We Were Here by Matt de la Pena
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A great pick for our Februrary book discussion this month with my librarian friends! I just loved Matt's other book, Mexican White Boy Mexican WhiteBoy and We Were Here is just as compelling. Miguel is in juvi for a crime he doesn't reveal but he is totally guilt ridden about. He gets into an argument with Mong, an Asian with a severely scarred face, many other problems and health issues---scary, scary kid. When Rondell arrives; Miguel already knows him there is more of a flow to his daily life. Miguel reads lots of books, records in his journal (judge's orders) hangs out with(and makes fun of)Rondell. It is when Mong breaks them out to escape to Mexico and get jobs, that life totally changes for the three escapees. Miguel acts hardcore but he is hiding a lot behind his Mexican bravado. As they travel (and hide) to Mexico, there will be life lessons Miguel (and Mong and Rondell) work through as they come to terms with themselves, family, and their place in the world. A riveting, adventure with Miguel and friends. Reluctant readers (and teens who enjoy urban fiction) will relate to all three characters and their dilemmas.
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multicultural (9)
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Thanks to Rory and the Goodreads Group, YA Reads For Teachers (And Any Other Adults) for this MUST read book, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass by Meg Medina. From the first sentence, “Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick your Ass” (just like the title) to the last sentence, “And I’ve found my rhythm at last-strong and simple, constant and mine,” I was riveted and sickened by Piddy Sanchez’s plight of being in a new school and being threatened by a bully on the first day. Piddy doesn’t know Yaqui and therefore is clueless about why Yaqui is out to get her. Yaqui has a group of girls who terrorize Piddy at school and at her after school job. Worse to come is the brutal fight when Yaqui and her terrorists surprise Piddy on her way home from school, beat her to a pulp, and film the fight as they tear off her shirt. Piddy never tells her mother what has happened (she tells her mother she fell on the steps) but she does confide in her aunt and makes her swear not to tell anyone. As a result of this fight, Piddy loses herself. She begins to fail her classes, cut school, and her personality begins to change. What will happen to Piddy? This is a book for all high school students; one girl’s life was drastically changed as a result of the continued harassment she endured. I highly recommend it for all readers (plus reluctant readers and those who enjoy urban fiction), teachers, and parents. The author suffered through something similar in junior high and this book reaches out to teens and helps them find their dignity again.
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Leap of Faith by Anne Schraff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book I have read in the Urban Underground series. For reluctant readers, this book revolves around Ernesto who is a junior at Cesar Chavez High School and wants to run for Senior Class President. Ernesto is a good kid who goes out of his way to help others. He has been shown this example by his father who goes into the barrio and talks dropouts into returning to school. One day there is a robbery and Ernesto sees a hooded, tatooed guy he knows as Cruz Lopez who hangs around Paul Gonzales. He mentions to Paul his suspicions and Paul makes Ernesto promise to keep it to himself about what he saw because Paul is convinced Cruz would never do something like this. While Ernesto is trying to run his campaign, he still worries Cruz could have been involved in the robbery, as well as stopping rumors that Clay started to hurt his election. Ernesto has a great girlfriend in Naomi, and good friends and a supportive family. Students will enjoy the characters in this slim novel and Ernesto's quest to represent his class.
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Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Vidya is an Indian girl in the 1940's with a close knit family. Vidya's father is a doctor and she has a mother and a brother. It is during a march when her father helps a woman who has been thrashed by the British soldiers that he is in turn, viciously beaten and is no longer a vibrant doctor but dependent on his family for his every need. Vidya's family must go live with her father's family, work long hours and endure insults and slurs. Vidya once wanted to attend school and even though this seems impossible now, she longs to get an education, which leads her to get permission from her grandfather to "climb the stairs" and spend time reading in the library. Vidya also brings her baby neice while she pores over the many wonderful books. She also meets Raman who seems to like the same books and leads to many long conversations. Her brother decides to go into the army and fight and is banished from his grandfather's home. Vidya can't understand why he is forsaking her and the family. Will Vidya be able to hold onto her dream of becoming educated and bettering the world like her father, or will she be married off in an arranged marriage?
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Trafficked by Kim Purcell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hannah is a seventeen year old from Moldova who has lost both her parents in a bombing. She is brought to the United States by an “agent” and believes she will make $400 per week watching children and going to school to learn English and finish her education. This book shows slowly but surely how Hannah learns the real truth behind her trip to the United States. She toils long days doing housework and watching Maggie and Michael while their mother studies to become a doctor. Her husband Sergey is involved in some kind of shady business. Hannah is not allowed outside, she must speak only Russian to the children and the family is not paying her. As Hannah remains isolated, she uses her inner grit and determination to survive this slave existence.
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Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill and knew I wanted to read this book! Gill's humor just moves his books along and you have to love a character (protagonist) with the name of Bug Smoot. She is a fiesty eighteen year old who drives a classic cadillac (was her grandfather's before he died) to deliver pizzas for a particularly nasty Vinnie. Bug is a mixed race; her mom was Tejana and her dad was black and she was referred to as coyote by everyone. But Bug has a smart comeback for everyone and when she finds her rent is due and the landlord wants it by 5 o'clock and there is a man (devil) in her car and he has come to repossess the car and her soul in 72 hours; Bug really has too much going on. With lots of help from Pesto, the manager at the car wash, with maybe a love interest too, you will laugh as Bug Smoot tries to outwit the devil and lots of other paranormal goings on. Bug and Pesto are so enjoyable while Vinnie and the devil are just plain evil. But Bug Smoot doesn't back down so 72 hours just flies by with sooooo much going on. I loved this humorous book, enjoyed learning about ElPaso and how to kick demon butt.
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Wait for Me by An NaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars Mina and Suna are two sisters who work long hard hours at their parents dry cleaners. Mina is the oldest sister who lives a lie, she steals money from her parents' business, lies to her mother about her place in school and where she will go to college. Suna is the youngest sister who has a hearing aid and talks to their car as if it was human. Mina and Suna are very close. Their mother is nasty, keeping secrets of her own. She runs Mina's life, is short and mean to Suna and her husband. Enter a new worker to their dry cleaner, Ysreal, a talented musician, born of migrant worker parents who has befriended both girls, unbeknowst to their mother. An endearing story of love and how one can change when their life is a lie. A great multicultural read, I can't wait to read An Na's other books! View all my reviews >>
Dark Dude by Oscar HijuelosMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dark Dude has such a great cast of characters. They all have their problems, but it is Gilberto and Rico, who takes Jimmy with him too that decide to leave their lives in Harlen and strike out for a better life in Wisconsin. Rico is a light Cuban American and this causes him so many problems; he is bullied becdue to his light skin, family tensions with his moms' constant hassles, a father who drinks too much and can't make enough money to support his family and a rundown, violent school. Gilberto is an older Latino friend who truly cares for Rico and makes Rico feel he can do anything. Jimmy has a horrible life but together Rico and Jimmy make comics and watch out for each other. Jimmy is the artist and Rico is the author and they have an idea for a story, "Dark Dude" or Latin Dagger. It is when Gilberto comes into money and decides to go out west and get an education and better life that changes life drastically for Rico. When he can't take his life anymore, he runs away with Jimmy and meets up with Gilberto in Wisconsin. It is this new life, which isn't always great, and his coming of age in Wisconsin (lots going on there), that really causes Rico to mature and changes the course of his life. Rico as a character is going through so much and he has compassion, morals,and integrity. He is smart, re-reads Huck Finn and loves the relationship between Huck and Big Jim. I really admired how Rico never shirked the many challenges that came his way. A great multicultural read of bonds and friendship, but one my reluctant readers won't be interested in because of the 439 pages.
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Muchacho by LouAnne JohnsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The voice of main character, Eddie Corazon was strong, confused, and angry but once he met Lupe, Eddie begins to awaken to what life can hold for him. Eddie still makes some bad mistakes and his humor is often biting but so is his life. He doesn't get along with his dad, has a major attitude, lives in a rundown area of New Mexico, and uses humor and sarcasm to describe his friends, teachers, school and just life in general. There are gangs, drug dealers, criminals that populate Eddie's world. But we find out pretty quick Eddie is a secret reader, he listens in class, and wants to be more than a "poor Mexican kid from a bad neighborhood" and with the help of Miss Beecher, a short-lived teacher in his school; Lupe a girl Eddie meets at dance class; Sgt Cabrera who sees something in Eddie and gives him a book to read after escorting her through his school, and finally getting arrested and sent to live with a trusted family friend, Eddie starts to get it....A book for reluctant readers, teens who enjoy urban fiction, and those who like romances, multicultural literature, this book will appeal to everyone---JUST read it!
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