Book Review: The Tequila Worm

- Pura Belpre Award Winner

Canales, Viola. The Tequila Worm. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2005.

Viola Canales is a Chicana woman who grew up in Texas and seemed to have many similar experiences as the main character in her novel, Sofia.
Sofia is a 14-year-old Chicano girl who lives at home with her parents and her younger sister. They are surrounded by her extended family and are all very close. Her best friend Berta is also her cousin and one of the people that she shares life experiences with while growing up in a Catholic and Chicano community. This novel seems to be a fairly representative coming of age novel as it takes the reader through the various difficulties and hardships that Sofia faces as a young adult.
What sets this book apart from other coming of age novels is that Sofia is a unique individual and part of a minority group. As a Chicana, she has to deal with some racism at school and in her community. She also has some special traditions with her family that other Chicano families may or may not have. Preparing beans to be refried for her lunches everyday is something that becomes a tradition for Sofia and her father. They like to eat the beans after the first cooking, without waiting for them to be refried, which is something special and unique for just them. Providing the character with something as small as this is part of what makes this book stand out as an individual.
A form of affirmative action helps Sofia to be able to attend a private school. Her success in life is an inspiration to young women everywhere that hard work can pay off. Sofia does face some discrimination for being a Mexican American, but her ability to overcome the racism is encouragement for other people to stand up for themselves and realize that being different is not a terrible thing.
The tequila worm becomes a symbol not only of her heritage, but also of her ability to overcome difficult situations and persevere in life. In Mexican tradition, the tequila worm is found in the bottom of a bottle of mescal. Eating the tequila worm is something that can help to bond people because it is gross, but also because it is something special for them. Traditionally, the tequila worm represents something that can help someone to combat homesickness if they eat it.