Victor is like any other kid until his world is turned upside down when his father goes back to Mexico to care for his sick father. Victor has to change schools in Colorado and deal with all kinds of fifth-grade "fireworks." Challenges include a class bully, a freezing nighttime mountain hike, required dance partners in PE class, and a crazy crook Will Victor survive being a kid? What will he do when the class bully is in danger? Will Victor help? How will he mature as a young man with the help of faith, family, and friends? An overriding message of this book is -- Be brave, be strong
This realistic fiction story is an inspirational, humorous, and authentic description of life for an Hispanic boy in a low-income American community. With elements of adventure and misadventure, this story can appeal to both boys and girls in the middle grades of any socioeconomic background. Beautifully illustrated, the first-person narrative style keeps the story vivid and of high interest for all young audiences. It gives the readers a snapshot into interesting aspects of the Hispanic culture. While children enjoy the humor and adventure in the book, like Victor, they can also be inspired and grow in their confidence and faith, and learn to be brave and strong. Christian parents, grandparents, and teachers also will appreciate that this story shows wholesome respect for family and a realistic portrayal of one boy's search and growing faith in God.




Will Victor Survive as the New Kid at School?Can He Survive on the Mountain at night?Do Victor & the Bully Survive the Kidnapper?Will Victor Survive Being a Kid? Victor faces a rough year His family moves, he's at a new school, the bully hates him, a street thug targets him, and he has to survive on an icy-cold trail alone in the dark What's next, Victor ? Adventurous, funny, inspirational story told by Victor Ortega, an Hispanic boy in a lower-income American neighborhood. Yet kids in any community can relate to his adventures and misadventures through growing pains of the middle years. Beautifully illustrated, Victor's narrative keeps the story witty and vivid as his troubles pile up. Why does his father have to return to Mexico? Why can't the bully just leave him alone? Can he do it on his own? Or can Victor with the help of faith, family, and friends find a way to Survive Being a Kid? This story gives the readers a snapshot of interesting aspects of Hispanic culture. While children enjoy the hu