Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

                                                                              Book Review:

 

Bibliography-

Medina, M. (2014). Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass. Candlewick Publishers.

ISBN 0763671649


Plot Summary- 

One morning before school, some girl tells Piddy Sanchez that Yaqui Delgado hates her and wants to kick her ass. Piddy doesn’t even know who Yaqui is, never mind what she’s done to piss her off. Word is that Yaqui thinks Piddy is stuck-up, shakes her stuff when she walks, and isn’t Latin enough with her white skin, good grades, and no accent. And Yaqui isn’t kidding around, so Piddy better watch her back. At first Piddy is more concerned with trying to find out more about the father she’s never met and how to balance honors courses with her weekend job at the neighborhood hair salon. But as the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang starts to take over Piddy’s life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off or running away? 


Critical Analysis-

The story takes place during sophomore year at Daniel Jones High School in Queens, New York. The main character, Piddy, is contending with a lot, an absentee father, a bully at school, and arguments with her mom. The story presents a powerful depiction of the harmful effects of bullying on teens. While Yaqui's harassment begins in school, the bullying ultimately follows Piddy home, in the case of the attack that occurs outside Piddy's building, and in the fear that remains with her even when the bullies are nowhere in sight. As the end of the novel makes clear, the psychological and emotional manifestations of Piddy's trauma continue to linger even after she transfers back to her old school, making her afraid to enter school bathrooms alone or be vulnerable. Medina aptly demonstrates how bullying can affect not only someone's mental state, but also their relationships with friends and family, and their own identity and sense of self. This story also provides a compelling look at the ways in which teenagers may attempt to transform in order to fit in or to avoid standing out. Piddy’s conflict is further fueled by complicated issues of ethnicity, class, gender, and family background. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass is a story that will resonate with teens, who will undoubtedly see themselves in the characters of this book.


Review Excerpts-

2014 Pura Belpré Author Award Winner

“A nuanced, heart-wrenching and ultimately empowering story about bullying…. Interweaving themes of identity, escapism and body image, Medina takes what could be a didactic morality tale and spins it into something beautiful: a story rich in depth and heart…Far more than just a problem novel, this book sheds light on a serious issue without ever losing sight of its craft.”
—Kirkus Reviews starred review

“Yaqui may think she’s tough, but it’s Piddy and some of the other female characters, namely Piddy’s mother and her mother’s flamboyant best friend Lila, who make more lasting impressions. Medina’s setting stands out as well…Teens will identify with Piddy’s struggle.”
—The Horn Book starred review


Connections-

-If students enjoyed this book, other books like it are:

Speak By: Laurie Halse Anderson

Mexican White Boy By: Matt De La Pena

The Secret Life of Sonia Rodriguez By: Alan Sitomer

Burn By: Suzanne Phillips

Out of Nowhere By: Maria Padian

-Whole group discussion questions:

1. Does Piddy make the right decisions? Would you make different choices? Why?

2. Why does the author incorporate Spanish into the text? What does it add stylistically?

3. How does Piddy’s absent father affect her?

4. Which individuals have a positive impact on Piddy? How do these relationships build her character?

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