With the 20th (whoa) anniversary for the Pura Belpré Award celebrating Latino writers and illustrators on the horizon, I decided to take a look at the past winners. Of course, right away, I found quite a few of my favorite books! Here are my top three among the winners of the Pura Belpré Award:
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina
One morning before school, some girl tells Piddy Sanchez 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. Word is that Yaqui thinks Piddy is stuck-up, shakes her stuff when she walks, and isn’t Latin enough with her white skin, good grades, and no accent. Is there any way for Piddy to survive without closing herself off or running away?
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
When Lupita discovers Mami has been diagnosed with cancer, she is terrified by the possibility of losing her mother, the anchor of their close-knit Mexican American family.
In the midst of juggling high school classes, finding her voice as an actress, and dealing with friends who don’t always understand, Lupita desperately wants to support her mother by doing anything she can to help. While Papi is preoccupied with caring for Mami, Lupita takes charge of her seven younger siblings. Struggling in her new roles and overwhelmed by change, Lupita escapes the chaos of home by writing in the shade of a mesquite tree, seeking refuge in the healing power of words.
What are your favorite Pura Belpré Award books?
“under The Mesquite Tree” by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is on my “to borrow” list at library. But there a few ppl ahead of me. i am either 5 or 6 in line.
maybe b/c it got the pura belpre award they got a lot of requests for it/
it’s new release at our library so the loan time is less than most books.
I hope it is not too sad a read. not every woman lives thru cancer and i don’t know how sick her mami is.
lupita sounds like a kind girl to worrry, care for her siblings. good that she wants to help but what if she takes on too much work?
can her freinds at school help? will the teacher/s understand if she falls behind in class? or has too much greif (or family duty) to go school every day?
i guess i will find out when i get my turn to read!
~Elizabeth
I loved all three of the above books, great pics for your favorites & The Pura Belpre Awards!!!