"Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass" by Meg Medina

This year's Pura Belpre winner is a strong but disturbing tale of school bullying.  Piedad Sanchez, aka "Piddy," has problems.  Her best friend has moved out to the suburbs and she finds herself in a brand new school in Brooklyn at the beginning of her tenth grade year.  Without warning, she is told that "Yaqui Delgado," another student she doesn't even know, is out to get her.  Things go from bad to worse as Piddy tries to navigate this violent, inner-city school and accept the changes happening in her life as she grows up.  It's a dark tale, but not a hopeless one.  Piddy has a good group of people around her, people who help her to find herself ... but not until she has sunk very low.  Ms. Medina gets a thumbs up here for making all of the characters rich and complex.  Piddy is a fifteen year-old who is very real ... moody, mercurial, longing and lost.  It was a book I plowed through, because I simply had to see if things turn out okay.  Not surprisingly, the author's end notes indicate that this is based on her own experiences with a high school bully.  A powerful story, well-told, which is infused with the Latin culture of NYC, it makes for a great book which will capture readers after they pick it up for the provocative title (yes, this book has been "picked up" more than any display book I've ever put out ...). Worthy without being preachy, it is definitely deserving of the Award.  Brava, Meg Medina.