The Tequila Worm

Canales, V. (2005). The tequila worm. NY: Wendy Lamb Books/Random House

Sophia lives in the barrio in McAllen, TX.  She gets teased at school and is encouraged by a teacher to get revenge by making better grades than those who tease her. She succeeds and soon earns a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school in Austin.  She is torn between her desire to see how the other half lives and staying with her close knit family.  Her father convinces her to take advantage of the opportunity, but reminds her that while the white people may have money, her family is full of love and traditions.  Sophia is homesick when at school and has to endure racial slurs at times, but soon it is Christmas break.  Her father's untimely death hits her hard and causes her to question returning to school. She ends up returning, knowing her father would want her to return and succeed.  I relate to the story very closely as I ge ew up in the barrio in a small town as well.  I dreamed of living in a large brick house.  Students 11 and up will enjoy this book. It is an easy read with no adult themes.
This book would be a good follow up or can be followed by The Absoulutely
True Story of a Part Time Indian.