Pick of the Day: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass | Audio

A Latina teen is the target of bullying in Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina. In the audiobook version, Roxanne Hernandez’s narration is spot-on. Check out the starred review.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. By Meg Medina. 6 CDs. 6:54 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2013. ISBN 978-1-4692-7502-4. $54.97. Gr 8 Up–Piddy Sanchez seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her best friend moves away and Piddy’s Mom literally has the floor pulled out from under her as the small staircase in their apartment building collapses, forcing the family to move to another part of Queens. The move does have a bonus. For the first time, Piddy will have her own room, but it comes at a price—she has to start at a new school. Her developing body is starting to attract some unwanted attention from the Latino boys in the school as well as from Yaqui Delgado. Yaqui feels that the teenager is shaking her booty and doesn’t consider her a fellowLatina. Piddy’s skin is too light, she doesn’t have an accent, and she does well in school. The bullying escalates and Yaqui and her crew seem to have it in for Piddy and her blossoming bottom. The teenager also faces some internal struggles as she searches for information on a father she has never known or even seen. Roxanne Hernandez, a fluent Spanish speaker, pronounces the occasional Spanish words nicely and provides a great voice and tone for each character. The Latin music at the beginning and ending of each CD (Piddy is half Cuban and half Dominican) adds a cultural element. With a title that is sure to draw attention andMedina’s great story (Candlewick, 2013) to back it up, this is a definite purchase.–Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?