Module 5: The Tequila Worm

SLIS 5420/ Module 5/ February 11-17
The Tequila Worm
By Viola Canales

Bibliography: Canales, V. (2005). The tequila worm. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Summary:
The Tequila Worm is the coming of age story of Sofia, a Mexican American trying to learn how to balance her family's culture and tradition with her dreams of going away to school. Along the way Sofia is helped by a colorful cast of characters including her younger sister Lucy, her best frenemy Berta, her mama, papa, Tia Petra, and Doña Clara. Sofia has always been different than her sister and Berta, she doesn't want a quinceañera and she finds great joy in cleaning beans with her papa. Sofia's world is turned upside down when she receives a scholarship to a prestigious private school in Austin, Texas that appears to hold the key to her future dreams. But Sofia must learn that the things taken for granted everyday won't always be there and that to be happy you must first learn to accept and love yourself.

Impressions:
This isn't the type of book that I normally like to read. No magic, paranormal goings on, or detectives, but I found myself drawn into Sofia's story. I think that everyone can empathize with Sofia's struggle to accept herself and her family. There is also a good lesson in this book about sorting out personal priorities and expectations from those that your family places on you. I liked the way that this book was written, English intermingled with a few Spanish words, even if some people thought that the definitions written into the text seem rather elementary. I found myself wanting to know more about Sofia's life once I had finished this book and wondering if there was more to these characters' lives than had been written.

Review:
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Sofia, 14, lives in McAllen, TX. What she lacks in material possessions, she makes up for in personality and intelligence. When she is called a "taco head" by a student at her school, she decides to "kick that girl" by getting better grades and being a better soccer player than her tormentor. As a result of this determination, Sofia is offered a scholarship to the elite Saint Luke's school in Austin. Now she must convince her family and herself that she is up to the challenge. Canales includes vivid descriptions of life in a Mexican-American community. Her prose is engaging and easy to read, making this novel a good choice for reluctant readers. The momentum slows a bit after Sofia's arrival in Austin in contrast to the portion of the book set in McAllen. Still, the story is a good addition to most collections.-Melissa Christy Buron, Epps Island Elementary, Houston, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Library Setting:
The Tequila Worm would be a great book to display for National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is every year from September 15 to October 15th. Not only is the book written by a Hispanic writer but Sofia's journey highlights the Mexican culture along with positive ways to deal with racial problems. This book could be displayed along with books that highlight quinceañeras, Hispanic holidays including Dia de Los Muertos and Hispanic Easter traditions.

Review Reference: R.R. Bowker LLC. (2012). Books in print: the tequila worm. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:4442/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|14634379|13534279&mc=USA
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