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Cover Story - Spanish Version

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Growing Pains

Turning 13 can be painful. Sure, pimples are a problem. But it's the feelings of insecurity that really hurt. "I would gaze into the bathroom mirror and ask myself, 'Is this the sum of my13 years?'" author Gary Soto says of his younger self. "All of us doubt ourselves--how we look, how we play on the field, how we dress, how we do in school."

These worries form the basis of Soto's latest book, Mercy on These Teenage Chimps, which is available in bookstores this month.

Soto tells the story of two 13-year-old best friends, Ronnie and Joey. Both boys are self-conscious about their changing appearance. In the mirror, they see stick-out ears and arms that nearly touch the ground. The hair sprouting on their chins doesn't improve the look.

It gets worse when the coach at school embarrasses Joey in front of a girl. Teary-eyed, Joey retreats to his childhood hideaway in a tree. Soto understands the appeal of a place to get away from it all. "I remember my childhood street from tree level," Soto says. "I spent hours in the neighbor's sycamore tree. It was an escape from the world."

The trouble is that Joey has no intention of leaving his sanctuary. It's up to Ronnie to convince his friend to face the world once again. In his quest, Ronnie endures bullies and nosy neighbors, and falls from more than one roof.

"This book is a call for mercy for young people going through self-doubt," Soto told TFK. "It's a comic novel with a larger lesson about loyalty. Ronnie feels for his friend and knows he must do everything in his power to return him to his quirky, fun-loving spirit. That's what a friend does."

The moral of the story: You don't need to be the best-looking chimp in the jungle. All you need is a loyal friend who will stick by you, even when the going gets a little, well, hairy.

Next: A New Way Forward