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deservingporcupine's review against another edition
5.0
Really, really good. Sometimes YA authors don’t take the chances you hope they will, or get so bogged down in the issues their books are trying to tackle that their characters don’t feel right. This was not the case at all for this story — Piddy came first and I cared about the issues because I was rooting for her. As a teacher, this book is a valuable conversation starter about discipline.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
If A.S. King books got together with Gabi, A Girl in Pieces and Melina Marchetta books.
An enthralling, emotional read that rides the "issue book" line - carrying stereotypes about Latinas and untrustworthy Latino men, flirting with body image, and of course the big whammy, bullying. (Note, I'm using the word bullying as defined as physical or emotional aggression towards someone that happens over time. It often involves power play through social media and relationships).
As a teacher, I don't love the way some of the teachers react (or more poignantly, don't), but that's part of the point. Not all bullying is noticeable. Then even if it is noticed, not everyone will do something about it.
As I'm not Latina, I can't speak to the accuracy of Medina's family and cultural portrayals, but I do wonder how women of color might feel the limited roles of Latino men in the novel. Of the three we meet or at least hear about, one lies about a current marriage, another beats his wife, and the third is a cop dating a gorgeous woman with a reputation for not settling down. Additionally, i first felt conflicted, then I appreciated and maybe better understood, why the bully was another Latina girl. There was a passing mention of tensions between the countries they are connected to, but that (nor race, ethnicity in general) was not presumably the basis for the bullying.
There were a few other things I had questionable thoughts about - but overall a good (if not emotionally enjoyable) and necessary read.
An enthralling, emotional read that rides the "issue book" line - carrying stereotypes about Latinas and untrustworthy Latino men, flirting with body image, and of course the big whammy, bullying. (Note, I'm using the word bullying as defined as physical or emotional aggression towards someone that happens over time. It often involves power play through social media and relationships).
As a teacher, I don't love the way some of the teachers react (or more poignantly, don't), but that's part of the point. Not all bullying is noticeable. Then even if it is noticed, not everyone will do something about it.
As I'm not Latina, I can't speak to the accuracy of Medina's family and cultural portrayals, but I do wonder how women of color might feel the limited roles of Latino men in the novel. Of the three we meet or at least hear about, one lies about a current marriage, another beats his wife, and the third is a cop dating a gorgeous woman with a reputation for not settling down. Additionally, i first felt conflicted, then I appreciated and maybe better understood, why the bully was another Latina girl. There was a passing mention of tensions between the countries they are connected to, but that (nor race, ethnicity in general) was not presumably the basis for the bullying.
There were a few other things I had questionable thoughts about - but overall a good (if not emotionally enjoyable) and necessary read.
dlberglund's review against another edition
4.0
This book has a lot going for it. It was hard for me to evaluate analytically, however, because I kept personalizing the bullying struggle...how am I, as an educator, supposed to stop these insane types of escalating bullying? This is a frightening kind, and one I've seen in smaller doses- the person without a logical reason that is in the bullied person's control. (Not that there are many kinds of bullying that make sense.) Each time she upped her bullying game, I looked harder around me and wondered if I could be as clueless as the educators in the book. How do we make school safe for each kid? How do I protect the Piddies and fill up the Yaquis in ways that prevent them from turning against others?
I thought the portrayal of Yaqui was somewhat simplistic (wrong side of the tracks, dysfunctional and possibly completely absent family) but I was glad there wasn't a gushy 'let's all make up' moment. In reality, we don't get to see and heal the emotional baggage of our bullies, and I didn't want this book to turn into an after school special.
I thought the portrayal of Yaqui was somewhat simplistic (wrong side of the tracks, dysfunctional and possibly completely absent family) but I was glad there wasn't a gushy 'let's all make up' moment. In reality, we don't get to see and heal the emotional baggage of our bullies, and I didn't want this book to turn into an after school special.
lanamosk's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
5.0
Book #49 Read in 2015
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina (YA)
Piddy has recently changed high schools. Almost immediately, for no reason that she can think of, resident bad girl Yaqui Delgado is rumored to want to fight Piddy. Piddy begins to be bullied and harassed by Yaqui and her group of girls. Piddy doesn't want to admit it and by not doing so, her grades begin to flounder and her personality changes drastically. This book shows how difficult high school can be on students and the effect that bullying has on its victims. It was a powerful read and I think high school girls especially would love it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina (YA)
Piddy has recently changed high schools. Almost immediately, for no reason that she can think of, resident bad girl Yaqui Delgado is rumored to want to fight Piddy. Piddy begins to be bullied and harassed by Yaqui and her group of girls. Piddy doesn't want to admit it and by not doing so, her grades begin to flounder and her personality changes drastically. This book shows how difficult high school can be on students and the effect that bullying has on its victims. It was a powerful read and I think high school girls especially would love it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
avaree's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
This book was pretty good but didn’t really like the ending. Thought it was kinda ridiculous that there were no consequences for the bully.
msseviereads's review against another edition
5.0
Love! This was a great book and I highly recommend. The title will gather the attention, but the story holds up and I think it is an important read.
elehuiliztli's review against another edition
5.0
A teenage story in Queens
Beautiful prose that paint the story a struggling teen in Queens. The dreams that enfolds had me gripped to each line. I became Piddy. I became her mother having my own nightmares of teenage angst and rebellion. Piddy is triumphant against bullies and against her own demons.
Beautiful prose that paint the story a struggling teen in Queens. The dreams that enfolds had me gripped to each line. I became Piddy. I became her mother having my own nightmares of teenage angst and rebellion. Piddy is triumphant against bullies and against her own demons.
debz57a52's review against another edition
4.0
Basically, I read this book in on sitting, while I was proctoring a long exam for a few students. I'm not a particularly quick reader, so I took longer than the average, according to my Kindle (somewhere in the 3:30 range), but I certainly didn't take more than 4:30. Piddy is a great character to follow as she navigates so many questions and so much drama, but ultimately tries to stay true to who she wants to be and connected to the people who really matter. Her conflicts around her missing father, her friend who moved away, her new school and neighborhood, the school bully, and her awakening sexuality are off set by some solid relationships with caring adults and kind friends (even when they're not seeing eye to eye).