THE BROTHERS TORRES

In this debut novel, 16-year-old Francisco “Frankie” Torres finds himself at odds with his older brother Steve and Steve’s concept of family honor and manhood. When a rich, interloping jock targets the brothers for harassment, Steve is drawn toward the violent solutions endorsed by Flaco, the small New Mexico town’s main cholo (gangster). As he struggles between revenge and restraint, Frankie finds himself inadvertently caught up in the conflicts. Frankie’s internal struggles drag down the narrative: His rapid vacillations, occasionally feminine tone and random behavior come across as literary flaws instead of self-discovery. Moreover, community dynamics and coincidence drive the plot forward more than the characters’ own motivations. Readers unfamiliar with the cholo or lowrider culture will be left out, though the language is authentic. Zach, Frankie’s best friend, is the most memorable character, with his glass eye, penchant for explosives and humorous self-identification with Latino culture. Striving for rich layers in both character and story, Voorhees creates a muddled mess. (Fiction. YA)