I read the book in a study course at the university of Essen. The course topic was "Race and Racism in America". The book shows the life of a Mexican-American boy and his family. When I started reading I was confused in the beginning, because the first chapter kind of depends on the history of the Mexican and American relationsship in the point of view of the father Juan. I didn't know anything about this history yet, so it was difficult. But after the first chapter the book focuses on the boy and his life in the US as a Mexican. Caught between two cultures, he grows up. The family expectations, that he has to keep the Mexican traditions and work to support the family, stands opposite to the way of life as an American. The book excellently shows the injustice and prejudices the two "races" have about each other.
If you want to learn something about the Mexican-American history and the situation of people living with the problems between Mexicans and Americans, from both views!, then you'll have to go and buy the book. :-)