Pedro and Daniel by Federico Erebia follows the friendship of two brothers as they encounter abuse, colorism, racism, and homophobia, both together as well as on their own. The POV switches throughout the book between the two brothers, so we as readers get to develop a sense of their voices and who they are as people, from the age of five up to adulthood. I loved these two characters and their bond so much. They endured so much harm throughout their lives and I was rooting so hard for them not just to survive, but to thrive and experience true joy. I also enjoyed reading the dichos, or proverbs, interwoven throughout the text.

Pedro and Daniel face many struggles throughout the book, and as such there are several content warnings (including colorism, racial slurs, descriptions of abuse, homophobia, suicidal thoughts) to consider, particularly if considering using this book with students.

"Pedro and Daniel" is a poignant and deeply touching novel that explores the lives of two Mexican American brothers, Pedro and Daniel, as they navigate the challenges of growing up in 1970s Ohio. This heartfelt story delves into themes of identity, family, resilience, and the enduring bond between siblings.

The blurb captures the essence of the book's themes and gives readers a glimpse into the complex lives of Pedro and Daniel. It emphasizes the struggles they face as gay and neurodivergent individuals, as well as their experiences growing up in a household marred by abuse. Despite the hardships they endure, their special bond serves as a source of strength, allowing them to confront the various adversities that life throws their way.

One notable aspect of the book is its exploration of diverse topics and social issues. The blurb mentions references to domestic violence, child abuse, homophobia, colorism, racism, clergy abuse, suicidality, sex, and death. These sensitive subjects are tackled with care and sensitivity, offering readers an opportunity to reflect on the impact they have on the lives of Pedro and Daniel.

The blurb also highlights the contrasting characteristics of the two brothers. Pedro, darker-skinned and introverted, battles with oppression and repression, while Daniel, precocious and unguarded, grapples with his religious beliefs and mischievous nature. This dichotomy adds depth to their characters and provides an interesting dynamic to their relationship.

Furthermore, "Pedro and Daniel" spans multiple stages of their lives, from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. This allows readers to witness their personal growth and development, as they navigate pivotal moments such as coming out, first loves, first jobs, and the devastating impact of the AIDS pandemic. The book promises a coming-of-age story unlike any other, filled with raw emotions and genuine experiences.

Overall, "Pedro and Daniel" appears to be a wholesome, raw, and beautiful novel that explores the intricate lives of two brothers as they face adversity, embrace their identities, and find solace in their unbreakable bond. It promises to be a deeply moving read, shedding light on important social issues while celebrating the resilience and love that can flourish even in the most challenging circumstances.

I love it, I love it.

4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up.

Damn, Erebia was not afraid to throw some heavy emotional punches, whatsoever. This story about two brothers is filled with so much heart and heartache, unflinchingly addressing topics like colorism, homophobia, and the abuse within the Catholic church. You can really tell how much Erebia loved his brother, because the portrayal of Pedro and Daniel's relationship, which is directly lifted from Erebia's relationship with his brother, is so tender and brilliant; this is probably my favorite sibling-duos in anything I've ever read.

I already feel like this one is going to go under people's radars when it officially releases in June, but I plead with whatever God that are out there to not let that happen. This book deserves any and all the attention and praise it can get.

First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of Pedro and Daniel.

Pedro and Daniel centers on two gay Mexican-American brothers who were raised in a Catholic house set during the 1960s to the 1990s. Despite the fact that the two brothers have quite different personalities, they both battle with homophobia, colorism, and abuse from their mother since she continues to hold them both to unattainable standards.

While the other wants to be a doctor, one of the brothers wants to be a priest. They vary in that one has steadfast convictions and rarely questions much in life, while the other is enquiring. This has a significant impact on the plot because the HIV and AIDS epidemic will ultimately be the main source of conflict, and the way they looked on things will drastically change.

Character-driven stories are always hit or miss for me, but this one is clearly a hit. Reading the book was a lot like going through their thoughts. Despite the similarities between the brothers, it is clear which brother's perspective you are reading from. You watch them develop as two young brothers, drift away, and ultimately come together to battle the epidemic. Be aware that there is no romance in this book; yet, prepare to shed many tears because this is such a tearjerker.

This is a historical-fiction story about two brothers named Pedro and Daniel who are Mexican-American and gay. They live in extremely Catholic family which means they often encounter homophobia and colorism. The boys try, but never seem to meet their abusive mother's expectations for them This story takes place from the 1960-90's. The reader follows the lives of the two brothers from alternating perspectives. By understanding both the character's thought and emotions in a given situation, it really helps to connect with the characters. One brother goes to school to become a priest and the other goes to school to become a doctor. This play doesn't entirely work out due to the AIDS crisis. The brothers are both deeply affected by this epidemic. The ending made me sob and there were other moments in the book where I teared up. Proverbs are woven into the story in order for Pedro and Daniel to understand and figure out how to approach any predicament they face. This is a beautifully written and historically accurate piece of fiction that shows how people struggled to embrace their sexuality and race in an abusive household and a racist and homophobic society.

4.5 rounded to 5 stars

This powerhouse of a book is written by Dr. Federico Erebia and is closely based on his relationship with his real-life brother Daniel. In the book, Federico is known as Pedro. Since Dr. Erebia is writing about the unbreakable bond between himself and his brother, it did not surprise me that this debut novel is amazingly realistic.

With strong, lyrical writing, the author addresses many topics, including colorism, childhood abuse, the seamy side of the Catholic church, homophobia, and the HIV pandemic. Reading this novel evoked many emotions. It was difficult to read about Pedro and Daniel’s tumultuous upbringing, yet I found it so inspirational how the brothers stuck together and protected each other and how they were able to use humor in the form of Mexican “dichos” (sayings) to cope.

Though both Pedro and Daniel are gay, there is no romance in this story. This is basically a story of survival and hope. I found it deeply moving and emotional. It is also heart wrenching yet uplifting. I recommend Pedro and Daniel to all looking for a power-packed look at the lives of two incredibly admirable men.

Thank you, Net Galley, Federico Erebia, and Levine Querido for the advanced copy.
Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

Wow -- I also posted a review on Goodreads. This book is just really special. I eagerly await being able to buy a personal copy to have myself and for my library to purchase a copy for students. It would be a great book to use in an upper school narrative nonfiction class as well. This author clearly loves writing, language, and story, as well as his brother, family, and community. Thank you to Levine Querido for seeing that and publishing this important novel so that it can be in the world. Thank you, NetGalley for the advance e-book.

"Pedro and Daniel" is a heartwarming and poignant story that explores themes of love, family, and acceptance. The book follows the lives of Pedro and Daniel, two young men who fall in love despite the many obstacles that stand in their way.

One of the things that makes this book so special is its portrayal of the complex emotions and experiences that come with being part of the LGBTQ+ community. The author handles these themes with sensitivity and grace, creating characters who feel real and relatable.

Another strength of "Pedro and Daniel" is its immersive and atmospheric writing style. The setting of the book, a small village in Brazil, is beautifully evoked, and the descriptions of the people, places, and customs of the region are vivid and richly detailed.

But perhaps the greatest strength of this book is its message of love and acceptance. "Pedro and Daniel" reminds us that love knows no boundaries, and that everyone deserves to be accepted and loved for who they are.

Overall, "Pedro and Daniel" is a moving and beautifully written book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. It is a testament to the power of love and the importance of acceptance, and a must-read for anyone who values these values. Highly recommended!

Wow, it's hard to know what to say about this book. One of the most beautiful, moving, gentle, fierce, uplifting and heartbreaking books I've read for a long time. I won't try to make comparisons because I haven't read anything like this before. The narrative takes place over decades and charts the story of two brothers (one of whom represents the author - the book is part novel and part memoir, which makes it even more poignant) with the odds seemingly stacked so high against them they can't be overcome, from an abusive mother to a brutal disease. But through it all what comes shining across is the love they have for each other, which gives them the resistance and the resilience to battle on. Tender, funny, deep, and unforgettable, I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is a heavy, poetic, book. It deals with various themes of colorism, abuse, and homophobia. This book does shift perspectives and I found it hard to differentiate the characters at first. This book was heartbreaking but very real.

Federico Erebia bares his soul in this heart-wrenching testament to resilience, courage, and the unbreakable bond of brotherhood.

broke my heart, beautifully. this was an incredibly moving read. this will hit hardest for queer audiences, particularly those that grew up in church like i did. gorgeous — i cried a lot, and if a book can move you to tears it’s something special.

This book would be a good adult memoir or historical fiction but as a young adult novel there are far too many issues for high schools to purchase it. The first half of the book is narrated by two young elementary boys - most teens will not be interested in this part of the story. The young boys narration seems like it is written by an adult which will also make the book a difficult sell. Then there is casual & graphic discussion of sexual situations, priest abuse of boys, and adult relationships. With the current culture in school libraries - this content will make it tough for school libraries to purchase this title. The author has a good story but just wrote it for the wrong audience.

‘Pedro and Daniel’ is a heart wrenching and joy-filled tale of two brothers anchoring each other through unfathomable hardship. The story is beautifully crafted. Erebia’s artful use of poetry, dichos (proverbs), and shifts in POV explores issues of domestic abuse, colorism, homophobia, and racism with captivating rawness and introspection. In so many ways, the story is tumultuous; but when I finished, I felt a soft breeze. For me, the gift of ‘Pedro and Daniel’ is its hopefulness. Thank you to Federico Erebia for sharing his story.

Digital ARC provided by NetGalley

CW/TW (provided by the author): References to domestic violence, child abuse, homophobia, colorism, racism, clergy abuse, suicidality, sex, death.

Pedro & Daniel charts the course of two brothers. From an abusive childhood through to coming out, and eventual HIV diagnosis, Pedro and Daniel remain loyal and true to one another. I found this a moving and deeply distressing read, having been unprepared for the sexual abuse Daniel experiences. It would have been much appreciated if the content warnings the author kindly provided on Goodreads could have also been made available on NetGalley. Overall, this is an important book that I hope will be acknowledged by the literary community.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Levine Querido for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pedro and Daniel, two Mexican American brothers growing up in 1970s northern Ohio, are both out of step with the rest of their large family. Pedro, darker skinned like his father, grapples with a stutter and constant abuse from his mother, while gregarious Daniel enjoys playing with dolls and makeup -- and both are gay in a Catholic family. And while Pedro grows up to become a doctor and Daniel studies to be a priest, they both struggle to live authentically as gay men in a world rife with homophobia and the fear of HIV and AIDS.

This powerful book, occasionally laced with poetry, Spanish dichos (proverbs), and illustrations (by Julie Kwon), is based on the author's relationship with his brother Daniel who died in 1993 at the age of 30. It is utterly heartbreaking in the relentless depiction of abuse and colorism demonstrated by the boy's mother and the impact such physical and emotional violence had in their lives. While I would rather read stories that celebrate how far we've come in supporting our LGBTQ+ community, the increased pushes for anti-gay and anti-trans legislation right now make it necessary that we don't forget stories like these that show the pain, fear, and lack of acceptance that so many queer children and adults still face.

It may take the reader a little time to adjust to the shifting voices in the book -- the first part is all told in 3rd person, and after that the story alternates between Pedro's and Daniel's POVs, with the first few chapters reflecting their younger ages and less well-developed storytelling -- but I think it adds to the immediacy of the story and the lives of these two boys. Some passages may feel a little info-dumpish, especially the on-the-train conversation between the brothers about the then-state of medical understanding of HIV and potential treatments, but they do provide useful information for the narrative.

Achingly beautiful and melancholic. I wish we could go back to the 1970s and 1980s and do better by our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. Four stars.

TW: child abuse (physical and emotional), domestic violence, bullying, homophobia, colorism, racism, death (off page), depictions of illness

Thank you, Levine Querido/Chronicle Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Pedro & Daniel feels like a front row seat into the most personal and life changing moments of the main characters. As Mexican-born raised in the USA, I can say how authentic and truthful this story is to the experiences many of us have. Federico Erebia does not only guide us through the life of two brothers, he gives us lessons about colorism, racism, the HIV epidemic, and the unpleasant side of the Catholic Church.

Although I had trouble getting invested during the first couple of chapters, Pedro & Daniel ended up captivating me. It’s a story I will never forget.

oh boy this one had me in tears towards the end. federico erebia’s semi-autobiographical account of his childhood in an abusive household, facing colorism from his mother from a very early age, was absolutely shattering — but his relationship with his brother daniel made it all the more devastating. daniel, who was also abused by their mother because of his budding homosexuality, was an immensely beautiful character — i simply would burst into tears every single time i remembered the fact that this all happened to federico and his younger brother, and that this book comes mostly from his grief process after losing daniel to hiv. overall, this is a very, very special account of growing up mexican-american within the constraints of an abusive household, but also of the transformative power of brotherly relationships and what healthy masculinities should look like. bravo!