Iron River

Iron River by Daniel Acosta. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781941026939.

An acclaimed YA debut novel that serves as a great alternative or companion to To Kill a Mockingbird--exploring the dynamics of systemic racism in the 1950s through the eyes of a Latino boy coming of age. Its 1958, and a river runs through 12-year-old Mannys life--the railroad that passes along his barrio in San Gabriel, just ten miles east of L.A. It used to be a playground where he could while away time with his friends, throwing rocks at passing trains. Until they find the body of a man they mightve accidentally killed with their games. The crooked cop they confess to is just glad to have something to hold against them. Hes always been happy to terrorize the whole neighborhood for not being white. So now Manny is tormented by a guilty conscience, and the certainty that police will bang on his front door any day. His family is already struggling with the return of Uncle Rudy, a war-worn man just out from jail. Mannys dad keeps warning him to stay away from Rudy, that hes trouble, but he might have already screwed up his life all on his own.