Hernandez, an award-winning poet, turns for the first time to fiction with a beautifully executed, frequently brutal coming-of-age story....The author's imagery, sometimes subtle, sometimes searing, invariably hits its mark.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From the opening sentence, the writing shocks, then mesmerizes readers....Hernandez’s solid first YA effort will have readers clamoring for his next work.  —Kirkus Reviews

I was so impressed with David Hernandez's beautiful novel. I finished it in two sittings only because I had to walk my dog and eat some food. It deals with the scary mysteries that hover between fathers and sons and brothers with such brutal, unflinching honesty that it feels almost mythical.  —Adam Rapp

David Hernandez's bottom-dog existential novel Suckerpunch reminds me of a Freud vs. Dostoevsky slap-down. Writing like the poet he is, Hernandez crafts this tale of rivalry and revenge with pitch perfect gritty lyricism. A terrific debut from a real contender.  —Ron Koertge

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