  | First rule of punk Author: Perez, Celia C. | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Maria Luisa moves from Florida to Chicago with her mom and assembles a group of misfits at school into a band.
Download a Teacher's Guide
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.50 Points: 7.0 Quiz: 190322 | Reading Counts Information: Interest Level: 3-5 Reading Level: 4.20 Points: 12.0 Quiz: 71555 | |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (06/15/17)
School Library Journal (+) (06/01/17)
Booklist (09/15/17)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/17)
The Hornbook (00/07/17)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 3–6—A fun romp through the awkward years of middle school that examines themes of identity and culture. When Malu has to move away from her dad and everything she knows, she takes her love of punk music with her. Following the rules of punk, she embarks on a new school journey, full of misadventures and hilarious life lessons. Malu is happy not to fit in with the crowd yet cannot bring herself to tell her mom that her passion for punk is not a rebellious phase—it's who she is. When classmates label Malu a coconut (brown on the outside and white on the inside), she is determined to prove to her school and herself that she is proud of her Mexican roots. With tenderness and humor, Pérez explores the joys and challenges of being biracial. Readers will connect with Malu, a strong protagonist who leaps off the page and whose zine-inspired artistry boldly illustrates how she deals with life. VERDICT Those who enjoy vivacious, plucky heroines, such as the protagonists of Brenda Woods's The Blossoming Universe of Violet Diamond, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and Audrey Vernick's Two Naomis, and Rebecca Stead's Goodbye Stranger, will eagerly embrace Malu.—Jessica Bratt, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 09/15/2017 In her story of seventh-grader Malú, debut author Pérez harnesses the spirit of School of Rock and gives it a punk rock spin. Malú isn’t happy about her recent move to Chicago, because it meant leaving her dad (her parents are amicably divorced) and his record store behind. She tries to assume a brave punk attitude, but she can’t help being anxious on her first day of school, especially when she gets on the wrong side of the class mean girl. When Malú learns about the upcoming Fall Fiesta talent show, she decides to form a band, with the hopes of finding “her people” in the process. While this plan hits a few snags, it results in friendships and a Mexican punk mentor. Like any good riot grrrl, Malú finds a creative outlet in making zines, several of which appear in the novel and call attention to Malú’s passions, heritage (she is half Mexican), and private concerns. Pérez delivers an upbeat story of being true to yourself and your beliefs, that tweens will rally behind. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.
