Summary – The Tequila Worm is a compilation of stories told from the perspective of a young Mexican-American girl named Sofía. Sofía lives in the barrio with family and friends who value their Mexican traditions and try to instill that same love to their kids.

Sofía must learn to find her own voice and her own path, while at the same time, holding on to the traditions that have shaped who she is. She finds merging these two worlds especially difficult when she receives a scholarship to a prestigious high school located about 350 miles away from home.

Not only does she have to convince her family and friends that she is making the right decision by going, but she must also convince herself. While at school she finds herself far from the traditions that have molded her, but her family and friends manage to stay in touch so that she never feels too far from home.

The story is incredibly heartwarming and a great insight into the traditions that many Mexican-Americans grow up with. It is also beautiful to see the dynamics between Sofía and her eccentric family and friends.

1. Bestseller’s Lists or Awards –
   2006 Pura Belpré Award
2. Publisher – Ember, an imprint of Random House
3. Year Published – 2005
4. Number of Pages – 199
5. What Makes it Special? It is wonderful to hear about all the Mexican-American traditions and the meanings behind them. The Mexican culture is a very rich one with many traditions that are rooted in magic and a deep connection with our ancestors. The stories told felt genuine and true to the characters.
6. What I like about this book? I loved being able to see myself in the main character and identifying family members that are similar to the ones from the book. The characters were not one-dimensional characters, they were represented with quirks, flaws, and strengths, just as we all are. I particularly loved the relationship between Sofía and her father. Overall, it was a beautiful collection of memories woven together to tell a lovely story.
   

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Thank you for reading my book of the month. The purpose of these reviews is to break down and analyze bestselling and award winning books. It is crucial for writers and illustrators, that wish to be published, to do homework on what books are currently being sold and garnering awards. I hope to figure out what makes these books special and what attributes they share. I hope you will find this review helpful.

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