Critical Praise for King of the Chicanos

The title alone is an indicator of the cultural freight Manuel chose to pull. But the novel is no homage to the Chicano Movement, rather it's the story of Ramón Hidalgo, a man lifted, then dashed, by his ambition and hubris. ... dazzling prose ... .

— Mario Acevedo, The Biting Edge

King of the Chicanos reveals the l960s Chicano Movement as few other novels have done to date. An inspiring and realistic telling of the Mexican American's community struggle for equal rights. This novel is destined to become an important part of our history, and only Manuel Ramos could write it.

— Rudolfo Anaya, author of Bless Me, Ultima and many other award-winning works

Ramos ... now sets his sights on capturing the essence of the Hispanic Civil Rights Movement in this brutally compelling, yet passionately touching new novel ... . King of the Chicanos is an eloquent novel that is destined to be an evocative addition to the growing literature on Hispanics and their struggle for justice in America. It's a definite must-read for anyone seeking a fictionalized account of the personal, political and civic pressures of a grassroots movement in the Latino community.

— Vincent Bosquez, San Antonio Express-News

King of the Chicanos is a welcome portrait of a fictional figure that offers insights into actual events. It's clear from details Ramos employs that he is an expert in this history. ... King of the Chicanos succeeds in its overall characterization of Ramón Hidalgo, who grows and changes throughout the book, and ends up as a complicated man who sacrificed his own happiness for that of future generations.

— Boulder Daily Camera

Deftly written, King of the Chicanos follows the story of Chicano leader Ramón Hidalgo, El Rey, before, during and after the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 70s. Hidalgo is a man as much defined by his flaws and errors of conscience as by his convictions and his willingness to fight for what is right for La Raza. But the novel encompasses much more than one man's story. Manuel Ramos has also captured the aspirations, political triumphs and defeats, and the inspiring lives of those Chicanos and Chicanas who, just forty-some years ago, fought for the rights and opportunities now enjoyed by Latinos and Chicanos alike. King of the Chicanos is living history and a corrido to the resilience of the Chicano spirit! ¡Ajúa!

— Lucha Corpi, author of Eulogy for a Brown Angel and Death at Solstice

[T]he novel is imbued with an element of rich storytelling from someone who knows what he's writing about.

Susan Froyd, Westword

Fine, hard-hitting, and on target, Ramos's prose sings and zings with no quarter for anyone. Tough and uncompromising, the novel presents Ramón Hidalgo, warts and all, along with a cast of memorable characters. The engaged reader will profit from the reading.

— Rolando Hinojosa, author of the Klail City Death Trip Series (15 novels)

Gritty and convincing ... a must-read chronicle of one man's struggle against oppression as well as his own personal demons. Hidalgo is ... a perfectly drawn character ... a man simultaneously damaged and noble... [a] remarkable and vital novel.

— Daniel Olivas, El Paso Times and La Bloga.

Today I finished reading a wonderful novel, King of the Chicanos (Wings Press), by Manuel Ramos ....[W]hat takes King of the Chicanos to a subtler, more complex level is Ramos's unstinting portrayal of Ramón Hidalgo's mistakes as a leader and flaws as a human being. ... This work should be read by many young, and not-so-young, activists, who are tired of being stomped on by the likes of Jan Brewer and Rush Limbaugh.

— Sergio Troncoso, Chico Lingo.