The Tequila Worm

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales is a Pura Belpre Medal Book Narrative Award in 2006.

Exposition:  Sofia is fourteen years old.  She lives with her family in the barrio which is a tight knit community in McAllen, Texas.  Her best friend and cousin is Berta and she has a little sister called Lucy.  Sofia is more like her papa, quiet and thoughtful, and Lucy is more like her mom, everything she does requires the use of her senses.

Conflict:  Sofia feels isolated and ashamed that she is Mexican American.  Another girl picks on her at school and makes fun of her.  

Rising Action:  Sofia decides that the best way to get back at the girl is to be better at everything and that includes grades and soccer.  She works very hard and at both of these activities, as a result she is offered a scholarship to attend a private school in Austin called Saint Lukes.  She must not only convince her family to allow her to leave, but also figure out how to get five nice dresses and $400.  Sofia manages to accomplish all of this.  She only is allowed to go home for summers and holidays.  The summer between Sofia’s junior and senior year, she discovers that her father is not doing well.

Climax:  Sophia’s father dies during her senior year. 

Falling Action:  As a result of his death she gains a clearer understanding of the importance of family, friends and community.  They all support her and assist her in completing her senior year and getting into college.

Resolution:  Sophia goes to Harvard and becomes a writer.  She purchases a new home for her mother and helps the barrio, once again become a community.  This is accomplished by taking the lot that her childhood home once stood on and turning it into a small community park.

One strong literary quality displayed in this story is the narrative.  The narrative makes the story come alive, and allows the reader to feel the joys, pain and struggles of Sophia. 

The secondary literary quality is language.  The author’s words paint a vivid picture of Sophia’s life, her surroundings, and the people that fill her life and make her world whole.

Canales, V. (2005). The Tequila Worm. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.