in April and Other Stories

July 31, 2000
``Honest and moving,'' said PW about these 11 contemporary short stories, adding that ``Most readers will recognize truths revealed through everyday events and will appreciate Soto's ability to crystallize a moment.'' Ages 10-up.

January 31, 2000
Diaz and Gongora give Soto's heartfelt collection just the right spark of Latino flavor in this sharp audio production. From Jesse, a nine-year-old struggling to improve his baseball skills in "Baseball in April" to Veronica, who is crushed when her new, much cherished Barbie doll is ruined, Soto introduces vivid characters who struggle with the longing, hope and acceptance that are part of everyday life. Soto's accessible writing voice and poetic language permeate these 11 tales of first dates, worries about one's looks and the difficulties of dealing with idiosyncratic family members. With the help of solid performances (and crisp pronunciation of the smattering of Spanish words and phrases) by Diaz and Gongora, listeners will take away a real sense of what it was like for many Mexican-American kids growing up in California's Central Valley (including Fresno, Soto's hometown) not so many years ago. Ages 10-up.

March 31, 1990
Poet Soto ( A Fire in My Hands ) has written 11 contemporary short stories set in the poorer districts of central California. Sprinkled with Spanish expressions and phrases, the collection has a distinct Latino flavor, yet the conflicts and feelings expressed are universal. Whether conveying the joy of receiving a new doll, anxiety over Little League tryouts or the desire to stand above the crowd, Soto's writing is honest and moving. Although the narrative's subtle quality may not appeal to all readers, most will recognize truths revealed through everyday events and will appreciate Soto's ability to crystallize a moment. Ages 10-up.