Heartbeat of the Soul of the World — Rene Saldana Jr

A young man finds his voice in jazz, leaving a mark on his community that will never be erased. Another discovers his words in books and carves them into angry poems. Bullied kids at the end of their rope are given friendship and protection, while other teens cannot clear the hurdles life sets in their way. And at every step the promise of love glows bright even in the gloom of teenage life. In this new collection, René Saldaña, Jr., echoes the rhythmic pulse of life along the border. These brave, nuanced, accessible stories -- ten previously published and five new -- will resonate with young readers everywhere, especially Latinos. Come. Lean in close. Listen to the heartbeat of the soul of the world.