Cover:
Bibliographic
Information:
Title: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
Author: Meg Medina
ISBN: 978-0763658595
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2013
Reader’s
Annotation:
Being the new girl in school is never easy, especially
once Yaqui Delgado decides you are her newest target.
Plot
Summary:
Piddy has
recently moved to a new neighborhood, which means she is now attending a new
school. At her new school she learns
that a girl named Yaqui Delgado wants to fight her, and Piddy has no clue
why. Yaqui is bothered that Piddy has
fair skin, and no accent, plus she is concerned that Piddy will steal her
boyfriend. Yaqui and her friends begin to bully Piddy at school, to the extent
that Piddy no longer wants to go to school.
Her grades begin to suffer, and Yaqui seeks solace in a Joey, boy from
her old neighborhood. Eventually Yaqui
and her crew catch up with Piddy, and beat her up. Someone films the altercation and posts it
online. Piddy feels like she wants to escape, and Joey offers her a way
out. Eventually, the adults in Piddy’s
life discover what has been going on with Yaqui, and consequences are dealt.
Critical
Evaluation:
Meg Medina has written a compelling story that
weaves together multiple difficulties faced by teenagers. The story focuses on a girl being raised by a
single mother, dealing with bullying at school.
This is a topic that many teens will relate to, as bullying continues to
be prevalent in schools. The writing
really captures the anguish teens feel when dealing with feeling bullied, as
shown in the portion of the book where Piddy no longer wants to leave her
house.
Piddy is the main character of the book, and as such
is thoroughly developed. We learn about
her back story, including her family’s history as well as her previous
friendships. However, would argue that
Yaqui is also a main character, despite the fact that she is not as well
developed. Yaqui is the presence that
looms large over the story, almost like the boogeyman. The fact that Medina tells us very little
about Yaqui is actually a strength of the writing; it makes Yaqui that much
more a menacing presence.
One of the strongest themes of this book is the
concept of identity. Latina identity is
discussed through the struggle between Yaqui and Piddy, since Yaqui feels Piddy
is “not Latina enough”. But identity is
also tackled through Piddy’s family history, and she learns the truth about her
father, and his relationship with her mother.
Piddy struggles with her identity in terms of her old friends, as well
as her identity within her new school.
This insecurity over the concept of identity is common among teens.
In general, the book is strongly written. Medina really captures the feelings of
isolation that teens feel as they struggle with figuring out who they are. The characters are not only believable, they
are relatable.
Author
Biography:
Meg Medina is an award-winning Cuban American author who
writes picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction. She is a two-time winner of
the Pura Belpré award: in 2015 (honor) for her picture book, MANGO, ABUELA AND
ME, and in 2014 (fiction medal) for her young adult novel, YAQUI DELGADO WANTS
TO KICK YOUR ASS. She is also the 2012 Ezra Jack Keats New Writers medal winner
for her picture book TIA ISA WANTS A CAR. Her most recent novel is BURN BABY
BURN, a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection that has earned multiple starred
reviews.
Meg's other books are THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND, a 2012 Bank Street Best Book and CBI Recommended Read in the UK; and MILAGROS: GIRL FROM AWAY, now available as an Amazon e-book.
Meg's work examines how cultures intersect, as seen through the eyes of young people, and she brings to audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and to the qualities that are universal. Her favorite protagonists are strong girls. In March 2014, she was recognized as one of the CNN 10 Visionary Women in America.
When she is not writing, Meg works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth and/or literacy. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.
Meg's other books are THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND, a 2012 Bank Street Best Book and CBI Recommended Read in the UK; and MILAGROS: GIRL FROM AWAY, now available as an Amazon e-book.
Meg's work examines how cultures intersect, as seen through the eyes of young people, and she brings to audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and to the qualities that are universal. Her favorite protagonists are strong girls. In March 2014, she was recognized as one of the CNN 10 Visionary Women in America.
When she is not writing, Meg works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth and/or literacy. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.
Genre(s):
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Curriculum
Ties:
Pennsylvania
State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K
Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade
level, reading independently and proficiently.
Booktalk
Ideas:
A discussion of what a person can do when they are
either a victim of or witness to bullying in school
A discussion of what identity means to teens
Reading
Level:
Lexile 670
Interest
Age:
14 and up
Challenge
Issues: Could be
challenged based on adult language, teen sexuality, and scenes of violence.
If
this book were challenged I would:
· Listen to the concerns of the person
raising the challenge
· Consult the library’s collection
development policy
· Explain how this work meets a library
need based on the collection development policy
· Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to
Young Adult Materials
· Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon,
Common Sense Media, and Kirkus
· Discuss any awards or notable
commendations the book received
· Explain the library’s commitment to
intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of
Rights
· Give the patron the procedure for a
formal challenge should they seek to pursue it
Why
was this book selected:
I really like the way this book tackles the concept
of identity. It explores cultural
identity, family identity, and the concept of teens dealing with how their
peers see them. We see this not only as
Piddy discovers her own identity, but also how she realizes she sees her peers,
like Joey, differently that she first anticipated. I also really liked that this book showcases
Latinx characters. Also, this book very
realistically discussed bullying violence.
There is just so much packed into this book, in a way that feels so
honest, I think it will really appeal to a wide variety of teen readers.
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