Retablos

Set in El Paso, this memoir explores the life of Octavio, a young boy coming of age near the border, where childhood rituals and rites of passage are marked by profound experiences. Through vivid recollections of growing up amid the desert landscape and the flux of people passing through, the narrative offers an insightful look into what life is really like on the Mexican border. Recognized as a Buzzfeed Best Book of the Year and a New York Times pick, it provides a compelling account of growth, trauma, and transformation.