Crazy Loco

by David Talbot Rice

Book Overview

Crazy Loco is a collection of humorous stories about growing up Mexican American. The stories are about family, friends, finding yourself, and sometimes about being a little crazy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0736231501
• ISBN13: 9780736231503
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: National Geographic School Pub
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Great read

The book is about mexican kids growing up in the US. Each with their own experiences

Crazy Loco

The book Crazy Loco by David Rice is short stories about children growing up near the border of Mexico and the United States as Mexican Americans. Most of the stories are funny, but a few of them are serious and sad. I felt the serious stories, such as Her Other Son and She Flies, were much stronger than some of the funny stories, such as The California Cousins and Proud to be an American. I liked the stronger stories more because I could really feel for some of the characters and what they were going through. I also felt they were better because they had more description. My favorite story of all of them was Her Other Son. This story was about a young boy's close connection to his family's maid. I enjoyed this story the most because the reader can really understand what the character is going through and it was very descriptive and touching. When reading this book, it reminded me of the book Crossing the Wire because in a lot of the stories the characters had to cross the border between the United States and Mexico. They also spoke a little bit of Spanish in Crazy Loco (that the readers can understand) as they also did in the book Crossing the Wire. In each story in this book, the author, David Rice, always had great description. Also at the end of every story he kind of leaves you at a cliffhanger. You are left wondering questions about what will happen next in the characters life, or why did the character do that? I like how the author did this because it really gets you to think deeper about the story. It also helps you get a better understanding of the story when you think so much about it. Even though some stories weren't as strong as the others, I still think Crazy Loco was a very good book.

Papa Lalo

I just recently finished reading both of Rice's books: Give The Pig A Chance, and Crazy Loco. I have comments on several of his short stories, but overall, I'd like to say that his writing is very inspiring to me - I didn't expect for stories this short to be full with such great symbolism.In his short story, Papa Lalo, Henry was given a compass from his grandfather, as a gift. A compass always faces North. The Earth has it's own magnetic polarity that magnifies the pull of a compass to face due North. The compass could have symbolized the unbearable "magnetic pull": that Harry had with his grandfather. Even though Harry didn't realize he shared any common ground, or any connection with his grandfather - He always had that "magnetic pull" a "bond" that we sometimes are unfamiliar with until we try to face another direction in life - or until life points us in a new direction.This was a very well written, carefully thought out story.

Move over Gary Soto/Haste un lado Gary Soto

David Rice's second book Crazy Loco is a collection of short stories that kicks off the new wave of young adult Chicano literature. As an English teacher I've sought quality Chicano literature for my kids and aside from Gary Soto, there isn't much out there. I'm glad to see that's changing. Rice's stories are hilarious and even though they're set in South Texas with mostly Chicano characters, they will appeal to all kids. I shared stories from his previous book, Give the Pig a Chance, with my students and they loved them. Since his style has improved and these stories are funnier, I know my students will love Crazy Loco even more. My favorites of the bunch were "Crazy Loco" and "Proud to be an American." They are about two things most kids are experts about: dogs and fireworks. Other stories are heartfelt. "Papa Lalo" will strike a chord with children who have lived through divorce or have lost their grandparents. "Valentine" is about the pain and power of first love. David Rice writes the Rio Grande Valley of Texas like few other authors can. He is a great new voice in Chicano fiction and one to watch in the future.

Crazy Loco, a Crazy Collection

I've heard David Rice read a few of the stories in this collection back in South Texas at different venues and was amazed at how much his writing had matured since his first book (Give the Pig a Chance--another fine book in its own right). A side note to anyone with an opportunity to experience Rice's presentations--take the chance, go out of your way if you have to, but do listen to him. Back to the book: I was so looking forward to Crazy Loco, and when I got my copy, I got right to it. Dropped Moby Dick, and slowed down on To the Lighthouse to finish Crazy Loco. The stories, most of which are told in the first person, the narrators varying from story to story, are humorous and fun to read. But I feel the strongest pieces are the ones in which Rice cuts out the humor, and gets down to some serious business, like in "Last Mass" and "Her Other Son." These stories are emotional without being sentimental. These stories bring to mind others of his works, namely "Tina La Tinaca" from his first collection, and they show exactly why Rice is being published today.