The Brothers Torres

The Brothers Torres is a compelling coming-of-age story centered on Frankie Torres, a high school student who deeply admires his older brother, Steve. Steve's quest for 'street cred' and respect from local 'cholos' leads to a series of conflicts, particularly with a wealthy rival. As Frankie's own social standing rises under Steve's wing, he begins to question his brother's methods and the true meaning of respect. This novel explores themes of sibling loyalty, peer pressure, identity formation, and standing up for one's values. While the publisher lists an age range of 4-11, the mature themes of fighting, dating, and social dynamics make it more suitable for readers aged 10-14, offering rich ground for discussion.

Frankie Towers has always looked up to his older brother, Steve, and with good reason. Steve is a popular senior who always gets what he wants: girls, a soccer scholarship, and--lately--street cred. Frankie, on the other hand, spends his time shooting off fireworks with his best friend Zach, working at his parents' restaurant, and obsessing about his longtime crush, Rebecca Sanchez. Frankie has reservations about Steve's crusade to win the respect of the local cholos. He doesn’t think about them, though, until he gets into a fist fight John Dalton – the richest, preppiest kid in his New Mexican high school, and longtime nemesis of Steve. After the fight, Steve takes Frankie under his wing – and Frankie’s social currency begins to rise. The cholos who used to ignore him start to recognize him; he even lands a date to Homecoming with Rebecca. The situation with Dalton continues to simmer, and after another incident Steve is bent on retaliating. Frankie starts to think that his brother is taking this respect thing too far. He may have to choose between respecting his brother and respecting himself. In an honest and humorous debut novel, Coert Voorhees uses a coming of age story to look at where loyalty ends and the self begins.