Mexican Whiteboy

Matt De La Peña Book

De La Peña, M. (2008). Mexican Whiteboy. New York, NY: Delacorte Press.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL2Gzjxr334  

Danny is a 16-year-old boy who is half Mexican and half white. He lives with his sister and mother and hasn’t seen his father in three years. At his private school, no one pays any attention to him because all they see is a Mexican. He feels like an outsider who doesn’t belong anywhere.  But Danny has a talent for baseball. He is a really fast pitcher. When his mother and sister decide to go live with the mother’s boyfriend in San Francisco that summer, Danny decides to stay behind with his father’s family hoping to connect with his father. During the time he spends there he tries to fix his pitch and finds where he truly belongs. He finds himself filling that absence of his father through a friendship with Uno, whose father is also out of the picture, and the love of a girl who only speaks Spanish.

This is a story about a boy of mixed race who struggles to find his place. Young adults can relate to the main character.  This is a book with short chapters and great read for reluctant or less experienced readers. This book is recommended for grades 9 and up. Other books written by this author include, We Were Here, Ball Don’t Lie, and the Living.