The diverse, coming of age novel you've been waiting for! 8th grader Paco Jones, a biracial Mexican kid with few friends, is an unlikely hero. He’s recently transferred from his old junior high to a private school, and because he’s the poor new kid, he soon finds himself the least popular. It doesn’t help that he sports “a big nose, an unflattering birthmark, pigeon-toed feet and hairy arms,” all of them fodder for teasing. He’s jeered at during lunch, called "Paco Taco", and ridiculed for being different. So what hope is there for him when he falls for Naomi Fox, a gorgeous, popular girl already involved with the most popular guy in school? Through dumb luck and a few clever moves, Paco soon finds himself on center stage amidst a twisted middle school mess. 2017 San Diego Book Award Winner, Best YA fiction "A fun, amusing tale about the beautiful torment of young hearts and hormones at play." -Kirkus Reviews "Quick yet heavy-laden read about race, class, and friendship. Recommended for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Matt de la Peña." -School Library Journal Gr 8 Up—Paco Jones is a teen stuck between two worlds and doesn't fit into either one. As a half-white, half-Mexican boy attending an elite private school his parents sacrifice to send him to, Paco is bullied because of his race, clothes, and food and is quite the loner. Until one day, a note is passed and an unlikely friendship is formed with a girl and her boyfriend. They take Paco from social outcast to stud status in an evening, and during this transition he sees the truth about those around him, and this in turn helps him realize who he wants to be. In the spirit of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and John Green's Looking for Alaska, this is a coming-of-age story about a young man who has been given an opportunity and almost loses it by caving in to peer pressure. Paco has no real friends at this school and takes a dare, which comes with consequences. Paco not only faces them head-on but also builds his self-confidence. The secondary characters of importance are the adults in this story—his principal, his teacher Mr. Holliday, and his parents—yet Naomi, his crush, and Trent impact Paco's life in ways that will forever change him. VERDICT A quick yet heavy-laden read about race, class, and friendship. Recommended for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Matt de la Peña.—Margie Longoria, Mission High School, TX "Carrillo remembers the tortures of eighth grade well and re-creates them with competence. Any reader who's been young and in love should feel a vicarious thrill... Students with different backgrounds from their classmates may especially identify with Paco, an outsider in a strange place, shy but wise, his own heart a secret. But all readers should find plenty here to make them smile. A fun, amusing tale about the beautiful torment of young hearts and hormones at play." -Kirkus Reviews "Dominic Carrillo's The Improbable Rise of Paco Jones is a fun young adult novel with believable characters and a well-drawn romance, all of which is highlighted by Paco's engaging narrative voice. While the general plot at times feels unoriginal and predictable -- from the Cyrano trope to the idea of an outcast transfer student -- the characters are truly relatable, which is more than enough to keep the reader's attention." -100StoryReviews.com "This is a book for anyone who's felt like they're on the outside looking in. Paco has such an engaging voice that you'll want to befriend him while he's being tormented by his classmates; the reader is propelled to keep turning the pages to see if things turn out all right for Paco in the end. Ultimately, the book is uplifting and hopeful, with heart-wrenching moments along the way, which make Paco's rise all the more affecting." - Self-Publishing Review 2017 San Diego Book Award Winner- YA Fiction " In the spirit of S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders and John Green's Looking for Alaska, this is a coming-of-age story about a young man who has been given an opportunity and almost loses it by caving in to peer pressure...VERDICT A quick yet heavy-laden read about race, class, and friendship. Recommended for fans of Rainbow Rowell and Matt de la Peña." -School Library Journal "Carrillo remembers the tortures of eighth grade well and re-creates them with competence. Any reader who's been young and in love should feel a vicarious thrill... Students with different backgrounds from their classmates may especially identify with Paco, an outsider in a strange place, shy but wise, his own heart a secret. But all readers should find plenty here to make them smile. A fun, amusing tale about the beautiful torment of young hearts and hormones at play." -Kirkus Reviews Dominic Carrillo is a teacher and award-winning writer from San Diego, California. He began creative writing during graduate school at UCLA. His stories have been published in many print and online publications, and he's is a regular contributor to the San Diego Read