Thin Men of Haddam

Set in southwestern New Mexico, “Thin Men of Haddam” deals with the problems of Hispanics trying to make their way in an Anglo world.  Orphaned as a child and reared by an Anglo family, Raphael Mendez lives in a nether world, neither de la raza nor Anglo. Having dropped out of graduate school after a squabble with his fellowship sponsors, he is foreman of the ranch of his childhood.  Paired against Mendez in this striking first novel is his cousin, Manuelo —practically literature, brok…