Bibliographic Data: Medina, Meg 2013. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass Berryville: Candlestick Press. 9780763671648
Plot Summary:
Piddy has too many questions and too few answers. Who is her father? Why is her mother so strident and pious? Why is her best friend Mitzi so distant? Should she be embarrassed by her burgeoning curves? Most importantly, how can she get Yaqui Delgado to leave her alone?
Critical Analysis:
Things are not perfect for Piddy, but at least she has things figured out. She doesn’t necessarily mind sharing a bed with her mom, or living in a small and dingy apartment, because she is comfortable there. She is doing great in school, excelling in her honors classes, has many friends, and a great relationship with her teachers. Yes, her best friend Mitzi moved to another borough, and it is going to be weird not having her in school, but at least she knows the order of things. Then, her mother does something she is not at all expecting. Ma finally gets that new apartment she has been threatening for years, and it is this move that changes everything.
Yaqui Delgado wants to kick Piddy’s ass. She is told this her first day of school, yet she has no idea why or who Yaqui even is. From that day on, Yaqui’s threats become reality, as she finds novel ways to taunt. She throws chocolate milk at Piddy’s table, hits her in the back of the head multiple times in the hallway one day, steals her most prized possession; a jade elephant charm necklace, has her living in fear, and then ultimately she and her gang jump Piddy. She is bloody, humiliated, defeated, terrified, broken, and most embarrassingly, Yaqui and her gang filmed the whole thing and posted it online for everyone to see. It is during this year of emotional and physical abuse that Piddy finds herself faced with big decisions.
Piddy internalizes the abuse, completely shutting out everyone around her that could help, as victims often do. Predators tend to do everything they can to get their prey on their own, in order to wear them down and finish them off. This is exactly how Yaqui is controlling Piddy.
Piddy’s ultimate decision to confirm the anonymous report about Yaqui finally frees her, and everything else falls back into place. Why is this story important? Why does it warrant an extended summary? Simple. We all have a Yaqui Delgado. Everyone can relate to this story, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. There comes a time in every person’s life when they must choose their path; seek help, ignore everything and hope it goes away, fight back, or just give up. What ultimately ends up being the best decision might not always be the easy one. It is important for young adults to read this novel and understand they do not have to feel trapped. Asking for the assistance of others does not make you weak. Reaching out when you are in over your head is just as bold as handling a matter stoically and solitarily. Once you start to isolate yourself from those that love you, you tend to lose yourself as well. Friends, family, significant others; these people are the support beams in life, and although you may not always agree with them, you should trust them. Things tended to go most wrong for Piddy when she would confide in Lila instead of addressing matters with her mother or one of the authority figures at the school. Young adults need to be taught that they are safe to speak out when things go wrong. The character of Darlene personifies this point perfectly. She is meek and timid, and completely unwilling to help Piddy. She does not offer her guidance, advise her to tell an adult, nor is she willing to even stand with her in the hall when she is being pummeled. Darlene is the epitome of anti-friend, and surely comes off as the biggest coward in the book.
Cultural and Historical Markers:
The story is steeped in traditional Hispanic themes. Typical Latin names are utilized (Delgado, Sanchez, Mami, Raul, Lila) and pet names are ubiquitous. Classic cuisine is depicted (empanadas, rice, beans). The tango, rumba, and flamenco are all mentioned. Most well done, however, is the use of traditional Spanish phrases, sayings, and words throughout. Nearly one in every three sentences contains a word in Spanish, and this helps add to the voice of the novel.
Reviews:
Kirkus – “Nuanced, heart-wrenching… and exquisitely crafted.”
The Washington Post- “Transcends the usual earnest fictional treatment by delivering a protagonist who is more than a mere victim”
Awards:
Pura Belpre Award
Connections:
Bullying is finally something that is widely discussed and not just met with a blind eye. This story is a great way to exemplify the harm not reaching out could cause. Cautionary tales that are non-didactic tend to be far more helpful than the warnings of a teacher.
Plot Summary:
Piddy has too many questions and too few answers. Who is her father? Why is her mother so strident and pious? Why is her best friend Mitzi so distant? Should she be embarrassed by her burgeoning curves? Most importantly, how can she get Yaqui Delgado to leave her alone?
Critical Analysis:
Things are not perfect for Piddy, but at least she has things figured out. She doesn’t necessarily mind sharing a bed with her mom, or living in a small and dingy apartment, because she is comfortable there. She is doing great in school, excelling in her honors classes, has many friends, and a great relationship with her teachers. Yes, her best friend Mitzi moved to another borough, and it is going to be weird not having her in school, but at least she knows the order of things. Then, her mother does something she is not at all expecting. Ma finally gets that new apartment she has been threatening for years, and it is this move that changes everything.
Yaqui Delgado wants to kick Piddy’s ass. She is told this her first day of school, yet she has no idea why or who Yaqui even is. From that day on, Yaqui’s threats become reality, as she finds novel ways to taunt. She throws chocolate milk at Piddy’s table, hits her in the back of the head multiple times in the hallway one day, steals her most prized possession; a jade elephant charm necklace, has her living in fear, and then ultimately she and her gang jump Piddy. She is bloody, humiliated, defeated, terrified, broken, and most embarrassingly, Yaqui and her gang filmed the whole thing and posted it online for everyone to see. It is during this year of emotional and physical abuse that Piddy finds herself faced with big decisions.
Piddy internalizes the abuse, completely shutting out everyone around her that could help, as victims often do. Predators tend to do everything they can to get their prey on their own, in order to wear them down and finish them off. This is exactly how Yaqui is controlling Piddy.
Piddy’s ultimate decision to confirm the anonymous report about Yaqui finally frees her, and everything else falls back into place. Why is this story important? Why does it warrant an extended summary? Simple. We all have a Yaqui Delgado. Everyone can relate to this story, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. There comes a time in every person’s life when they must choose their path; seek help, ignore everything and hope it goes away, fight back, or just give up. What ultimately ends up being the best decision might not always be the easy one. It is important for young adults to read this novel and understand they do not have to feel trapped. Asking for the assistance of others does not make you weak. Reaching out when you are in over your head is just as bold as handling a matter stoically and solitarily. Once you start to isolate yourself from those that love you, you tend to lose yourself as well. Friends, family, significant others; these people are the support beams in life, and although you may not always agree with them, you should trust them. Things tended to go most wrong for Piddy when she would confide in Lila instead of addressing matters with her mother or one of the authority figures at the school. Young adults need to be taught that they are safe to speak out when things go wrong. The character of Darlene personifies this point perfectly. She is meek and timid, and completely unwilling to help Piddy. She does not offer her guidance, advise her to tell an adult, nor is she willing to even stand with her in the hall when she is being pummeled. Darlene is the epitome of anti-friend, and surely comes off as the biggest coward in the book.
Cultural and Historical Markers:
The story is steeped in traditional Hispanic themes. Typical Latin names are utilized (Delgado, Sanchez, Mami, Raul, Lila) and pet names are ubiquitous. Classic cuisine is depicted (empanadas, rice, beans). The tango, rumba, and flamenco are all mentioned. Most well done, however, is the use of traditional Spanish phrases, sayings, and words throughout. Nearly one in every three sentences contains a word in Spanish, and this helps add to the voice of the novel.
Reviews:
Kirkus – “Nuanced, heart-wrenching… and exquisitely crafted.”
The Washington Post- “Transcends the usual earnest fictional treatment by delivering a protagonist who is more than a mere victim”
Awards:
Pura Belpre Award
Connections:
Bullying is finally something that is widely discussed and not just met with a blind eye. This story is a great way to exemplify the harm not reaching out could cause. Cautionary tales that are non-didactic tend to be far more helpful than the warnings of a teacher.