In this stand alone sequel to Villareal’s My Father, the Angel of Death, sixteen-year-old Jesse Barron struggles with relationships and staying on the high school football team although his heart is not in it.  His father, “the Angel of Death” professional wrestler and former professional football player has set a high standard for Jesse to follow.  Through his dad, Jesse meets a wrestler, TJ, who is just a few years older.  TJ, gets Jesse in some problematic situations that test the teen’s judgment and gets him in trouble. The subject matter is interesting and the setting is relevant to Latino teens but the story never jumped off the wrestling mat. The characters are one-dimensional, the dialogue is stilted, and cultural references dated.  Not Recommended.
 
Reviewed by Ken Ayala Gollersrud, High Point Teen/Adult Services Librarian, Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA