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A review by librarybonanza
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
4.0
Age: Middle School-High School
Tough Issue: Bullying
This novel offers a unique addition to the books about being bullied. Piddy moves to a new school and becomes the target of a bully's attacks, for reasons Piddy (and others) cannot identify. There's no justification to this bullying, and Piddy is caught unawares. I felt the victim's actions were not heroic--they were believable and organic. Because she didn't know why Yaqui hated her, she had no control over preventing Yaqui's hatred. Piddy didn't want to tell on her because she was scared of the heinous reaction by Yaqui. Stuck in this impossible situation, Piddy became disconnected with the world. As she became disconnected, she started losing everything she enjoyed. There was a ray of hope with her love interest, but his role in the book wasn't that significant.
On a side note, the name of this book and the book cover are perfect and very intriguing to browsers.
"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?" Goodreads review.
Tough Issue: Bullying
This novel offers a unique addition to the books about being bullied. Piddy moves to a new school and becomes the target of a bully's attacks, for reasons Piddy (and others) cannot identify. There's no justification to this bullying, and Piddy is caught unawares. I felt the victim's actions were not heroic--they were believable and organic. Because she didn't know why Yaqui hated her, she had no control over preventing Yaqui's hatred. Piddy didn't want to tell on her because she was scared of the heinous reaction by Yaqui. Stuck in this impossible situation, Piddy became disconnected with the world. As she became disconnected, she started losing everything she enjoyed. There was a ray of hope with her love interest, but his role in the book wasn't that significant.
Spoiler
Her final response to the whole situation is also not heroic--she chooses to run. She chooses to not stand up to her attacker and, essentially, let her win. Yet, this is not seen as cowardly, but reasonable. We've seen the downward spiral that Piddy is experiencing and we want her to get out of it by any means possible. Once again, another unique addition to bullying stories.On a side note, the name of this book and the book cover are perfect and very intriguing to browsers.
"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?" Goodreads review.