12/21/2017

Pérez, Celia C. The First Rule of Punk. Viking Books for Young Readers, August 2017.  336 pages.  Tr. $16.99, ISBN 0425290409.

Billie Jean Armstrong once said, “punk is about doing things your own way.”  For 12-year-old María Luisa “Malú” O’Neill-Morales, trying to find her own way can be difficult.  Is she Punk enough?  Is she Mexican enough?  Is she señorita enough?

Malú loves her home in Florida, punk music, hanging out with her dad, and making collage artwork called Zines.  Her life is suddenly turned upside-down when her mother accepts a teaching position at a university in Chicago.  As she wades through the challenges of being the new girl at Posada Middle School, Malú finds her voice and learns to thrive in an unfamiliar environment.

This realistic fiction novel would be perfect for 4th through 6th Grade readers.  Malú grapples with the strained relationship she shares with her mother and must dance through the daily drama of making friends in middle school.  Mexican American readers will see themselves reflected in Malú while aspiring punk rock musicians will love learning about new artists to add to their repertoire.  Readers who enjoy Dork Diaries or Roller Girl will lose themselves in First Rule of Punk.  The storyline is real, funny, and engaging, the adult and child relationships are thoughtful and realistic, and the author cleverly weaves Malú ’s struggles to tie her Punk and Mexican sides together throughout the book.  Readers will also enjoy poring over Malú’s fun, inspiring, and unique artwork.

My verdict: If this book came out in 1998, I would have read it until the spine fell apart.  I can only imagine what it would have been like to finally find a book character that understood exactly what I was going through.  I know that First Rule of Punk would have had a profound impact on me.  I am beyond thrilled that this book exists in the world.