That’s what some girl tells Piddy Sanchez one morning before school. Too bad Piddy doesn’t even know who Yaqui Delgado is, let alone what she’s done to piss her off. All Piddy knows is that Yaqui hates her—and she better watch her back because Yaqui isn’t kidding around.
At first Piddy just focuses on trying to find out more about the father she’s never met and how to balance honors courses with her weekend job at the neighborhood hair salon. But as the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang starts to take over Piddy’s life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off and running away from her problems?
In this poignant and all-too-realistic story from award-winning author Meg Medina, Piddy is forced to decide exactly who she is versus who others are trying to make her become—and ultimately discovers a rhythm that is all her own.
Meg Medina is the author of the young adult novel The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind and the 2012 recipient of the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award for her picture book, Tía Isa Wants a Car, illustrated by Claudio Muñoz. About Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, she says, “Years ago, when I was in school, a girl in a rabbit-fur jacket cornered me in the school yard and announced that one of our school bullies, a Latina girl named Jackie, was going to beat me up. What I remember most from that time was loneliness and all the risky choices I made as I embarked on the search for a tough-girl shell that could withstand any attack. But as I struggled against the dread of being in school, I became someone else entirely. I hid every talent and interest I had in the hope of appearing fierce and untouchable to Jackie and the rest of the world. It was a struggle to find my identity and inner strength — as a student, as a young woman, as a Latina. I was in a fight for my dignity.” The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Meg Medina grew up in Queens, New York, and now lives in Richmond, Virginia.
A nuanced, heart-wrenching and ultimately empowering story about bullying....Interweaving themes of identity, escapism and body image, Medina takes what could be a didactic morality tale and spins it into something beautiful: a story rich in depth and heart...Far more than just a problem novel, this book sheds light on a serious issue without ever losing sight of its craft. —Kirkus Reviews
A powerful read! As tough and honest as its title, this novel takes an unflinching look at the unjust and cruel consequences of bullying. The story of Piddy Sanchez’s transformation is full of the kind of truth teen readers will instantly recognize. I highly recommend it. —James Howe
I cried and cheered for Piddy in equal measure. Medina perfectly captures the devastating impact of bullying—and the powerful influence of kindness in recovery. I love this book and miss Piddy already! —Jo Knowles
Poignant, powerful, pull-your-heart-apart sad, snort-out-your-nose funny—a nuanced, honest telling of how courage and choice can triumph over the hell of being bullied. —Carrie Jones, Author of the Need series and co-editor of Dear Bully
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