Mateo
by L. B. Tillit
Don’t draw attention to yourself! Blend in and stay quiet. It is how Mateo has been raised. Being chill and a loner at Hancock High has become his identity. But he is tired of it! He knows he needs to protect his community, but does that mean he should remain silent when something is clearly wrong? He knows that if he speaks out then people could be hurt. But if he doesn’t do something, someone he really cares about may continue to suffer. He hates that he can’t help his friend, but he doesn’t know how. He doesn’t know who to turn to. Who can he trust? He holds onto the one thing that he does best, sing and shred his guitar. Mateo dives into his music, a safe place, a place where he can stand out and not worry. But when his rock band faces their first battle of the bands, Mateo has to face reality. He can no longer stay quiet.
Details
Lexile Level: HL570L
Interest Level: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-7352642-5-7
Real Raw & Honest
- Provides a Mexican-American perspective
- Touches on challenges immigrants face
- Reveals struggles with fighting injustice
- Faces stereotyping and racism
- Addresses physical abuse
- Focuses on building healthy friendships
- Broadens viewpoints while embracing diversity
“You have a rare and wonderful gift. You have created characters that will resonate with your audience, and will give readers insight into their own lives. They will recognize themselves; they will see that change is possible, they will feel they are not alone.”
Sandy — North Carolina
The Way I See It Series
The Way I See It — Different Perspectives. Eye-Opening Truths. Real Talk.
The Way I See It series follows a group of teens as they deal with real-life struggles. Each book is told from a different teen’s point of view—a close-up look at the choices they face and the truths they uncover. With raw emotion and honest storytelling, these books feel real. If you’re into stories that reflect your world, this series is one to keep reading.
