We Were Here, Matt de la Pena
We Were Here, Matt de la Pena
3 Rating(s)
List: $14.99 | Sale: $10.50
Club: $7.49

We Were Here

Author: Matt de la Pena

Narrator: Henry Leyva

Unabridged: 10 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/13/2013


Synopsis

Newbery Award-winning author Matt de la Peña's We Were Here is a "fast, funny, smart, and heartbreaking" novel [Booklist].When it happened, Miguel was sent to Juvi. The judge gave him a year in a group home—said he had to write in a journal so some counselor could try to figure out how he thinks. The judge had no idea that he actually did Miguel a favor. Ever since it happened, his mom can’t even look at him in the face. Any home besides his would be a better place to live.But Miguel didn’t bet on meeting Rondell or Mong or on any of what happened after they broke out. He only thought about Mexico and getting to the border to where he could start over. Forget his mom. Forget his brother. Forget himself.Life usually doesn’ t work out how you think it will, though. And most of the time, running away is the quickest path right back to what you’re running from.From the streets of Stockton to the beaches of Venice, all the way to the Mexican border, We Were Here follows a journey of self-discovery by a boy who is trying to forgive himself in an unforgiving world."Fast, funny, smart, and heartbreaking...The contemporary survival adventure will keep readers hooked."-Booklist"This gripping story about underprivileged teens is a rewarding read."-VOYA"A furiously paced and gripping novel."-Publishers Weekly"A story of friendship that will appeal to teens and will engage the most reluctant readers."-Kirkus ReviewsAn ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young ReadersAn ALA-YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant ReadersA Junior Library Guild Selection

About Matt de la Pena

Matt de la Pena is the author of several acclaimed YA novels - Ball Don't Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, and I Will Save You - and one picture book, A Nation's Hope. He teaches creative writing at NYU.


Reviews

Critical positions toward this book that I take issue with: 1. A part-white/part-anything else protagonist is a literary device to allow white readers permission to identify with the main character, thus garnering mainstream appeal. This attitude debases the validity of a multiracial identity. It is e......more

Goodreads review by Julissa

Yo, this book it is really a journey man. A journey to acceptance and self-recognition. I really love Matt de la Peña's writting style. I discover him in My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories and I'm glad I pursued him... and will read more of him. I don't know if it is because I am latina ju......more

Goodreads review by Phoenix

This is a terrific book. It took me a while to finish it because I was reading so many other books, but I found that I would come back to this book at the right times, and could not get away from it (not that I wanted to). This book resonated with me deeply. In the end, I find this book to be both c......more