Posted by Danny is a crayon in a pencil box. Everywhere he goes, he never seems to fit in.
In San Diego, he feels like everyone assumes they know who he is because Danny is half-Mexican, and most kids at his private school are white. Where his dad’s family lives in National City (also in California), Danny’s the one who looks white. He’s at least a shade lighter than his cousin Sofia and other relatives.
Skin color aside, Danny doesn’t seem to fit in inside his own home, either. He’s the only one who seems to care that his dad is no longer around. His mom, who is white, told him his father moved back to Mexico. Danny misses him desperately. Only soon, he will find out the truth.
That’s the rundown in Mexican WhiteBoy by Matt de la Peña, a book that explores a biracial teen trying to find himself and his voice – through baseball, friendships, and everything in between.
What I liked about this book was that it was formatted in an interesting way. Scenes were broken up into sections that had chapters inside of them. I also enjoyed the way Matt de la Peña brought me into Danny and his friend Uno’s world.
I’m 12, and although the book was pretty easy for me to comprehend, some of the content (swearing, drinking, etc…) is geared to more mature readers. Mexican WhiteBoy is probably best enjoyed by readers 13+. If you like I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez, you would love this compelling novel.
I rate this book four out of four roses! I thought it was a little slow-moving, but loved the strong descriptions of everything!
Elena Reads and Reviews 