Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by M. Medina

Abstract

Medina, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2014. Print.Piddy Sanchez has only been at Daniel Jones High School for five weeks when a classmate tells her “Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass”. Unknowingly and inexplicably, Piddy becomes the target of the fierce Yaqui Delgado and her gang.A winner of the 2014 Pura Belpré Author Award, Meg Medina creates an unflinching portrayal of Piddy as she struggles to maintain her identity and dignity in the face of extreme bullying. Medina’s depiction of Piddy is honest and readers will readily identify with the everyday adolescent problems she deals with; self-image, school, family and relationships. Medina addresses the topic of bullying in a manner that is realistic and does not provide easy solutions for Piddy or the reader.A 2014 Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, this book is a well-paced read, divided into short chapters making it highly accessible to a variety of readers. The book is rich in dialogue and Medina does an excellent job of creating fully-developed characters who struggle with all-too-human flaws and foibles.Some students may struggle with specific references to Latino culture, but the themes and topics in the novel are universal issues that the majority of adolescents will connect with. Because it addresses difficult topics such as bullying and adolescent sexuality this book may not appeal to all readers and should be considered a mature read.This book should be considered an excellent addition to any high school library or classroom, particularly for students or educators who are searching for a book that depicts the issue of bullying in a manner that is honest and realistic.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Rachel WildRachel Wild is an English teacher at Parkland Composite High School in Edson, Alberta. She is currently enrolled the Teacher Librarianship Masters degree program through distance education. Reading and reviewing a plethora of young adult novels has renewed her interest in and passion for this genre.