"The Day I Became a Cholo" is a story of how a Lil' Vato becomes aware of his identity through the beauty of his culture, his barrio and his people.On a Sunday afternoon walk to the park and picnic with his mom, Lil' Vato is engulfed in a world of food, art, cars, and culture that is familiar but foreign, fun, and most of all, beautiful.

The language used in this book is a mix of languages, English, Spanish, Nahuatl, and Calo. It is written in a style that represents how the main character, Lil' Vato, acquires language around him and applies it in his story-telling. As a result, it is not always in order and is sometimes translated directly or translated through context. Thoughts are expressed by Lil' Vato and followed by an action that seems to be repetitive in text but shows how Lil' Vato thinks in silence and responds through his actions. The discontinuity of Lil' Vatos' character and tone is meant to show how fast a young person can mature, learn, gain confidence and be proud of who he/she is with positive attention and love from his family, community and his homies.