the tequila worm

Reader Response to The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales

The front cover reads: "Sofia comes form a family of storytellers. Here are her tales of growing up in the barrio, full of the magic and mystery of family traditions: making Easter cascarones, celebrating el Dia de los Muertos, preparing for a quinceanera, rejoicing in the Christmas nacimiento, and curing homesickness by eating the tequila worm. When Sofia is singled out to receive a scholarship to an elite boarding school, she longs to explore life beyond the barrio, even though it means leaving her family to navigate a strange world of rich, privileged kids. It's a different mundo, but one where Sofia's traditions take on a new meaning and illuminate her path."

My Response:
A nice little bildungsroman story. It does reek of House on Mango Street, but delves much deeper into the customs and rituals of Mexican American Catholics. When compared to Mango St., the book is easier to read because it is linear, and the chapters blend together nicely. They don't read like seperate vignettes. It's nothing to get too excited about, just a cute story about a girl who leaves the barrio to pursue her dreams. If I were doing a unit plan about Latino authors, I might use this. It's a really fast read (199 pages). It doesn't drag in places, but it does lack that certain *witty spark* that I enjoy reading.