Petty Crimes (Module 3)

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Soto, Gary. 1998. Petty Crimes. San Diego: Harcourt Brace. ISBN: 9780152016586.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Ten short stories featuring Mexican-American young adults growing up in tough, urban neighborhoods. Some are getting into trouble, some are trying to keep out of it, and others are simply dealing with family and life.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Gary Soto is a master at the short story weaving in metaphors and poetic language, quickly introducing the reader to characters that have depth, and leaving the reader with just enough satisfaction while evoking strong emotions as well. For example, in “Mother's Clothes,” Alma's mother dies of cancer and her father makes a clean sweep of their lives including giving away all of the mother's clothing. Alma begins to see other women in the clothing and vows to get it all back. She finds it at the Salvation Army and gets back everything that hasn't been sold already. She then spends time creating outfits across her bed “like Barbie's clothes.” The last line of the story is haunting as she finishes one winter outfit and states, “There. She is ready to go.”

Although the stories are about urban youth living their lives in tough circumstances, Soto infuses his stories with beauty and hope. Obviously, there are themes of coming of age in some of the stories. Many also focus on the strong family ties that are a large part of the Latin culture. For example, “Try to Remember” is entirely about Laura realizing that her grandfather can no longer remember simple lists and lives in something of a fog. The common theme of the search for identity as a Latino is also found in stories like “La Guera” about a half-white, half-Mexican girl who is literally fighting to find out where she fits and “Born Worker” about a Jose acting on who he wants to become instead of who others may pressure him to be. Soto's characters often code switch between English and Spanish just as the same teens would do from this culture.

Soto has written ten stories that many will find as either a reflection of their own experiences or a view into a world they have never experienced. Either way, all readers should find themselves identifying with some of these characters in their struggles, decisions, and responses to life. It is a collection of short stories that is not quickly forgotten for its beauty and its harshness.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

• Kirkus Reviews Starred: “A well-crafted collection that's lively, absorbing, and meaningful.”
• School Library Journal: “A colorful potpourri of 10 ironic short stories.”
• Publisher's Weekly: “In this sharply honed collection of stories, Mexican American children on the brink of adolescence are testing the waters, trying to find their place in a world ruled by gangs and 'marked with graffiti, boom boxes, lean dogs behind fences....'”

5. CONNECTIONS

• Do an author study on Gary Soto. He has a webpage with a lot of interesting tabs including photos from throughout his life. There is also information about the Gary Soto Literary Museum at Fresno City College in California. If you are unable to go to the museum, there is an audio tour you can access through a phone number (scroll down to the bottom of the page). You can call this number even if you are not at the museum and press a button 1-9 to hear about different exhibits in the museum narrated by Gary Soto. Although you cannot see what he is talking about, the descriptions are quite detailed and worth listening to.
• Reread the first and last lines of some of the short stories. Gary Soto is a master at beginning and ending his stories well. Have students write their own short stories. Analyze and use Gary Soto's stories to workshop their own.
• Other recommended books for young adults by Latino/a authors:

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. ISBN: 9780679734772.

Engle, Margarita. The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba. ISBN: 9780805090826.

Saenz, Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. ISBN: 9781442408920.

Saldaña, Jr., René. The Jumping Tree: A Novel. ISBN: 9780440228813.