Texas author Chuck Etheridge introduces a young hero, Pete Talbott, who doesn't consider himself a hero at all.
He is the new kid in eighth grade, the biggest kid in his new school in El Paso, picked on by fellow students who don't understand why he won't fight back.
In Etheridge's novel, Border Canto Trilogy, Book 1 (Fine Tooth Press, $19.95 softcover), Pete reveals his secret to his new best friend, Willie Quintonez. Pete, an only child, practically becomes part of Quintonez's family, "the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak existence."
Locked up inside Pete is a monster that he's afraid to let out. But every once in a while, if pushed too far, the demon is unleashed in righteous indignation, which makes Pete feel guilty even if it shouldn't.
Pete goes through much of the book feeling guilty about himself, despite his musical talent, physical dominance, spiritual awareness and academic achievement. He makes friends easily and takes on new challenges, yet he wrestles constantly with adolescent insecurity.
The novel tracks Pete and his pals through eighth and ninth grades and mixes in sketches of El Paso border culture.
Etheridge, who teaches at Texas A&M University's Corpus Christi campus, grew up in El Paso. The second and third books of the trilogy have been written and are scheduled for publication in 2007 and 2008.
Lynching revisited
Gary Borders, publisher of the Lufkin Daily News, has written a book about a black man tried, condemned and executed in 1902 - all in the course of three hours - for the murder of a white family.
Borders said he became interested in the case while doing research for the centennial edition of the Nacogdoches newspaper; he was editor and publisher of that paper when it celebrated its 100th anniversary. Borders' 200-page book is A Hanging in Nacogdoches: Murder, Race, Politics, and Polemics in Texas's Oldest Town, 1870-1916 (University of Texas Press, $19.95 softcover).
"It was a violent, fascinating time in southern history," Borders writes. He said he hopes his account "sheds some light on what it was like to live in Deep East Texas in and around the turn of the century."
Poetry collection
Hill Country poet Robert Meacham has a new book of 50 poems, Mind's Diary (Publish America, $9.95 softcover).
The poems represent various reminiscences and explore themes of family life and natural beauty.
For more information, contact the author at pbduke@hctc.net or check out the publisher's Web site, publishamerica.com.
• Glenn Dromgoole writes about Texas books and authors. Contact him at g.dromgoole@cox.net.
