Matt de la Pena's Mexican White Boy

This one was a rather interesting text. Basically, it's about a mixed-race boy who grapes who in a culturally 'white' area and is thrusted into a world one summer much different from his: an ubran, Mexican-American community. He goes from posh bay-area California to southern California, and to Danny (the him I referred to) these are two different planets. That's the plot. But the book is about much more than that. It is about the struggle a young boy has with his own identity and how he is treated in a community where he is largely different than those around him. He doesn't speak Spanish, doesn't have dark brown skin, and doesn't have an accent. He dresses preppy and the kids around him, as kids often do, chastise him because he's different.

I think this last angle is the most important to focus on. As a future educator, I find deep issue with this. All too often I hear stories of children who are ostracized and made fun of because of some difference they have with the mainstream of whatever culture they are currently surrounded by. Some examples: physical disabilities, skin color, religion, and the way one dresses. All of these things, from what I have experienced or seen anecdotally, and from what I've read in books, textbooks, and seen in film, are all common experiences for the child that is different. The reason I think this angle is so important, then, is because I think we need a cultural shift. We need to start educating our youth to embrace diversity and to recognize that being different isn't so bad after all. In fact, being different and unique is what makes US, as individuals, who we are. It's good and fun to be a part of the common culture, but we must also embrace our own individuality. And I think this text does a good job, especially in a subtle manner, at educating young adolescent readers that being different isn't bad at all and that making fun of someone just because they are different is not the right thing to do.

Another theme the book focuses on is 'judging a book by its cover'. Danny is initially judged not only because of his difference in appearance but because he is shy and quiet. He rarely speaks, even though the kids around him speak English primarily. He is shy because he's the new person. Not everyone is reluctant to embrace him immediately, however, and this shows that you don't have to be strong to be the one to stand out and embrace someone because of their difference or their inability to speak. I think I've seen this a lot in YA lit thus far, the inability to speak up for whatever reason. This text reinforces that. I think another issue that is addressed that is important to youth is cutting (one's wrist, not class). This is a difficult issue to cover and discuss with young readers. It is important, however, because it is a fairly common occurrence, relatively speaking, and these young readers must understand the harm cutting can cause, not just to one's self, but to others as well. This would be a great text to cover in a multi-cultural literature unit, or with sections taken out to discuss themes of identity and culture.