Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass: The Graphic Novel
Newbery Medalist Meg Medina returns to her powerful YA novel about school bullying with a dynamic graphic-novel edition adapted and illustrated by Mel Valentine Vargas.
It’s the beginning of sophomore year, and Piedad “Piddy” Sanchez is having a hard time adjusting to her new high school. Things don’t get any easier when Piddy learns that Yaqui Delgado hates her and wants to kick her ass. Piddy doesn’t even know who Yaqui is, never mind what she’s done to piss her off. Rumor has it that Yaqui thinks Piddy is stuck-up, shakes her stuff when she walks, and isn’t Latina enough with her white skin, good grades, and no accent. And Yaqui isn’t kidding around, so Piddy better watch her back. At first, Piddy is more concerned with learning about the father she’s never met, navigating her rocky relationship with her mom, and staying in touch with her best friend, Mitzi. But when the harassment escalates, avoiding Yaqui and her gang takes over Piddy’s life. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off from those who care about her—or running away? More relevant than ever a decade after its initial publication, Mel Valentine Vargas’s graphic novel adaptation of Meg Medina’s ultimately empowering story is poised to be discovered by a new generation of readers.
# of Pages: 288
Book Binding: Paperback
Year of Publication: 2023
Publisher: Candlewick
Language: en
ISBN: 9781536234732
Meg Medina is an award-winning Cuban American author who has written several young adult novels, including Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass: The Graphic Novel. Born in Havana, Cuba, Medina immigrated to the United States as a child and grew up in Queens, New York. She draws from her personal experiences as a Latina woman to write powerful and relatable stories that explore themes of identity, family, and cultural expectations. In addition to being an author, Medina is also a public speaker and advocate for diversity in literature. She currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two children. Collaborating with Medina on the graphic novel adaptation of her novel is artist Mel Valentine Vargas, who is known for her dynamic and expressive illustrations. Together, they bring to life the story of Yaqui Delgado, a powerful and important tale of bullying, resilience, and self-discovery.