David Bowles is a writer based in south Texas. David’s latest book of poems, They Call Me Güero, is a middle-grade novel-in-verse about a light-skinned Mexican-American boy who is just entering the seventh grade. In the book, David portrays the life of a border kid with all its joys and challenges. In our conversation we talked about that book, as well as about David’s collection of the myths and legends of pre-Colombian Mexico, Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky. We discussed the importance of representation, especially for young people of color. Then for the second segment, David and I talked about finding our way to a softer masculinity, and seeking out pop culture that makes us cry.

(Conversation recorded March 12, 2019.)

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Show Notes:

• David Bowles
• David Bowles - They Call Me Güero: Cinco Puntos Press | IndieBound
• David Bowles - Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Cinco Puntos Press | IndieBound
• David Bowles - A Kingdom Beneath the Waves
• David Bowles - “Border Kid”
• Sylvia Vardell & Janet Wong - Here We Go
• Gloria Anzaldúa
• Nepantla
• Sandra Cisneros - The House on Mango Street
• Keep the Channel Open - Episode 84: Matika Wilbur
• Dr. Debbie Reese - American Indians in Children’s Literature
• Corinne Duyvis - #ownvoices
• Savannah Smiles
• The Good Doctor
• Steven Universe
• Hamilton
• Captain Marvel
• Elizabeth Acevedo - The Poet X
• Jason Reynolds - Long Way Down

Transcript