Bait [Hardcover]

Alex Sanchez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 9, 2009

After Diego lands himself on probation for fighting, he doesn’t trust his probation officer, Mr. Vidas. But as he begins to open up, Diego realizes that he needs Mr. Vidas’s help to get his anger under control. To do that, Diego will need to face the nightmares from his past head-on and confront the memories he’s been avoiding. Will anyone even believe him if he tells the truth about his stepfather? Award-winning author Alex Sanchez writes about a teen’s very real struggle to overcome his anger and take control of his life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up–Diego MacMann is in trouble. At 16, he faces juvenile court, charged with assault. He just can't control his fists, especially when he feels that his masculinity is threatened. Anger-management classes have failed, and now this earnest young man teeters between self-loathing and defensive pride. Hope comes unexpectedly when he establishes a bond with Mr. Vidas. The probation officer asks questions that challenge Diego to examine his motivations and his emotional life. How does he feel about his absent birth father? The stepfather who committed suicide? The gay student who looked at him that way just before Diego punched him out? The third-person narrative keeps readers one step ahead of Diego as he unravels the effects of abandonment, poverty, and sexual abuse on himself and his struggling family. During the short sessions with Mr. Vidas, he finds some of the tools and insights he needs to navigate his rocky passage to maturity. Unlike most recent fiction that addresses sexual abuse, this story focuses not on the telling of secrets, but on making sense of the experience and building a healthy foundation for moving forward. This groundbreaking novel brings to life an appealing young man who is neither totally a victim nor a victimizer, one who struggles to handle conflicts that derail many young lives. Teens will identify with Diego's dreams and frustrations, his feeling of difference, his yearning for normal life and relationships. High interest and accessible, this coming-of-age story belongs in every collection. For the one in six boys who is sexually abused, it could be a lifesaver.–Carolyn Lehman, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA
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Review

"Bait opens some new, deep territory -- difficult, heartbreaking, and courageous; Diego's story will stick with readers for a long time. Alex Sanchez is a wonderful writer, brave and compassionate." -- Terry Trueman, Printz Honor author of Stuck In Neutral

"The emotions are keenly conveyed here, and long after the other plot details have faded, Diego's raw urgency and need will likely linger with readers."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Sanchez draws his characters lovingly, making it very apparent that he…genuinely understands their peril.”—Kirkus Reviews

“An authentic and tender story…Sanchez does a masterful job.”—Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (June 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416937722
• ISBN-13: 978-1416937722
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #796,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm an immigrant, born in Mexico City. My family moved to the U.S. when I was five. I always loved writing, but had a hard time finishing projects.

It wasn't until I reached out for the help of some friends that I was able to complete my first novel, RAINBOW BOYS. Life lesson: seek out people who believe in you and will help build your confidence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Waterworks Galore, August 5, 2009

By 

K. Anthony "Bookworm" (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bait (Hardcover)

This book is incredible. Alex Sanchez is one of my favorite authors and has been since I discovered Rainbow Boys. His characters are so completely human and relateable. Diego's character is powerful not at all "fictionalized". Diego could be a real life walking person for as well as his character is written. He was instantly someone you cared about and rooted for.
This book had me crying like a faucet, at some points I didn't even know why I was crying except for just being so moved by the story. I would reccommend it to anyone who enjoys Alex Sanchez's work, as this might just be his best so far, or to anyone just looking for a good book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply compassionate, September 11, 2010

By 

Charles Keener "ettajamesfan" (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bait (Hardcover)

Alex Sanchez has long been one of my favorite writers.

One of the most appealing things about Alex is his deep compassion for diverse characters.

Of course, his greatest success has been in portraying the lives of gay teenage boys.

But throughout his work one will find sympathetic insights into a wide range of persons - some of whom do not behave in admirable or loving ways.

Without doubt, Alex has a very big heart.

What really impresses me about this book is that Alex's compassion goes even a step further,

He shows us the heart and soul of a teenage male who is not gay but who is in fact both homophobic and violent. One can readily see a potential basher.

But Alex helps us to unpack what factors may combine to help create a violent hurtful man. He shows us the inner pain that often lies at the heart of outer violence . More importantly Alex shows us the profound difference a brave caring adult can make in the life and direction of a deeply troubled youth.

I would be afraid of kids like Diego if I met them on the street but I was repeatedly in tears of sincere compassion for Diego throughout the book.

Once again Alex has encouraged us to open our minds and our hearts and seek understanding rather than condemnation and judgment.

I thank Alex for that gift and for the countless other reminders of the better side in ourselves in others throughout his work.

He is truly a writer for whom compassion is a core value.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!, July 15, 2009

By 

Kameron Martinez "kameronmartinez" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bait (Hardcover)

This book is amazing! The plot, character development, language, diction, everything! So real and the perfect novel for anyone who can't grasp the roots of homophobia for some people and/or people who have been molested as children.

I wish this book when I was younger.

Alex Sanchez is my literary hero after this.