Buried Onions

by Gary Soto

Book Overview

Eddie's father, two uncles, and best friend are all dead, and it's a struggle for him not to end up the same way. Violence makes Fresno wallow in tears, as if a huge onion were buried beneath the city. Making an effort to walk a straight line despite constant temptations and frustrations, Eddie searches for answers--and discovers that his closest friends may actually be his worst enemies.
Includes a reader's guide and a glossary of Spanish words...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152062653
• ISBN13: 9780152062651
• Release Date: December 2006
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

THE TEENAGE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGING

The times have changed from when those of us went to elementary and middle school (junior high) back in the sixties and seventies and were assigned certain books for reading and discussing. Although there are many "classics" assigned for literature readers of the same age in this new era, the world of teenage books truly screams out for stories that are more timely. I believe it is through literature teenagers can come to see other cultures, other lives, and other situations more than if we keep waving newspapers in front of their faces. Literature sings a new song, and if the song is well written, the mind can dance to it. Buried Onions is such a novel. My son was assigned it as summer reading and he was so absorbed in it, I decided to read it myself. It is timely. Soto brings the character of Eddie to life by revealing both his small rays of hope and his overpowering sense of hopelessness to the reader. The struggle he faces to remove himself from the violent gang environment and into vocational school and eventually a job. His best efforts fail due to outside influences and he must make a decision which will chart the course for the rest of his life. The ending of the book, revealed above in the canned review, I feel is deliberate, much like the ending of "The Giver." The reader was pointedly forced into wondering what really happened after the book was closed. What a great hook to make someone think. Even more than Eddie's story, the ending opens up wonderful opportunities to discuss the story and the different avenues Eddie's life may have taken AFTER the conclusion in the book. It's a different age, a different time in history and while it's wonderful to revisit the classics, it is vital young people have the opportunity to delve into some of the very real issues all kids are facing. If your kid has this as an option on a reading list, encourage them to choose it. They (and you) will be engrossed and it's an excellent jumping off point to discuss life choices.

Brown is a favorite target

I think the book Buried Onions is a good one. I recommend this book to all teeagers. Gary Soto tells you what a Mexicano or Chicano have to live just because our skin is brown. I was raised in the town of Cicero and I know how living in the street is, I know that any day my life could be taken away. But, that is the risk I have to take when I am out there with my home boys. I also have to look out for the police because brown is one of their favorite targets to arrest or beat up. Life in my town is like Fresno. Some of the gangs are small, but there are some crazy home boys that just don't care if they take a life or two. Life is nothing easy, but you have to learn how to live it. Some times you have to throw down to get your respect, and sometimes you have to steal to survive, but that is life. Most of my home boys are drop outs and some didn't even start high school, but everybody chooses their own way of living. Some have jobs, but not careers. Some are professional thieves. I liked the way this book mixed Spanish and English together, that is the way I was raised and my homeboys, too. I liked that the book is written in realistic language. I liked the way the book ended. Sometimes that is the best thing to do, fly away with the wind.

Tight!

This book is awesome, I was hooked in the first seven pages. His reason for calling it buried onions is interesting. I've actually read a book that I can try to tell everyone else to read. Especially if your in high school and your mexican. It helps because you can somewhat relate to the book.

A boy who ovvercomes obstacles that make him stronger

This book is intresting. He talk about the truth about inner life. He showed life from another person life. He did not have a nice home and he does not have a car. Not only was it a great story ,but he made it so easy to understand. He made a great statement that can make it even if you are in a bad city and not very rich.

This book was a riviting book

I think that this book was a really good book. It deserves all those stars because of the real life things that go on in the book.I really like this book because it shows how a man can go through such struggle and triumph over it.I also like this book because this book touches on real life subjects such as the way poverty destroys innocent peoples lives.Overall this is a good book and it deserves all 5 stars.