Gary Soto has published 4 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 20 children's books, 4 poetry collections, 2 plays and 2 other books, beginning with Baseball in April and Other Stories (1990). The best-known is Taking Sides (1991). The latest is Facts of Life (2008).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Gary Soto
Start here
Taking Sides
Gary Soto's most-read book.
Newest
Facts of Life
Published 2008.
Standalone novels in order
Summer on Wheels (1995)
Big Bushy Mustache (1998)
Chato And The Party Animals (2000)
Amnesia in a Republican County (2002)
Novellas in order
A Summer Life (1990)
Off and Running (1996)
Short story collections in order
Baseball in April and Other Stories (1990)
Petty Crimes (1998)
Local News (1999)
Help Wanted (2005)
Facts of Life (2008)
Non-fiction in order
Small Faces (1986)
Children's books in order
A Fire in My Hands (1990)
Living Up the Street (1991)
Taking Sides (1991)
Pacific Crossing (1992)
The Skirt (1992)
Too Many Tamales (1992)
Crazy Weekend (1994)
Jesse (1994)
Béisbol En Abril Y Otras Historias (1995)
Chato's Kitchen (1995)
Buried Onions (1997)
Snapshots from the Wedding (1997)
Jessie De La Cruz (2000)
If the Shoe Fits (2002)
Cesar Chavez (2003)
Chato Goes Cruisin' (2004)
Marisol (2004)
The Afterlife (2005)
Accidental Love (2006)
Mercy on These Teenage Chimps (2007)
Poetry in order
Black Hair (1985)
Neighborhood Odes (1992)
Fearless Fernie (2002)
Partly Cloudy (2008)
Plays in order
Novio Boy (1997)
Nerdlandia (1999)
Other books in order
Pieces of the Heart (1993)
Tomando Partido (Taking Sides (1999)
About Gary Soto
Gary Anthony Soto is an American poet, novelist, and memoirist.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Gary Soto FAQ
- How many books has Gary Soto written?
- Gary Soto has published 4 novels, 2 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 20 children's books, 4 poetry collections, 2 plays and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Gary Soto's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Taking Sides.
- What is Gary Soto's latest book?
- Facts of Life (2008).
- What is Gary Soto's most famous book?
- Taking Sides (1991) is Gary Soto's most widely read book.
Authors like Gary Soto
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.