Off and Running, Gary Soto
Off and Running, Gary Soto
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Off and Running

Author: Gary Soto

Narrator: Barrie Kreinik

Unabridged: 2 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/01/2013

Synopsis

Fifth-grader Miata Ramirez is running for class president. Her best friend, Ana, is her running mate. The girls are stunned when they learn they are running against class clown Rudy Herrera and his friend Alex. At first Miata is certain she will win the election. She has big plans to make the school a better place. She'll clean up the graffiti, plant flowers and trees, and get computers. Rudy is confident he'll get the votes by promising longer recess periods and selling the students ice cream every day. Who will come out on top?

About Gary Soto

Born in Fresno, California to Mexican American parents, Gary Soto learned the hard work ethic through his share of chores, including mowing lawns, picking grapes, painting house numbers on street curbs, and washing cars. His hard work paid off at California State University at Fresno, from which he graduated with an English degree, and later at the University of California at Irvine, where he earned a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Gary Soto is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and fiction writer. The awards for this multi-talented author are many, ranging from the U.S. Award for International Poetry Forum in 1977 for his first published book of poetry, The Elements of San Joaquin, to a Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award in 1985 for Living Up the Street, his first published work of prose recollections. His short story collection Baseball in April, was named an American Library Association's Best Book for Young Adults, and he received the Bura Belpre Award for Chato's Kitchen. He has also received the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video for Pool Party, and was nominated for a National Book Award.His other credits include fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the California Arts Council. Gary Soto is also one of the youngest poets to appear in the Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry. Several of his books have been translated into French, Spanish and Italian.Mr. Soto currently lives in Berkeley, California.

About Barrie Kreinik

Barrie Kreinik, actor, singer, playwright, and voice-dialect coach, is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Katie on November 23, 2021

3.5 ⭐I read this with my 5th grade students. It is a great short story that lantinx kids can connect to and has great descriptions. My students really enjoyed the story.......more

Goodreads review by Alex on March 16, 2022

As I imagine myself as a teenager I think I would rate this book 4 stars, but as an adult I would rate it at 3 stars simply because it was too predictable. I was also worried that it might turn into political propaganda but the author managed to avoid that.......more

Goodreads review by shawna miles on May 05, 2019

I like it and I will give it a 10/10......more

Goodreads review by Becca on May 12, 2010

I would definitely classify this novel in the younger adolescent book category. Is it for teenagers? No, I'd say more around 8-10 years old. Given the broad definition of "adolescent literature" it really is hard to define the age of "adolescent literature," however I personally saw this book as mor......more

Goodreads review by Jaxon on December 16, 2015

This book talks about a fifth grader named Miata Ramirez is running for class president.Her best freind Ana is her running mate.They are stunned when they learn they are running against a class clown named Rudy Herrera and his freind Alex.At first Miata is certain to win the election.She has big pla......more

Quotes

“Fifth-grader Miata Ramirez and her running mate, Ana, decide to challenge class clown Rudy and his friend, Alex, for the office of student body president. Barrie Kreinik’s capable narration of this school tale pleases as she smoothly transitions from unobtrusive narrative to original portrayals of determined Miata, shy Ana, brash Rudy, and his cutup sidekick, Alex. This production offers an engaging look at school politics and the quest for popularity, along with the dynamics of boy/girl relationships…Whether bringing to life the story’s lively dialogue or weaving in Spanish expressions that create the children’s everyday world, Kreinik makes the most of Soto’s engaging story.” AudioFile

“Soto has created a warm picture of friends, family, and school in a Mexican American community in Fresno, California.” Booklist

“A realistic, warm portrayal of a Latino school in California—the kids, their families, and traditions. A humorous, light, good-natured story.” School Library Journal

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