Sylvia Sánchez Garza, Ph.D.
Ghost Brother
Carlos and his twin brother Cris were looking forward to their school dance, but an encounter with a pair of bullies on a slick road during a terrible thunderstorm leads to a horrific auto accident and the deaths of two people—including Carlos. Cris, who was driving the car, is overcome with guilt, and their mom is devastated at the loss of her son.
The hazy details of the crash and its fallout are narrated in the alternating voices of the brothers, one a survivor and the other a ghost. No one can see or hear Carlos despite his efforts to let them know he is still there, so he is able to listen in on numerous conversations. One of the bullies that died in the crash was the son of the local sheriff, and the ghost learns the lawman intends to place the blame for the accident on his brother!
As Cris navigates his sorrow, he is intent on getting to know his father, who has been absent all their lives. To complicate matters, he meets and falls head-over-heels in love with Selena, who has secrets of her own, including knowing more about the crash than she lets on. Exploring death and grief from a young person’s perspective, this absorbing novel for teens set in South Texas brims with the cultural traditions and beliefs of the Mexican-American community.
Awaken!: A Collection of Poems
Awaken! is a short yet powerful collection of poems that will move and inspire readers. The lyrical verses capture the challenges, struggles, heartaches, and celebrations we go through individually and as families. Culture, love, hope, nature, and family bonds are evident in the words that will take you on your own journey.
Cascarones is a young adult coming-of-age story that revolves around a Mexican American family living in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. The main character, Suzy, her family, and friends are enriched by the rich traditions and culture of the region, shaping who she becomes. The narrative shifts from present to past, connecting readers to cultural traditions that changed throughout the years. Cascarones, first published in 2018, won three awards.
Cascarones: Growing Up in the Rio Grande Valley
Reviews
Reviewed by The Wishing Shelf
"A smartly crafted, supernatural mystery with a strong cast of memorable characters. A Wishing Shelf RECOMMENDED Read!" TITLE: Ghost Brother AUTHOR: Sylvia Sanchez Garza Star Rating: 5 "A smartly crafted, supernatural mystery with a strong cast of memorable characters. A Wishing Shelf RECOMMENDED Read!" The Wishing Shelf REVIEW I must say, I was 100% absorbed by Ghost Brother. It is a superbly written novel, the author, Sylvia Sanchez Garza, doing a wonderful of developing her small cast of characters whilst offering the reader a cleverly plotted mystery and a compelling South Texas ‘small town’ setting. It is primarily the story of two brothers, Carlos and Cris. Sadly, Carlos is killed in a car crash. Cris, suspecting foul play, attempts to uncover the truth, helped by Selena who has the ‘ability’ to help him. There were a number of elements to this novel I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the way Carlos attempts to ‘help’ his family is very cleverly plotted. This ‘fantasy’ element to the story also adds originality, the author using the character to explore the afterlife and what it may be. Secondly, the author is adept at dialogue, successfully using it to not only develop her plot, but also her characters. It also ‘sounds’ authentic, and not wooden at all. And thirdly, it’s simply a good story, the sort you can’t stop reading, the sort where you want to know what happens in the end. As for suspense, there’s plenty of that too! So, if you enjoy a well-written, smartly plotted, supernatural mystery, this book is for you. I think most readers will enjoy getting to know the brothers (and Selena who was my favorite character), and they’ll be rooting for Cris to find the closure he needs. The ending is particularly well written, bring a tear to my eye – always a good sign. A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review www.thewsa.co.uk
"Exciting and thought-provoking, this novel is sure to have readers intrigued until the last page." Ghost Brother Written by Sylvia Sánchez Garza Publisher: Arte Publico Press (12/09/2024) E-Book: 978-1518508387, Paperback: 979-8893750065 Pages: 184 Ages: 12+ What to Expect: Friendship, family, immigration, grief, loss, bullying, discrimination Set against the backdrop of Mexican-American tensions in South Texas, this young adult novel takes readers on a rollercoaster ride that blends murder mystery and ghost stories with a heart-wrenching exploration of grief, racial discrimination, and bullying. Carlos is dead, but that won’t stop him from trying to help his twin brother Cris— and Cris faces multiple challenges. As well as struggling to fit in in their high school, Cris is also struggling with the difficulty of reuniting with their absentee father, their mother’s crippling grief at Carlos’ death, and the local sheriff’s determination to pin his own son’s death on Cris. Cris has also fallen for the new girl in school, Selena— but Carlos knows that Selena has some secrets of her own and that she knows more about the crash that killed Carlos and the sheriff’s son than she’s admitting. Although Carlos desperately wants to help his brother navigate these challenges, he faces the ultimate obstacle: communicating across the veil that separates life and death. Carlos must find extraordinary ways to protect his brother and heal the rifts threatening his community. Sharing the narrative spotlight, Carlos and his brother are both impetuous and conscientious, with a deep love for each other and their friends and family that readers will admire and respect. The story is rich in cultural detail, including Latinx language and cultural references, that lend authenticity to the first-person narrative. The dual narrative perspective allows the serious issues of bullying, discrimination, and grief to be explored in a multifaceted and sensitive manner. Exciting and thought-provoking, this novel is sure to have readers intrigued until the last page. —The Children's Book Review
"...its inclusion of ethical concerns and intrigue make Ghost Brother an outstanding read that YA book clubs will also find thoroughly engrossing and filled with discussion topics." Ghost Brother Sylvia Sánchez Garza Piñata Books/Arte Público Press 979-8893750065 $11.96 Paperback/$9.99 eBook https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Brother-Sylvia-S%C3%A1nchez-Garza/dp/B0CZPLPB7P Ghost Brother is a young adult story of bullying that leads to death, telling of twin siblings who survive a terrible night in different ways. One is a survivor who is left to deal with the fallout. The other is a ghost who also is forced to listen not only to his family’s anguish, but the plans of a sheriff to protect his son from the law. The story opens with the first-person reflection of surviving brother Cris, who considers not just the loss of Carlos, but the future of his family and life. It’s difficult for him to come to terms with being a survivor: “It could have been you, Cris. You’re a miracle,” Mamá says. I guess I should be happy. Nothing ever happened before in the small south Texas town of Malton. Now events are happening back-to-back, placing Cris in the middle of a whirlwind of accusation, change, and anguish that death has no part in mitigating. A long-absent father, a new love, and secrets that wrack this Mexican-American town add depth and further insights into the story, which moves from a tale of grief and possible redemption to one in which the entire community suffers. Also notable are insights into supernatural events, perceptions, and cultural beliefs which steep Ghost Brother in a milieu rich in Mexican-American traditions, different generational perceptions, and insights on death and living. Sylvia Sánchez Garza creates a compelling story that is about far more than grief and recovery alone. As she probes the roots of this Mexican-American Texan town, she also reveals the wellsprings of tradition and culture which lend to survival and diverse viewpoints about how best to live. The investigative mystery component wound into the grief is finely tuned so as to bring readers into an intriguing milieu of discovery while traversing the deep influences of family and social forces. Libraries seeking a gripping YA story immersed in bigger-picture thinking about ethics, survival, and love will find Ghost Brother a major attraction. Its ability to lure YA audiences with the promise of ghosts, disparate viewpoints of brothers forced to cope with disaster in different ways, and its inclusion of ethical concerns and intrigue make Ghost Brother an outstanding read that YA book clubs will also find thoroughly engrossing and filled with discussion topics. - D. Donovan Senior Reviewer
"An understated but insightful ghost story that shows how misery affects people in unpredictable ways." Garza’s YA paranormal novel follows a ghost as he struggles to connect with his grieving mom and twin brother. A two-car collision in Malton, Texas, takes the life of high-schooler Carlos Pérez. According to the local police, Carlos’ brother, Cris, had been racing with another teen driver, who also died. Carlos, who was Cris’ passenger, returns as a ghost; he distinctly remembers a third vehicle suddenly appearing and causing the fatal accident. He does what can to communicate with his family, but he finds it very difficult. Months later, the twins’ mother remains distraught about Carlos’ death; Cris soothes his sorrow by pursuing a relationship with Selena, a new girl at school. He’s also determined to meet his father, who left the family when the boys were young and whom Cris’ mom avoids mentioning. When Cris faces potential threats from members of local law enforcement and other people in Malton,Carlos works to help his sibling, having quickly mastered some ghostly abilities; however, simply getting non-ghosts to hear him is much harder to accomplish. Garza offers a profound depiction of grief in this supernatural tale, showing how Carlos’ mother is overwhelmed by sadness, while Carlos makes connections with other as a way of coping and moving on. Mysteries effectively unravel; more than one character harbors a secret agenda, which stirs up distrust among others. The mystery surrounding the third car in the accident receives less attention than one might expect, although the story doesn’t entirely disregard it. The author’s prose is unadorned but gets assistance from an unwavering pace. Cris and Carlos alternate first-person narrative perspectives, which not only showcases the brothers’ strong bond but also their very different personalities; Carlos had been an outgoing athlete, and Cris remains reserved and bookish. An understated but insightful ghost story that shows how misery affects people in unpredictable ways.
"Touching examination of love’s ability to transcend mortality." Garza’s fiction debut is a poignant tale of love, loss, and redemption, exploring the bond between two brothers—one living and one deceased. As 15-year-old Cris grapples with the tragic death of his twin brother Carlos in a drag racing accident, Carlos, now a ghost, attempts to communicate with him, guiding him through the challenges of uncovering the truth behind the accident, while Cris reconnects with their estranged father, navigates the ravages of grief, and confronts the complex relationships in their small Texas town. The story alternates between the two boys’ perspectives, offering a unique exploration of what comes after death—and the enduring connection between loved ones that can cut across time and space. Ghost Brother is deeply rooted in Mexican American culture, weaving in traditions like spiritual cleansings (limpias), curanderas, and beliefs about life after death. These cultural elements enrich the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the characters’ experiences, as when Cris’s Grandma Blanca—a spiritual healer—visits, breaking through the family’s wall of grief with her calming, intuitive presence. Garza’s use of alternating viewpoints allows readers to empathize with both Cris and Carlos, making these emotionally resonant supernatural elements feel grounded in the boys' shared experiences. Garza's writing shines the most when it comes to her portrayal of grief and healing. Cris's journey from despair to acceptance is both heart- wrenching and uplifting, as he learns to forgive himself, his father, and even those who may not merit forgiveness at first glance. The subplot involving Selena—a mysterious girl with ties to Cris’s family—adds intrigue and layers to the story, blending themes of identity, family secrets, and redemption. This heartfelt exploration of familial bonds, cultural heritage, and the hope of life beyond death will resonate with readers who have experienced loss, offering comfort from the belief that love can transcend mortality. Takeaway: Touching examination of love’s ability to transcend mortality. Comparable Titles: Emily X.R. Pan’s The Astonishing Color of After, Lauren Oliver ’s Before I Fall. Production grades Cover: B+ Design and typography: A Illustrations: N/A Editing: A- Marketing copy: A-
Sylvia Sánchez Garza gives her YA readers a lot to think about in their personal lives as the reader watches Garza’s characters struggling with emotional depths familiar to numerous teenagers—an absent father—and events a kid doesn’t want to consider: the kid’s own death. There’s also young love, not to mention trouble with bullies who include a gun-toting sheriff. The story begins with a traffic accident and what seems a kid’s out-of-body experience. It’s not. The kid, Carlos, has been killed instantly. Carlos is the dead brother of the title. Cris, the victim’s brother, was driving and has survived. Garza uses the two brothers’ voices to spin the story of Cris falling in love with a troubled girl, Selena, and a story of children learning their father’s identity. None of this happens in orderly 1,2,3 fashion. For a few chapters, readers suspect the worst—that Selena and Cris are long-lost brother and sister. There’s also a hint of incipient police brutality, that big gun-toting sheriff, whose son also died in that car accident. School is, of course, a major element in a teenager’s life. Cris is a reader but not a teacher’s pet kind of kid. Selena is a new kid in school, bringing those complications to her daily troubles, already complicated by mother-daughter strife and the presence of outsider men in the mother’s life and the daughter struggling with not knowing her father’s identity. The author’s tactic using the dead brother narrating from the other side with the prescience of that dimension opens numerous opportunities for deeper investigations into spiritual themes. There’s a child who sees the ghost matter-of-factly. The boys’ mother responds without actually hearing her son’s wishes. Eventually, Carlos’ spirit makes itself known to this world, offering some kind of succor to the living. Garza chooses not to delve into the mysteries of spirits trapped in limbo, whose role is serving the concerns this world, of helping kids work through family struggles of desperate children, depressed mothers, absent fathers, and finding ways to live happily beyond the last page and a looming future. In the end, that’s enough, and if it’s not, it will have to do. - Michael Sedano
"This magical realism/fantasy story will keep your attention from beginning to end.” In Ghost Brother, Sylvia Sánchez Garza uses an authentic voice to portray the rich culture and politics in Deep South Texas. Twin brothers, Carlos and Cris attend high school in the small border town of Malton. Carlos is an athlete, and Cris is the studious one. They are excited to attend the end of school dance with their dates. As the dance winds down and they decide to leave, they are harassed and bullied by the son of the sheriff, Big J, and his thug friends. A severe thunderstorm blows in suddenly, and against the advice of the chaperone, they decide to leave the dance anyway. As they drive in heavy rain, Big J’s TransAm appears out of nowhere and causes a fatal traffic accident. Carlos and a person in the other car die in the crash. In the months after the crash, Cris, who shared a special bond with his brother, feels survivor guilt and intense grief. After the accident, Cris gets a feeling that the crash occurred under suspicious circumstances and he begins to investigate. He meets a mysterious new girl at school who has a few secrets of her own that might help Cris discover what really happened. Throughout the story, Carlos’s spirit tries hard to communicate with his family to help with their grief and to help in the discovery of the truth behind the accident. Family members sense unusual things around them as Carlos sends them subtle messages from beyond. The story causes the reader to ponder if there is life after death, perhaps in a different form, or perhaps spirits of our deceased loved ones exist in a parallel universe, just slightly out of reach. This magical realism/fantasy story will keep your attention from beginning to end. - María Elena Ovalle South Texas Literacy Coalition
"Be prepared to embark on an adventure that goes beyond anything you have experienced before, in the spellbinding pages of Ghost Brother." Lots of action and suspense in a small town setting are enough to keep you turning page after page in this heartfelt and tender story of self-identity and young love. The family dynamics add to the suspense of the story and are culturally relevant and full of realism. Sanchez Garza weaves supernatural elements into the twisting plot keeping you guessing with anticipation until the final chapters. You will be captivated with the characters, Selena, the mysterious dark-haired beauty, the brothers Carlos and Cris with a bond that extends beyond life, and the long-suffering Mama, who loves her family above all else. Be prepared to embark on an adventure that goes beyond anything you have experienced before, in the spellbinding pages of Ghost Brother. - Enedina Olivarez Educator
Reviewed by Barbara Brannon - Lone Star Literary
FICTION
Sylvia Sánchez Garza
Cascarones
Paperback, 978-1-724-62288-4
"Cascarones are colorfully decorated chicken eggs whose contents have been replaced with confetti or even small toys. In Mexican-American culture, cascarones are used in Easter egg hunts, and they symbolize not only the resurrection of Jesus but also spring, family togetherness, and good luck. Edinburg, Texas, writer Sylvia Sánchez Garza’s Cascarones is an entertaining, informative short novel best classified as a bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story focused mostly on one character’s formative years. Set in South Texas in the 1960s, 1970s, and present, Cascarones is written for young-adult readers. However, older readers also can enjoy it and learn more about Mexican-American Easter traditions and family life, plus some of the impacts of racial discrimination. In the book’s flashback portions, Garza’s main character, Suzy, is growing up within the protective shell of being among many relatives. “Being part of a close-knit Mexican American, Rio Grande Valley family,” Suzy recalls, “my brothers, sisters, and I grew up with the privilege of always being surrounded by loved ones regardless of where we were. Our fifty-plus first cousins on Mommy’s side, and almost thirty first cousins on Daddy’s side, were like brothers and sisters to us. All of the family celebrations included them.” The annual Easter scramble to find cascarones — and the rowdy ritual of getting them cracked on your head — stand out as important events as Suzy recalls past family gatherings and lessons learned about life and death. “All the cousins search for the coveted golden egg as if they were searching for ‘The Holy Grail,’” Suzy explains. “It doesn’t matter what’s inside of it; it’s the principle. It’s the fact that it is the ‘Golden One.’ Sometimes it takes hours to find, but no one gives up until it is found. Of course there is the silver, and the bronze as well, but the significance is of no comparison. The one who finds the impossibly, incredibly well hidden, golden egg is always the hero of the day.” Suzy also recalls how cultural pressures and her mother’s conservative Catholic beliefs sometimes clashed with Suzy’s teenage efforts to forge and solidify her identity as a young woman. Simple acts such as wanting to dance, getting her ears pierced like other girls her age, or not wanting to see her grandfather dead in his coffin become matters of tension and choice in Cascarones. Years later, after certain family members have died and others have moved away, Suzy laments how big families often have stopped getting together. “When we were younger,” Suzy says, “we would always get together. Now only certain occasions brought us back home.” Set mainly in Weslaco and Houston, Cascarones is smooth reading. Don’t try to take it in too quickly, however. There are some sudden time jumps, from a past where Suzy and her siblings are learning from their parents, cousins, other relatives, and teachers, to the present, where Suzy now has four sons and is trying to help them grow up to be men."
Post by Maxreview » 12 Apr 2022, 04:48
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Awaken!" by Sylvia Sánchez Garza.]
4 out of 4 stars
Awaken! by Sylvia Sánchez Garza is a chapbook consisting of 26 poems. "Awaken," the poem from which the title of this book is derived; "La Flor," "La Luna," "Mr. Sunshine" and "Clouds," which are among those about nature; and "Soar with the Angels" are some examples of the poems included in this poetry collection. I love the themes that the poems in this book navigate through. The themes range from the beauty of nature (like "Mr. Sunshine" and "Clouds"), the hardships of life (particularly in the poem titled "Labores"), the recent covid-19 pandemic (in "The Delusional Dream"), a tribute to George Floyd, and the beauty of inanimate objects like the piñata and the lifeless stone. Out of all the poems, I found the poem titled "September" to be the most emotional poem in this book. The persona in this poem is recollecting memories about his or her late mother and wonders why she had to leave. In the poem, the persona remembers her saying that everyone has their day, and they'll one day have to depart from this earth, but little did the persona know that she was speaking about her own day. The persona also laments and asks questions like "why did it have to be just her?" I felt the persona's anguish and pain as I read the poem and realized that life is but a foam in the ocean that lasts for a very short time. I also loved the nature-inspired poems like "Mr. Sunshine," "Clouds," "La Luna," and "La Flora" among others. Particularly, "Clouds" speaks about the transitions and transformations clouds go through. The persona describes them at one time as "white sheep gliding across the blue sky." In "Mr. Sunshine," the persona pleads with the sun to take a nap for a while. The time appears to be just before a drizzle in the early morning, and the sun is urged by the persona to hold on a little longer—since there would still be time later in the day to show its might. The persona is hopeful to see the rainbow should the sun listen to him/her. Structurally, most of the poems in this book are free verses. They have an unpredictable rhyme scheme. Most lines and stanzas don't follow the rules or patterns in traditional poems. However, this is not to say that there is no rhyme. There are some rhyming lines, consonance, assonance, and alliteration within the poems, but I think they're more coincidental than a precedented composition. All the above reasons have allowed the poet to freely communicate his message and emotions. And speaking of emotions, the poems have a pack of them. The rich imagery used also helps in visualizing the poems better. Since these are poems, some of the few errors I noticed could pass as using the poetic license for stylistic reasons. There is one poem I didn't understand, too. These are the only negative aspects of the book, but because of the overall quality of the book and the dexterity in which most poems were written, I'll give this book a 4 out of 4. Furthermore, there is nothing else I disliked. The book seems professionally edited to me. I dedicate this book to all lovers of poetry who love image-rich and emotion-packed poems.
Reviewed by Lone Star Literary Life
Sylvia Sánchez Garza
White Bird Publications
Paperback, ISBN: 978-1633635562; 48 pgs.; $13.99
January 11, 2022
Infused with love and memories, Awaken! uncovers joy in moments of sorrow. The poet Sylvia Sánchez Garza dedicates this collection to her parents; her mother Elida Reyna Sánchez died in 2019 and her father Joe V. Sánchez in 2021. Grief-stricken, the author reveals that words overflow her mind, comparing them to water pouring from a faucet with broken handles. But she remains silent, knowing that eventually her “lost words/Will ignite and explode,” as they do in her poem “Words,” an expression of her emotional pain. “Clouds” is a metaphor for those she misses. She watches them morph and move across the sky. “They grow, create themselves /and reunite with each other for strength.” Heartbroken, she acknowledges the anniversary of her mother’s death in “September” but feels her presence in the natural world and her grandbaby’s “silky-smooth skin.” “Understand” is an internal conversation about “sacred shells,” bodies left behind at death. Sánchez Garza doesn’t understand those who look for loved ones in open coffins. She believes lives continue in the depths of souls, “where no one else can go.” She feels their spirits in the natural world, “…in the red, candescent cardinal /Perching on the windowsill.” Her love for nature also comes through in the couplets of “Anacahuita” when she converses with an olive tree that she hopes will survive a freeze and in “La Flor” when she expresses gratitude for every moment. Her ode to “Mr. Sunshine” is set on a stormy day, but she encourages him to sleep in. “La Luna,” about the moon, is another of her lyrical poems with s and w alliterations as soothing as lullabies. The first four couplets are lovely, but the rest of the poem detours to focus on a blue heron. In “Haibun: Meditating in the Backyard,” the poet combines a prose poem with a haiku. Sitting on a bench, sipping iced tea, she again reflects on egrets in South Texas: Pure, angelic, birds, majestic at water’s edge… croaking a good night.
All Published Works
-
Awaken! A Poetry Collection Cascarones, YA novel, published by Floricanto Press
-
“Ojo,” published in Living Beyond Borders by Penguin Teens 2021
-
Boundless 2021
-
What They Left Behind: An Anthology 2021
-
“Attack,” published by Unique Poetry
-
“Delusional Dreams,” published by Covid Poetry
-
“Please,” published by Ice Colony, forthcoming
-
“Labores,” published by Ice Colony, forthcoming
-
“Dance,” published by Indian Feminine Review
-
“Remember,” published by ANA Magazine
-
“Spiritless Stone,” published by ANA Magazine
-
“Understand,” published by ANA Magazine
-
"September," published by eris & eros
-
Wards Literary Magazine