Awards

• Winner of NACCS Tejas Award for Young Adult Fiction 2016 (United States)

Overview

People in the small town of Greenton mark their lives from that day in late summer when crowds lined the streets to see off high school athletic stars John Robison and John Mijias. That was the day the Johns, as they were known by adoring fans in Greenton, left for state college, and never made it there—or back. The Johns had spent their high school years putting that nowhere losing town on the map with playoff runs in football and state championship bids in baseball. For Concepcion ""Chon"" Gonzales, the days that the Johns headed out and didn't return was the first day of his new life. He had waited all his growing up years for a shot at Araceli when one of the Johns, John Mejia, stole her away. Now, while Greenton mourns, while the Johns' families become actors in a spectacle of grief, while Johns memorabilia is sold in every gas station and convenience store in town, while Araceli has to endure a senior year in the watchful gaze of the whole town, Chon Gonzales makes his slow methodical move on the only girl he's ever loved, hoping maybe that she won't notice what he wants. Rene S. Perez II was born in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Corpus Christi. He received a BA from the University of Texas and an MFA from Texas State University. He is the winner of the Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Foundation Award and lives in Austin. His first book, Along These Highways, was released in 2012.

Full Product Details

9781941026120

Table of Contents

Reviews

An atmospheric, refreshing read that will resonate with readers from towns both small and large. --Kirkus Review This is a searing, mature novel, not just because sexual scenes (which are among the most complex and thoughtful moments in the book) are included, but in the way it handles the innumerable challenges associated with grief and love. With strains of Mexican-American heritage, this is also a fine diverse read. --Cat Acree, BookPage Though the context of [Rene] Perez's first novel is Mexican American, Chon's longings are universal, ones every reader can identify with ... the novel achieves its goal of bringing two appealing teens and their relationship to vivid life. --Michael Cart, Booklist Online This authentic story of loss is powerful and one that many readers will not forget. --School Library Journal Seeing Off the Johns is briskly and evenly paced. The deceptively simple plot allows the young people to take center stage and everyone who grew up in a small Texas town will recognize these personalities. They are allowed to stretch, to contract, and to mature, and it's a pleasure to be along for the ride as Chon finds out how brave his heart really is. --Lone Star Literary Life

An atmospheric, refreshing read that will resonate with readers from towns both small and large. --Kirkus Review This is a searing, mature novel, not just because sexual scenes (which are among the most complex and thoughtful moments in the book) are included, but in the way it handles the innumerable challenges associated with grief and love. With strains of Mexican-American heritage, this is also a fine diverse read. --Cat Acree, BookPage Though the context of [Rene] Perez's first novel is Mexican American, Chon's longings are universal, ones every reader can identify with ... the novel achieves its goal of bringing two appealing teens and their relationship to vivid life. --Michael Cart, Booklist Online

An atmospheric, refreshing read that will resonate with readers from towns both small and large. --Kirkus Review This is a searing, mature novel, not just because sexual scenes (which are among the most complex and thoughtful moments in the book) are included, but in the way it handles the innumerable challenges associated with grief and love. With strains of Mexican-American heritage, this is also a fine diverse read. --Cat Acree, BookPage

Author Information

Rene S. Perez II was born in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Corpus Christi. He received a BA from the University of Texas and an MFA from Texas State University. He is the winner of the Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Foundation Award and the 2013 NACCS Tejas Award for Fiction for his 2012 short story collection, Along These Highways. He currently teaches high school in Austin.

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