The Kids on the Block (Paperback)

The Kids on the Block is a gripping and undeniably compelling story that will ignite genuine laughter, crocodile tears and a flood of your own childhood memories. Relatable and vivid character depictions will cause you to tap into your own formative years and the bonds you shaped while growing up on your own block. Reading The Kids on The Block is tantamount to stepping into a magnificent time machine that takes you on an uplifting and enriching journey, at the outset, peering into the lives of adolescents bonding on the block, and then following them into adulthood. The memorable experiences spotlight both good and carefree times -as well as heartbreaking events. As you become immersed in the lives of these characters, you can’t help but conjure up your own emotional recollections of youth. The Kids on The Block is a thoroughly captivating, entertaining and thought provoking saga –one you will be glad you read, and one you won’t soon forget.
 
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The Kids on the Block is a humorous gaze into the 'Rites-of-Passage as Soapsuds and his unique friends make their way from adolescents to adults. Though the banter is mostly light-hearted, the author is not afraid to touch on serious issues such as, death, abuse, hunger, suicide and other life struggles. The Spanish words that are briefly introduced add an ethnic flavor that left this reader feeling like she'd been treated to 'apachurones' from a culture that is rich in love, traditions and strong ties to family and friendships. I found 'The Kids on the Block' to be a delightful, charming and entertaining read!
 
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There’s a little something for everyone in The Kids on the Block, an enjoyable new book by author Mario Chavez. Tracing the lives of the “kids,” Chavez recaptures youth in a way few can as seen through the eyes of memorable characters like Casper, Guero Flu, Horns, Soapsuds, and even La Plaga. No matter which character you identify with most, don’t be surprised if you find yourself lost in your own childhood memories. It’s difficult not to laugh and tear up while reading about life on the block, as author Chavez illuminates how those early relationships and experiences bind us regardless of the years that fly by all too quickly, and the various paths we inevitably take in life. Return to the days of old and what it meant to be a kid in this poignant debut novel by Mario Chavez. You’ll be glad you did.
 
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Writer Mario Chavez paints a colorful, touching and at times very funny canvas of boys faced with life experiences that leave an enduring imprint on their lives and those of the reader. We all know these kids.
 
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Author Mario Chavez is a new and talented writer. He has made his debut into the literary world with one of the most excellent, stimulating, exciting books I have read in a long, long time! This great piece of literature is "The Kids on the Block." The delightful story covers a multitude of happenings in these ‘on the block’ (a section of a neighborhood called “the block”) kids' lives from early childhood to adulthood. As you might guess from the title and the author's name, the book deals with the Hispanic culture and reveals much that all of us should know about, laugh about, and even shed a few tears about as well. We are privy to customs, traditions, and much, much laughter enjoyed by this interesting culture. However, the escapades, adventures, the happiness, and sadness; the tragedies and hardships occurring in the lives of these young kids are the same as those happening in many other ethnic groups throughout the world. “The Kids on the Block” story is told and illustrated poignantly by the author. While reading the story, you will find yourself wishing you could have grown up and participated in that atmosphere side by side with the kids on the block.
 
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