Ah I have a weakness for books written in verses. Every single one I read hit me deeply in the heart

This is a story about growing up, about having a hard time convincing the world that our orientation is okay

I recommend it for fans of The Poet X and The Black Flamingo

'Only Pieces' by Edd Tello is a story of a young gay boy hiding his sexuality from most of the world, except his mom and his best friend. There is no real happy ending to this book, other than Edgar coming to terms that even if his parents don't understand it or accept it right now, different people have different ways of showing their love for you. This story was very personal to me, as my own sexual orientation was up for debate by my own mother. Edgar hides his sexuality from his father and when his father does find out he's "confused" which is not far off from where I was at several years ago with my own mom. Even though it doesn't really have a happy ending, I loved this so much, because as I said, it was very personal for me.

An extremely quick but no less incredible read! At first, I was a little unsure of the way the book was written. I always prefer prose to poetry when it comes to novels, but by the time I had finished this, there is no other way I would have wanted to read Edgar's story. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing m with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Only Pieces is a novel written in verse, and it tells the story of Edgar, a Mexican-American teenager who is trying to bridge the gap between who he is and who his family wants him to be. He is trying to tell his parents things about himself - that he is gay, that he wants to study literature, all while knowing they won't approve in the slightest. His Apá is a "macho man" and when he comes home after being away because of work, Edgar has to hide even more, he has to at least pretend he wants to be what his dad expects his son to be. All while, he worries about unpaid bills, the immigration deporting his parents, and is dealing with his crush on a popular boy, Alex.

I don't read many books written in verse, and this is perhaps my sign to do so more, but there is a way these stories pack a punch in not so many words that just leaves me astounded. This novel feels like it's much longer, and that's not saying it drags, not at all - but the way it conveys emotion, and these characters' lives and thoughts offers so much to the reader. The format worked perfectly for the main character Edgar, the way he tells his story feels raw and there is something urgent about him. You can feel how much he needs his parents to know him, how much he needs to be free to create and be seen. I loved the complicated and real portrayal of family, how Edgar's parents react to him coming out, and in general how their relationships are presented. I enjoyed the side characters, and I especially liked Alex, who Edgar has a crush on. I think their friendship was really sweet and I enjoyed reading about it. All of this is intertwined with the reality of Edgar's parents being immigrants without papers and how scary that can be, and how that makes the tension in their household even worse.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was short and to the point, but the format and the writing really made the story feel tangible and the characters seem real. If you're interested in the book, and/or enjoy books written in verse, I would highly recommend this one!

I absolutely loved this coming of age story such wonderful characters and the right feel as someone who is gay and was scared to come out this was such a perfect representation of how it feels

Got an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Second read (April 11, 2022):

Rating: Upgraded to 5 stars

A poem written in verse. This second read made me more sympathetic toward Edgar and understanding toward her mother. This has been on my mind these past few weeks. I want a book 2 😭

First read (March 30, 2022):

Rating: 4.5

I enjoyed reading this. Though, to those who are used to poems that are not in a way of telling a story, a literal story, this is not for you. This is in a form of a poem, but a story is told page by page with dialogues. I don't like poems like those, but this is an exception because I really enjoyed reading this: it's about someone who knows he's gay but had trouble coming out even though his parents know; they just don't want to talk about it.

This was a breath of fresh air because it made me like a new form of poem unlike the others I've read. an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed reading this. Though, to those who are used to poems that are not in a way of telling a story, a literal story, this is not for you. This is in a form of a poem, but a story is told page by page with dialogues. I don't like poems like those, but this is an exception because I really enjoyed reading this: it's about someone who knows he's gay but had trouble coming out even though his parents know; they just don't want to talk about it.

This was a breath of fresh air because it made me like a new form of poem unlike the others I've read.

For something written by a up and coming author, I placed little to no expectation for this work. And that decision definitely threw me off the roof.

'Only Pieces' is such a simple yet vulnerable story of a Mexican-American queer as his life and story unfolds in front of our eyes with such bare but still beautifully placed nuances and pain.

Bravo Edd!

Firstly, I want to thank Net Galley and West 44 Books for letting me have an ARC to review! This book is being published on June 1, 2022

It's hard to put a review into words when you have a piece like this. This book feels like I'm reading someone's diary. Someone who is bearing their soul to the reader and allowing us to view a peek at their inner world.

I want to say first off, that I have absolutely no cons about this book (for me personally). Normally, when I want to review a book I have at least one thing that was overall not for me, but this is not one of those times.

Only Pieces is a Middle Grade/YA book that is written in verse. Not only does this make it a quick read, but one that feels extremely intimate. There are even examples of the protagonist's own poetry in the pages, which I thought was a beautiful touch.

This book covers a multitude of topics, but I'm going to list a few:
Growing up in an undocumented family
Family Struggles/divorce
Self-exploration and understanding
Friendship
Poverty

Our main character, Edgar, is growing up in a home with two undocumented parents. He is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is gay, and has a crush on another boy at school. On top of that, he is worried about his parents accepting him for who he is while living in unstable and undesirable conditions.

I read this story in just a few hours, but after reading its pages I felt emotionally depleted-- in a good way. If that's even possible. I felt like a close friend opened up to me all the things they had been holding inside them for too long. I felt like Edgar's struggles became my own in their own way. I didn't want to put it down!

I can't say enough good things about this book. Please, consider reading it when it is published. I hope those in similar situations as Edgar's can find strength and comradery within these pages. You are not alone.

This collection of poetry focuses on coming out as gay in a Mexican household. The cultural nuances and social issues are depicted with grace and realism. It was very well written and the author has relatable voice. I loved the story it told and it was a very enjoyable, quick read. Thanks NetGalley!

This was a cute story! Short, sweet, and great for fans of The Poet X. Encapsulates the teenage experience perfectly, and I love the representation of imperfection, friendship and love. I do wish, however, that it were I bit longer.

This reminded me a lot of The Poet X, though being a poet isn't as big of a focus. It's more about the struggles of coming out, the struggles of immigrant parents (and being the child of one), and just trying to be understood. I liked the characters, and I thought that they were very realistic. I felt that it ended a bit abruptly, but overall it was a good book. I enjoyed the verses, and the addition of Mexican legends was neat


Thanks to West 44 Books for sending me an e-arc to review!

Starting this book, I didn’t realize it was written in verse. I don’t feel like the style of the writing added anything. For the way in which it was written, I was expecting lyrical writing or at least a lot of figurative language.
This book was very simple and didn’t arise any emotions out of me. We know all the characters on a pretty superficial level. There is nothing that makes them different from every other character you have ever seen in a book or movie.
I did enjoy the legend of the sun and the moon.

Verse stories are always intriguing. I've only read a few and I've like most of them. This one was no different.

To see him navigate his life as his dad comes home. And meeting Alex. And truly finding himself through his writing.

the style of writing can still tell you everything you need. Like the heartbreaking sadness of being bullied for who he was and the his father finding out. But Edgar stands up for himself and it's beautiful to watch him grew to be able to say no this is who I am.

I also enjoyed the mix of the different poems throughout the pages breaking it up but still fitting in the story. Because Edgar writes poetry in his journal.

This was just a lovely story.

I really do hope
that Only Pieces is
the first book
of many
penned by Edd Tello. 

His voice
is worthy of 
being

heard. 


"Only Pieces" tells the story of Mexican-American teen Edgar Jiménez, whose heart is bigger than his body - and kinder than the world around him. Since his Apá returned home, Edgar's home has been on edge. He and Amá fight all the time over unpaid bills and empty fridges, while Edgar quietly holds his truths to his chest. Amá, Apá, I want to study Literature. Amá, Apá, I'm afraid that you'll get deported anytime if migra knocks on our door. Amá, Apá…, I'm gay. So he takes shelter in his poetry journal, where he's free to just be. When his neighbour and crush Alex sees him writing, though, he asks to read some of Edgar's verses, and the timid bond they slowly form turns Edgar's world upside down. 

As my first-ever experience with novels written in verse, "Only Pieces" was phenomenal enough that I can't wait to read more stories done this way. Tello's verses are easy enough for any reader to follow, yet also deep enough to pierce their heart. In fifteen verses, he conveys the crude reality faced by many migrants who find themselves trying to build a life from scratch in a foreign country, and in less than two, he portrays the anguish of being a closeted teen in a traditional family. Somehow the simplicity of Tello's quill helps him convey the most complex feelings and situations. In this sense, the book reads a little like Benjamín Alire Sáenz or Shaun David Hutchinson's works - with a lingering, vague sense of hopeful nostalgia. 

In Edgar Jiménez we find a young man who's facing many different struggles all on his own. Not only does he live in fear of his parents being deported; he also lives in confusion as to why his Apá doesn't talk. Not only does he live in hiding regarding his sexuality; he also lives in shyness about his dream of becoming a Literature graduate one day. His voice is authentic, timid yet also courageous. One thing I loved about Edgar was how quietly resilient he was - despite other people's disapproval of his dreams and his identity, he silently carries on. He knows it's useless to try to argue, but in his head that doesn't equal his dreams being unworthy. He knows it's going to be hard to get into uni, or to get his parents to approve of who he is, but he doesn't let it shackle him to living the lie his parents have built in their heads about their son's future. All in all, Edgar felt real and vulnerable, just like real teens do. 

Despite there not being a grandiose, pretentious plot trying to do something revolutionary, this book still feels like a breath of fresh air. Maybe it's because of Tello's voice; maybe it's because of Edgar; maybe it's because of the intersectionality of all the different issues we're so used to hearing about. Whatever it is, this book is quite close to magic, and it definitely should be really high on everybody's TBR lists for 2022.


***
Thank you, NetGalley and West 44 Books, for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Edgar Jimenez is many things: a gay teen, fast food enthusiast, a poet and aspiring writer, and the son of Mexican immigrants. Edd Tello’s debut Only Pieces follows Edgar’s challenging path of coming out, falling in love, and boldly navigating what it means to follow your dreams in spite of your parents’ expectations for you.

I have never read a YA novel written in verse, and I'm so grateful this was my first one. Edgar is such an easily likable character who is so unflinchingly himself in spite of the lack of acceptance from his family and peers. This is definitely a story of overcoming adversity and embracing one’s true identity.

Although Edgar’s journey is a challenging one, he stays true to his roots and proves that you can live authentically without sacrificing other pieces of your identity. This was an inspiring read that I immediately pre-ordered the second that I finished reading it, and I would suggest that you do the same!

A very sweet and emotional book (it's more like a novella, quite short) about coming-out in a financially struggling Mexican-American family.

I was expecting a YA romance, but the romance is a subplot and doesn't even reach a conclusive ending, the book is instead centered on Edgar's inner world and his relationship with his family.

Edd's debut is a promising and artistic story, and I'll be waiting for his next books with anticipation!

Thank you NetGalley and West 44 Books for the ARC!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me access to this book in exchange for a review.
This book was a mixture of all the emotions, anger, love, happiness, sadness, betrayal and more! It is a wonder to have so much packed in so few pages. I loved reading every bit of it!
The story is of Edgar, a gay teenage boy and his undocumented parents in America. I liked how the author managed to give so much depth to every character. The struggles of coming out to your parents and worrying about their response is something I've grappled with for a quite a while now. So it was really hearttouching to read Edgar's story and his relation to his parents in regards to his sexuality.
Highly recommend reading this book if you like novels written in verse with profound stories.

Thank you, West 44 Books, for allowing me to read Only Pieces early.

This story was a delight! I read this story in just one sitting, and it left me in awe. As an educator, I'm always so happy when I come across books like this. Fully fleshed-out characters, beautifully written and still so accessible. Such a great debut and I can't wait to read more of Edd Tello's work. Without a doubt, this book will find its place in our library.

Indivisible meets A Million Quiet Revolutions in this tender and heartfelt story about a vulnerable queer teen who’s part of an undocumented Mexican-American family.

I love books written in verse. I’ve said it before, a book in verse is like a stream; it bends and accelerates and then slows down again as you absorb the turn of the words and phrases. It never gets boring because after each turn you’ll find another beautiful view.

Only Pieces is a hi-lo book which means it’s written for struggling readers like dyslectic teens. So the words and sentences are simple. Therefore, I thought this would be a fast and easy read, but this story triggered something in my mind that left me staring after every few pages. I took a lot of notes, an enormous amount, for such a short story because even though Only Pieces is stripped of all frills, it still shows us the life of a vulnerable Mexican-American queer teen so vividly. So few words stirred up so many emotions in me, left my heart broken in pieces, and mended it back together in one piece in the end.

The title is just perfect, and those poems Edgar wrote are mesmerizing. Edd, you did an amazing job with this precious gem of a story!

Actual rating 4.5 stars.

This short story is really easy to read. It's about being accepted and having a secret crush on a guy when you are a boy and not out.
I think it was too short to be developped enough and the writing in verse was not really useful.