Books for Teens

Sofia has grown up in McAllen, Texas.  Valleyites will enjoy reading about our community in this well written book.   In The Tequila Worm Sofia must learn accept what it means to be Mexican American, even though she has to deal with being called a “Taco Head”  at school or misunderstood because of her family’s customs. Sofia grew up in the barrio.  Her family was poor, but they always had the necessities as well as plenty of love.  In this funny story her mother dresses her as a bean taco, a tequila worm and other costumes for Halloween.  At each house in the neighborhood she is give vegetable or fruit and a hand decorated skull cookie.  She is upset, since her cousin got candy bars and quarters on the other side of town.  So, her mother took her across town to see what it was like on the “rich” side of town.  She immediately realized everyone else had store bought costumes and plastic pumpkin candy bags.  Sofia longed to have a house like theirs and to have nice things. At this point in her life, she doesn’t not fully appreciate the customs of her family.  In high school she does so well on her school work that she is offered a scholarship which allows her to “get out of the Valley.” Her mother doesn’t know if Sofia is ready to live outside of their community.  It takes a lot of convincing for Sofia to be allowed to attend this boarding school in Austin. Sofia must find $400 and five dresses for evening dinners at the school.  Her cousin and comadre Berta helps her figure things out.

When Sofia arrives, things are not how she expected.  She is only one of five Mexican Americans on campus.  Everyone else there is rich.  One of the girls is very mean to Sofia.  She decides to kick her butt by being smarter than her and better than her at sports.  Sofia longs for home, but knows she is following her dream by going to school.  Before long she realizes all those embarrassing customs back home were some of the greatest moments in her life. She creates an altar in her room and reminisces each night about home.

Although I am not a minority, I did grow up in the Valley and I really related to the culture shock Sofia goes through.  Being a minority at a new school can be torturous.  Other students will find comfort in reading Sofia’s story and knowing that the best way to beat the bullies is to be smarter than them.

All Zoe wants is to have a piano and play at Carnegie Hall.  She has big dreams, until her dad come home with an organ instead of a piano for Zoe.  It comes with free lessons.  Her teacher realizes she has talent and suggest she enter the Perform-o-rama.  At school things aren’t going too well.  She loses her best friend to another girl.  She ends up sitting at the “boy table.”  Everyone there is kind of gross, having burping contests and what not.  One of the boys at the table, Wheeler, rides home with Zoe on the bus and starts following her home each day.  He is considered to be a bully at school, but he is kind to Zoe and they seem to get along well.  Zoe’s father is quirky to say the least.  He is afraid to leave the house, so he takes courses from Living Room University and acquires degrees in everything from scuba diving to baking.  Her mother is a workaholic.

Zoe soon learns that Wheeler’s dad is not involved which is one of the reasons Wheeler starts having dinner at her house just Zoe, her dad and Wheeler.  Wheeler becomes a good friend to Zoe and she realizes it might be more than friendship when he gets jealous over another boy liking her at school.  Wheeler supports her plans to participate in the Perform-o-rama.  With the help of Zoe’s father, he even bakes her a cake for her birthday.  The day before the contest, Zoe’s mom tells her she has to work and will not be able to take her.  Her father is so afraid to leave the house that it looks like she won’t be able to go.   Wheeler comes to the rescue by finding a map and programming emergency phone numbers in her dad’s cell phone.  In the end the contest is harder than Zoe thought it would be.  But everything works out; possibly more that friendship for Zoe and Wheeler.

  After his girlfriend tells him she is pregnant Bobby has alot to think about. At only 16, neither of them are ready for a baby. Both their parents are not very supportive. The format of the book leaves you rushing to find out how Bobby ends up with sole custody of his daughter, Feather. The chapters alternate between “Now” and “Then.”  We see how difficult life is for Bobby with a new baby at home. As the father, he does not get any “maternity leave,” so he continues to go to high school while having to stay up late every night with Feather. He lives alone with his mother and she tells him from the start that Feather is his responsiblitiy alone. Despite how much his life has changed, Bobby loves Feather so much and appreciates this gift he has been given. The plot jumps back and forth and we watch as Nia and Bobby remain close throughout her pregnancy. We see both their parents convincing them to give the baby up for adoption. So the reader cannot believe it when everything is set with an adoptive family, yet still Bobby ends up with Feather and Nia is no where to be found. The shocking reason why Nia is not in Bobby and Feather’s life will keep you reading until the end.

Eleventh grader Amal attends a snobby private school. Over the winter break she decides that she is ready to wear the hijab to school. Her parents, worried about how she will be treated, try to talk her out of it. This only persuades Amal to want to wear it even more. This funny book brings us into the life of a Muslim family. I felt enlightened as I learned how many things I have in common with her life. We all face peer pressure. Is it better to just fit in or stand up for what you believe in? It made me wonder, would I have been brave enough to have done something as bold as Amal. Her first day of school the principal tries to convince her that her decision was not a personal one, since it effects everyone around her at school. How can anyone be so closed minded as to say your religious beliefs and practices have to be approved of by the majority?