The major lesson of this story from Gary Soto is that what someone is like on the inside is more important than his or her looks. An insecure seventh-grader is obsessed with his appearance (teeth, V-cut abs, hairstyle and clothes). His outlook on relationships changes when an act of kindness results in a bike-riding “date” with a girl. When his bicycle chain breaks, it looks like the date will be a disaster. Fortunately, his older brother comes to the rescue and the boy experiences his first touch of “love”. Themes: identity vs. appearance, sibling rivalry (jealousy) / brotherly love, courage.

In this story from Gary Soto, the close relationship between a struggling single mother and her eighth-grade daughter is tested by a wardrobe malfunction at a school dance. Mrs. Moreno is a flamboyant, hard-working, devoted mother. Her daughter Yollie appears genuinely appreciative of her mother’s efforts and understanding of their financial position. After fleeing the fall dance to avoid embarrassment, Yollie directs her frustration and anger toward her mother. It is Mrs Moreno, not Yollie, who cries herself to sleep that night. The themes: motherly love and the hurt that can be caused by a single thoughtless action.

The main theme of this story by Gary Soto is that there is honor in honest hard work, and accordingly no shame in having a manual or menial job. It also deals with some common social stereotypes. On the one hand we have Jose, representing the hard-working, down-to-earth, family-oriented Mexican working class; on the other, Arnie, representing an exploitative, materialistic, entitled Mexican middle class. Soto contrasts Jose’s hard work with Arnie’s fast-talking attempts to get a “free ride”. Jose bears his sun-darkened Mexican looks proudly; Arnie prefers to claim French heritage and a “Portuguese or Armenian” complexion.

Middle School marks the beginning of early adolescence. Hormones rage, bodies begin to change, and ‘new’ kinds of relationships form with members of the opposite sex. This story by Gary Soto is about Victor, a boy just starting Seventh Grade. He has promised himself that before the year is out he is going to hook up with Terresa, a girl he has known through their church for several years. The only subject they share at school is French, and Victor’s comical efforts to impress almost lead to disaster. The message: Don’t try to fake who you are. Just be yourself! (1,900 words)

This Gary Soto story is about facing fear. The protagonist is scared of forgetting his only line in his sixth-grade play. In addition to worrying about being laughed at, another student has threatened to “bury his face in the ground” if he messes up. The play is about the infamous Donner Party. The fear theme is supported in its concluding words: You gotta suck it up (endure hardship) in bad times. Interestingly, although intended to suggest that the starving travelers should have been stronger in resisting cannibalism, this expression could also be used to justify eating dead bodies to survive?

In Gary Soto’s The Challenge, a young boy looking for romance learns how NOT to impress girls. Rather than being himself, he tries to prove how good he is: first academically by acing a history quiz, and later through a boastful lie and ill-fated racquet ball game. His sexist opinion that winning against a girl should be easy sets him up for an embarrassing fall. Ironically, if he had been confident enough to talk a little more with the girl, he might have learned the origin of her nickname and spared himself some pain. Themes: shyness, being yourself, dishonesty, sexism.