Mexican Whiteboy

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Moving, violent book about teen looking for his identity.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a book about a teen who feels caught between two cultures. There is some gritty material, including swearing, marijuana smoking, sex talk, and most especially, violence: Amidst plenty of swearing and fistfights, there is one brutally graphic scene in which a man is beaten, probably to death, and then run over, snapping his bones. Also, Danny, unhappy with his life, cuts himself. But ultimately this is a moving and engrossing novel that will resonate with many teens. Readers who come from mixed racial or ethnic backgrounds will find it easy to relate to Danny and his feelings of not belonging in either world.

  • This gripping book could inspire some important discussions about what it's like to grow up as a mixed-raced teen in today's world. See our "Families Can Talk About" section for some ideas.
  • This is a coming-of-age story about a boy who feels caught between two cultures and must find his own identity and faith in himself.
  • Readers who come from mixed racial or ethnic backgrounds will find it easy to relate to Danny and his feelings of not belonging in either world.
  • Several fistfights: in one of them a man is brutally and graphically beaten, probably to death, though this is not clear, then run over with a car, snapping his bones. In another a boy requires stitches afterwards. A boy is hit in the face with a baseball bat, breaking his teeth and nose. A reference to spousal abuse. Also, Danny, unhappy with his life, cuts himself.
  • Some kissing, mentions of STDs, some mild sexual fantasies, references to prostitution and masturbation, getting "laid," a boy and girl go into a bedroom together and don't come out.
  • Plenty of swearing, including "s--t", "f--k,"" motherf--r," and more.
  • Lots of product brands mentioned, many approvingly, some repeatedly: clothes, shoes, fast food, soft drinks, sports equipment, alcohol, and cars.
  • Some smoking, teens and adults drink wine, beer, and hard liquor and get drunk, adults give sips of alcohol to small children, some smoking of marijuana.

What's the story?

Danny, son of a white mother and a Mexican father, hasn't seen his dad for a long time, and doesn't really know why he left. Danny has real talent for baseball, especially pitching, but he has been cut from his team because he chokes under pressure and his pitches go wild. With his darker skin, he doesn't fit in at the upscale private school he attends. Now he's spending the summer with his cousins and uncles in National City, hoping to figure out where he belongs, and why his father left. But he doesn't feel he fits in there either, and the truth about his father is more complicated than he imagines.


Is it any good?

 

Danny seems to have everything going for him: he's a smart, straight-A student and a gifted athlete, good-looking, with a loving, supportive family and a new rich about-to-be stepfather. And yet he's utterly miserable, so much so that he is virtually mute, and has taken to cutting himself. Author Matt de la Pena makes his protagonist real and heartbreakingly sympathetic: Inside Danny's head, his pain is very understandable, and his flailing efforts to do something about it are all-too typically adolescent. He is an unusually fully-realized character, and the author weaves his character and feelings with a level of subtle understanding rare in teen novels. One incident of violence, though integral to the plot, may seem excessively described, and readers will find it hard to put out of their heads. But de la Pena delivers exciting sports action and some terrific supporting players, especially Danny's enemy turned friend Uno, and Uno's pontificating father. This is a moving and engrossing novel that will resonate with many teens.

 


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about being multiracial or multiethnic. What other books and movies can you think of that tackle teen with multiple identities? What are some of the common themes in these stories?

  • Do you think it is easier for multiracial kids today than it was a generation ago? Why or why not?

  • Discuss the violence in this book: Is it necessary to convey Danny's story? Is reading about violence different than seeing in a movie or experiencing it in a video game? How so?


This review was written by Matt Berman
Teen, 17 years old
October 10, 2009
 
Perfect for a teenager
This book is very good and teens can easily read this. It has some violence but come on, a teenage life is like that. Everyday in school this happens. It's an excellent book and all teenagers should read it. It helps someone understand better the life of a teen.

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Teen, 14 years old
August 8, 2011
 
Real Life
It has everything a book could need to intrigue you. It helps teach how other people suffer or enjoy life. It may be a bit innaproptiate at times but it teaches the truth and will probably create many questions you should answer. Also this book has many spanish words that are "bad words" so if you are not familar with the language it may be difficult for some readers.

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Teen, 16 years old
December 14, 2010
 
good for teens
i think this book is great i hate reading i read a couple pages of this book then got cought in and read it all its very interesting

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Adult
February 25, 2009
 
Flight of the Navigator

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Adult
October 24, 2011
 
Good multicultural title for high school boys
This book is the story of a boy who is struggling with his ethnic identity. He has a white mother and a Mexican father. Through his love of baseball, he makes friends and enemies and discovers a lot about himself and both of his families. I would recommend this book for a high school reader, it is important to know what all children are going through in their lives, not just the life they know. The author based this book on his real life experiences.

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This review was written by Matt Berman
Topics:sports and martial arts
Author:Matt de la Pena
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Family Life
Publisher:Delacorte Press
Publication date:August 1, 2008
Number of pages:249
Hardcover price:$15.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):14 - 17
Read aloud:14
Read alone:14

This review was written by Matt Berman
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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