YA Review - Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

I'm finally getting around to writing reviews of some of those incredible books I read during the 48 Hour Book Challenge a few weeks ago! (It takes me a while, sometimes.) Part of the reason is that I needed to process what I read - my goal during this year's challenge was to maximize my reading time, so I pretty much read straight through, with only a few stopovers on social media and other participants' blogs. And so it was one big happy blur of diverse titles, all of which I needed to digest a bit before I sat down and put fingers to keyboard.

But I definitely don't want to forget about these books, so on with the reviews. First up is a teen pick, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina. This one caught my attention when it won the Pura Belpre award last year, and kept my attention when it started being challenged for various reasons. (I kind of secretly love when a great book is challenged, because what is a more sure-fire way to guarantee that teenagers read something, than to tell them not to?). So of course I knew this was going to be a 48 Hour Book Challenge title for me, and I'm so glad I included it with my list.

The story begins when Piddy Sanchez finds out that "Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass," from some other girl she doesn't even know. Piddy doesn't know Yaqui either -- she's new at the school, hardly knows anyone -- and is equally mystified as to why this unknown stranger would want to beat her up. She's sure she doesn't want trouble, though, so she decides to avoid Yaqui at all costs. And for a while that works, as Piddy focuses on her job, school and the mystery of who her father is and why her mother never speaks of him. But then things with Yaqui start to heat up, in a serious fashion, and suddenly Piddy finds herself doing whatever she can to avoid confrontation and to find a little peace - even if that means acting out in ways she's never thought of before. What will Piddy do to cope, and can she stay out of Yaqui's way without hurting her other relationships?

OK, first of all, let's get out of the way the fact that this title has the word "ass" in it.

Yep, a swear.

If that's a stumbling block for you, well, just stop reading now.

Because if it is, I guarantee you won't want to read the honest, soul-baring novel that carries this name. Yaqui Delgado is a tough book at times, not because of language or situations but because of the real human pain that bleeds through on the pages. Piddy is a character that many kids can relate to, and her struggles are so familiar that I'd venture to guess few high schools don't have a host of Piddys walking their halls. So for me, tough as it might be, this is a book that needs to be shared because I believe it can save the lives of kids who are experiencing Piddy's problems right now.

At its core, Yaqui Delgado is a novel about bullying that stands apart from the pack, because it shows how bullying is a problem that can't be easily solved like the movie-of-the-week wants us to think. Medina doesn't shrink from demonstrating how the conflict with Yaqui, undeserved as it turns out to be, changes Piddy's life in ways large and small. That's the real tragedy, that adults in Piddy's life turn out not to recognize the issue or aren't able to help in any meaningful way. The scary thing is all the little cracks that the bullying creates in Piddy's life, causing her to make choices like pulling away from some people and drawing close to others, all in an attempt to make some sense of this relentless, controlling force. I was moved to tears at some points by Piddy's desperation, and haunted by the idea that this conflict is shaping Piddy's life in ways she will forever feel.

Medina is a powerhouse of an author, one who's not afraid to show the hard truth and pose the difficult questions. There's a complexity here that belies the simple characterization of this as a bullying book - which it is, but so much more also. Though Piddy and Yaqui are both female, both Latina, they are very different, and the conflict between them speaks to concepts of race and gender that run deep within our society. This isn't a simple story and it isn't one that wraps up tidily. But it is a truthful one, a provocative one, and a story that teens and adults need to read and share.

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina, published by Candlewick
Age 12+
Source: Library
First lines: "'Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass.' / A kid named Vanesa tells me this in the morning before school. She springs out with no warning and blocks my way, her textbook held at her chest like a shield. She's tall like me and caramel. I've seen her in the lunchroom, I think. Or maybe just in the halls. It's hard to remember. / Then, just like that, Vanesa disappears into the swell of bodies all around."
Highly recommended

48 Hour Book Challenge - Finish Line!

Amazing but true - the 48 Hour Book Challenge is officially over for me! What an incredible two days this has been. I feel overwhelmed, slightly dizzy and thoroughly delighted that I was able to participate. I'm equally thrilled to read all the posts from other participants and see the sharing of diverse titles. Thanks go out especially to Pam of MotherReader, for not only hosting the Challenge again this year, but for weaving into it her commitment to diverse books.

So, because I know you're all wondering, here is my final stack:

Finish line reading time: 18 hours
Finish line amount read: 8 books

Today I finished:

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus: This award-winner turned out to be my least favorite - it didn't hit the depth I was looking for in such a compelling subject, and resolved a little too tidily in the end.

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg: Rafe Goldberg is starting out at a new school and decides he wants a fresh start - as the kid who isn't openly gay - but Rafe's decision to be untrue to a critical part of himself ends up having unforeseen consequences for him and those he loves.

The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods: Violet is one of the only kids of color in her town, and because her African American father has died, Violet doesn't look like she fits with her white mom and sister - but then Violet gets a chance to connect with her paternal grandmother and suddenly learns about a whole new part of herself.

My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson: Luke and his two brothers are leaving their Eskimo village behind and going to the Sacred Heart School, where they meet others who have experienced the same kinds of loss and heartache, in this powerful tale of history and identity.

I had planned to sum this up by saying which was my favorite of the books I read this weekend, but I find it's almost impossible to do. Instead I can say that this was a blend of rich characters, heady storylines, intriguing plots and incredible voices, the kind of which can only come from many viewpoints of many types of people. #WeNeedDiverseBooks, it's true - to learn more about others, but ultimately about ourselves.

48 Hour Book Challenge - Halfway Check-In

All right folks, I'm officially halfway through my 48 Hour Book Challenge. If you're participating too, how are you doing? Are you bleary-eyed and experiencing book hangover like I am? Usually I like to take a little bit of time after finishing a book to let it sink in and resonate. Not this time, though - I'm blasting straight from one title to the next like a champion!

Here's a look at my stack so far:

Halfway point reading time: 11 hours

Halfway point amount read: 4.5 books 

I plan to write more in-depth blog posts about each title later, but here's a one-sentence review of each:

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor: Magical realism at its best, in a story set in Nigeria and steeped in mysticism and imagination - unforgettable!

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu by Wendy Wan-Long Shang: A story about finding who you are and accepting where you come from, even as you try to blend in with the crowd - brilliant middle-grade reading.

P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams-Garcia: The sequel to One Crazy Summer, the story of three girls reconciling their experiences with the mother they never knew, as they return to their familiar life that suddenly isn't the same - history, humor and heart!

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina: Incredible voice and characters collide in this story of a young Latina girl who suddenly finds herself the focal point of a bully's ire - and must reconcile her past with the person she feels forced to become.

Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus: Halfway through this one, so no real review yet - but an interesting based-on-true events story of a Japanese boy who becomes part of the crew of an American whaler in 1841.

SUCH a fantastic crop of books so far, you guys! Now I'm off to do a little tidying, work on my project and rest up before diving back in for more terrific diverse kidlit. Hope you're enjoying your 48 hours too!

48 Hour Book Challenge - Ready, Set, Read!

Hey peeps! The big weekend has come - I'm stocked up on provisions (read: wine and ice cream) and ready to read my eyes out for MotherReader's 9th Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge. Haven't heard about the 48HBC? Check out the full details over at MotherReader's blog, and sign up to participate yourself!

The goal of this challenge is simple: read as much as you possibly can during this 48 hour period. This year, the challenge has a very special emphasis that is dear to my heart, as any regular reader of this blog knows: the focus for participants this year is diverse books. I am so thrilled to see this, not only because it means a whole host of dedicated readers will be diving into some wonderfully inclusive literature, but also because they'll be sharing it: via their blogs, social media, and all other channels possible. I cannot wait to hear what everyone's reading - and it's a great excuse for me to clear a space on my TBR list, with so many yummy diverse books calling my name!

This year, Hubs generously agreed to take Sprout out of town for a little daddy-son bonding time. So aside from a few routine chores, and a project that I need to get finished before Monday, I'm all books all the time. Squee!

First up is a book that's been on my TBR shelf for way to long, that I'm so excited to finally dive into: Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch. Have you read this one? Stay tuned for my report -- and if you're a participant this weekend, happy reading!!

48 Hour Book Challenge - Finish Line!

Well folks, I can't quite believe it but just like that 48 hours have elapsed - or almost, anyway, but close enough for me. My totals aren't exactly what I thought they'd be but all in all, for someone who only rarely gets pleasure reading time, this weekend did help me put a dent in the TBR pile, albeit a small one.

Here's the rundown:

13.50 hours spent reading, blogging or networking in the Kidlitosphere
4 books completed (When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, Everything on a Waffle, Sparrow Road, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda)
1 book read halfway (Grave Mercy)
1 audiobook read halfway (The Year of Living Biblically)
3 completed review posts - Origami Yoda is one that my husband read also, and as our resident Star Wars geek, he'll do a much better review than I ever could

None too shabby! I'll be making my donation to Reading is Fundamental after I finish this post - technically I think I'm supposed to post the dollar amount, but I'm more comfortable donating anonymously.

Overall this was a fantastic experience. I definitely learned that for me, shorter books are better with this kind of project - though I tried mightily to finish Grave Mercy, it just wasn't in the cards (it's awesome, though!). I'm really looking forward to participating again next year. Thanks to MotherReader for a truly wonderful weekend of books and blogging!

48 Hour Book Challenge - Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

Just under 6 hours left in my allotted timeframe for the 48 Hour Book Challenge. So far I have read/blogged for 10 hours and finished 4 books, plus am halfway through an audiobook. Husband is headed out of the house soon with the toddler to give me a little extra peace and quiet for the last leg of the challenge. I have to say, this has not been easy - even though I'd planned to read for most of the day today, a rare-for-us sunny morning could not be ignored, so we headed off for a bike ride instead. And of course any time I would sit down on the couch in Sprout's eye-view it meant he had to come over and ask "Whatcha reading?" and then bring me his own selection of books to read ("This is better book," he says solemnly).

But I have to say, what I've read has been truly outstanding. Of the four books it's hard to pick a favorite, but Sheila O'Connor's Sparrow Road is definitely a contender. I hadn't heard much about this title before I picked it up but knowing that it was set in a falling-down mansion that once held an orphanage peaked my interest. But lest you think that this is a gothic tale, it's not -- Sparrow Road is very much contemporary and deals with modern-day situations and sensibilities.

Raine O'Rourke is blindsided by her mother's sudden announcement that they are leaving their Milwaukee home and spending the summer at Sparrow Road, an artists colony held in the aforementioned creepy old home. Sparrow Road is located precisely in the middle of nowhere, and Raine's less than excited to be stuck out in the country for several months. Stranger still, her mother keeps entirely mum on just why they are there. And the rules - silence until supper, no interacting with the artists and no leaving the grounds without Mama. Raine can hardly stand it and plans to leave at the first opportunity.

But then she meets Lillian, the sweet poet whose elderly mind seems locked permanently in the past. And Josie, the energetic bohemian and Diego, the charming artist who seems enchanted with both Raine and her mama. These incredible people are more than enough to make Raine suddenly start seeing Sparrow Road in a new way. All that and a mystery too - Raine soon discovers that Sparrow Road once housed dozens of orphans, some of whom seem to still be connected to this haunting place. And then there's Mama, and her mysterious trips to town with Viktor, Sparrow Road's creepy caretaker. . . Raine hardly knows which rocks to start uncovering first.

O'Connor does a masterful job of integrating Raine's own history and struggle for identity with that of the other residents of Sparrow Road, both past and present. She deals head-on with issues related to loss and longing for parents, in the orphans that once lived in the home and in Raine's own missing father. Children who have themselves experienced a tragic loss, or who have grown up without knowing one or both of their parents will find their stories reflected in this novel, and may have some of their own feelings resolved by following Raine's journey. At the very least, they will have a touchstone to know they are not alone.

This is O'Connor's first foray into kidlit but I hope not her last - not only does she exhibit a deft hand with plot and character development, she also sets a scene that makes the reader feel compelled to turn pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Sparrow Road, and I'm incredibly glad I included it as part of my 48 Hour Book Challenge.

Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Ages 9-13
Source: Library
Sample: "It was a boy's voice I imagined, a boy's voice speaking in my daydream. A story, just like Diego promised. A boy I'd never seen, but there he was. In old wool pants that hung below his knees, scuffed ankle boots, a flannel shirt rolled up at the sleeves. A boy who lived up in that attic. His skinny lower legs were nicked and scarred. His face was round, his eyes the same grassy green as Mama's. / Life just has a way, he said. I think you must know what I mean. Even parents can get lost."
Highly recommended

48 Hour Book Challenge - Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

Second book completed for my 48 Hour Book Challenge! I managed to log 2.5 hours reading last night before collapsing and sleeping like the dead (until 5:30! The child slept in!). After finishing Zachary Beaver I dived right into Polly Horvath's delightful Everything on a Waffle. I finished it today at lunch - in between I've been listening to the audiobook version of A.J. Jacobs' The Year of Living Biblically, which I may not be finished with before the challenge ends.

And you wouldn't think an adjective like "delightful" could sum up a book about a young girl whose parents are lost at sea, whose guardian is preoccupied by development deals and who loses not one but two digits in the course of the novel. Oh, and who sets a guinea pig on fire. But somehow this book is not only smart but moving, funny and charming even as it is insightful.

Primrose Squarp knows her parents aren't dead, she just knows it, and no amount of intervention on the part of nosy adults in her town of Coal Harbour will convince her otherwise. Though the snoopy Miss Honeycut and the crisp and proper Miss Perfidy try to make Primrose realize that she is an orphan, she won't believe them. Rather, Primrose continues to have various misadventures that are not at all related to her being depressed, as the two women believe. And all the while she enjoys the company of the somewhat unusual adults who do support her, including her devilishly charming Uncle Jack, her foster parents Evie and Bert (whom she compares to "kindly old hard-boiled eggs) and of course the culinarily inventive Miss Bowzer (she of the restaurant The Girl on the Red Swing, where everything is, as you've probably guessed, served on a waffle).

Primrose is an engaging character in the vein of such sparky lasses as Pippi Longstocking or Matilda Wormwood (though without a nemesis half as threatening as the Trunchbull - shudder). Primrose makes the kind of keen observations of the world around her that bely a depth far beyond her years. Nothing gets past Primrose; though the adults in her life think they are outmaneuvering her, she always ends up right where she wants to be. This is definitely an unusual novel and one that's on the surface packed with oddball sensibilities. However, dig a bit deeper and you'll find commentaries on love, loss, loneliness and the value of always being just who you are.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath, published by Farrar Straus Giroux
Ages 9-13
Source: personal collection
Sample: "Uncle Jack thought it was strange that I didn't move my sweaters into his house. I said it was because the mothballs were protecting them but really it was because I wanted to see Miss Perfidy now and then. We had a peculiar relationship. We didn't like each other much but had lived through my parents' disappearance together. It gave us a kind of melancholy bond."
Recommended

48 Hour Book Challenge - When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

One of my goals for the 48 Hour Book Challenge was to catch up on some older kidlit that I'd previously overlooked. I also want to get some more award-winners under my belt. Kimberly Willis Holt's When Zachary Beaver Came to Town fit both categories nicely, as an older title (1999) that won the National Book Award plus ALA Notable status. And I'd read Holt's novel The Water Seeker last year and really enjoyed that, so I've been looking forward to this one.

Zachary Beaver did not disappoint. Despite being a quick read, it was a surprisingly emotional and impactful one, with lots of heavy themes that are carried out with the lightest of touches. Holt's depiction of small-town Texas life is realistic, and her characters are personalities but never charicatures. Zachary Beaver breezes into town as a sideshow attraction, "the fattest boy in the world," and like everyone else in town, Toby and his best buddy Cal can't miss out on the show. But when Zachary's guardian leaves him behind, Toby discovers a sudden kinship with this boy, unexpected since Toby himself never realized how much his own life parallels Zachary's. Left behind by his mother who's gone seeking fame and fortune, Toby struggles to reconcile his feelings about his mom with his newfound friendship with Zachary, worry about Cal's older brother Wayne in Vietnam, and his attempts to woo the beautiful Scarlett Stallings. In the end, Toby sees that though external appearances may differ, people are all the same deep within, and loss touches us all in ways we could never imagine.

Holt's not shy about facing difficult situations, and about putting her characters in places that other authors might think twice about. But the result is a well-developed plot that is peopled with the kind of folks we all know, and that we're sure to recognize in our own friends, family and selves. This is a well-rounded and highly readable award winner that belongs in every classroom and library - lots to discuss here, in a story that will keep young readers turning pages.

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt, published by Henry Holt
Ages 9-13
Source: Library
Sample: "Cars and pickups pull into the Dairy Maid parking lot. Some people make no bones about it. They just get in line to see him. Ohters try to act like they don't know anything about the buzz. They enter the Dairy Maid, place their orders, and exit with Coke floats, chocolate-dipped cones, or curlicue fries, then wander to the back of the line. They don't fool me."
Recommended

48 Hour Book Challenge - Here We Go!

OK peeps, I have a towering TBR stack and a cozy place to read, so I'm all set to start off MotherReader's 7th Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge. I'm so excited to be a part of the challenge this year - last year I hadn't started up my blog yet, so I missed out, but this year I'm ready to roll.

There are a couple of potential stumbling blocks for me, though:

1. Sleep. As in, haven't had much for several days. Ah, the perils of having a three-year-old who wakes up at 3 a.m. ready to roll. I'll tell you what folks, this is not going to be an all-night proposition for me, that's for sure. Even if I wanted it to be, I'm just too dog-tired.

2. Work. I have a shift tomorrow morning, albeit a short one. If I'd been thinking, I'd have downloaded an audiobook for that timeframe. . . hmmm, maybe that's not too late. . . .

3. Date Night. OK, I know what you're thinking - why not just reschedule? Well, reference the aforementioned three-year-old plus the fact that with our school and work schedules, we just NEVER get out anywhere together. Like, haven't in months. So there's no way I'm turning down an offer of babysitting for tomorrow night - guess I'll just have to make up for it on Sunday!

All of these factors taken into consideration, I'm still ready, willing, and happy to be plunging in for the challenge. I'm committing at the 12-23 hour level and looking forward to whittling down my TBR pile by even a few titles. I'm thrilled to be able to participate in this event with so many fantastic book bloggers of all stripes. Are you joining in??

News of the World - and the 48 Hour Book Challenge!

Time, ladies and gentlemen, does not stand still. This has never been more apparent to me than in the past 2 years, when we've gone from couplehood to parenthood, and suddenly we have a three-year-old on our hands. Crazy! And crazier still, my little ol' blog here is just about to celebrate its one-year blogoversary. Yes indeed, that's a full year of sharing news and insights and lots and lots of scrumptious kidlit. Oh boy, and there's so many more books I want to share with you!

To that end, I'm starting a couple of new features on the blog. First up is "Wayback Wednesday". Every Wednesday I will share a classic favorite kidlit title. Some will be picture books, some novels, and there may even be a classic collection or two thrown in. I expect that it won't be tough for me to come up with titles for this feature, as there are so many fantastic oldies-but-goodies that I want to experience all over again with Sprout. But I'd love input from you, dear reader - if you have a classic kid's book that you'd like us to share our thoughts on, please email me (sproutsbookshelf *at* gmail *dot* com) or leave the title in the comments. I'm going to keep the definition of classic pretty loose here, but I'd say it has to be published at least 15 years ago or longer to qualify. And if you have a book blog of your own, we'd love it if you'd join in with a Wayback Wednesday choice of your own. If you do, and you send me the link, I'll share it here as well. This should be a fun one!

The next is a reboot - I'm aiming to bring back my periodic "Link Love" posts, in which I share a plethora of kidlit news from around the globe. This was one of the most popular features when I started it several months ago, but alas, it fell by the wayside with the advent of a hectic couple of semesters there. But I'm chin up and determined to give it another go. So if you come across a juicy tidbit of kidlit loveliness, please send that on to me post-haste. I promise to share with the class.

And the last bit of news is my idea of total self-indulgence - my intention to join in the fun of the 48 Hour Book Challenge. Sponsored by MotherReader, this event is in its seventh year, but this will be my first time to join in. I'm SO excited to be a part of this annual readathon, particularly since this year participants will be donating to Book People Unite, a project of Reading is Fundamental. I'm starting at the shallow end of this challenge, committing right here and now to 12-23 hours of reading and blogging in a 48 hour period this coming weekend, June 8-10. Wow, and even that is going to be a challenge of its own, with a three-year-old Sprout demanding more than a little attention. But I'm determined to get some major reading done, and am building up the TBR Pile even as we speak!

Stay tuned for more blogoversary news, and don't forget to check back tomorrow for the big reveal of our first-ever Wayback Wednesday title!