A newly discovered manuscript of unpublished work by one of the most important Chicanx voices of the last thirty years.

"Without doubt one of the sexiest and most important writers I've ever read."--Justin Torres, author of Blackouts and We the Animals, from his foreword to My Body Is Paper

From Gil Cuadros, the author of the groundbreaking classic of Chicanx literature City of God, comes My Body is Paper, a recently discovered treasure. Although written more than a quarter century ago, these captivating stories and evocative poems leave an indelible mark, speaking to issues we grapple with today--sex, spirit, family, religion, culture of origin, and the betrayals of the body. Cuadros fearlessly sheds light on the indifference and cluelessness of the healthcare system toward people from marginalized communities: the trauma of HIV/AIDS still reverberates for those afflicted with our most recent plague. Family and church may be the first experiences of love and community, but too often try to tamp us down, leaving a trail of profound mistrust. Sex can free us, and can wound us, and we may welcome both. Cuadros dives into these complexities with a resilient spirit, animating the everyday and the imagination, showing us that we too can survive these times--and beyond.

This collection of previously unpublished stories and poems is destined to capture the attention of an entirely new generation of readers.