Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, by Meg Medina

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:

(from author’s Amazon page)

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.

Genre(s): 
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.