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The First Rule of Punk
From debut author and longtime zine-maker Celia C. Perez, The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one's watching.
There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school--you can't fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (Maria Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School's queen bee, violates the school's dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself.
The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!
Black and white illustrations and collage art throughout make The First Rule of Punk a perfect pick for fans of books like Roller Girl and online magazines like Rookie.
There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school--you can't fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (Maria Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School's queen bee, violates the school's dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself.
The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!
Black and white illustrations and collage art throughout make The First Rule of Punk a perfect pick for fans of books like Roller Girl and online magazines like Rookie.
328 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2017
511 people are currently reading
6610 people want to read
About the author
Celia C. Pérez
4 books161 followersCelia C. Pérez is the author of The First Rule of Punk, a 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book. Celia is a longtime maker of zines inspired by her love of punk music and writing. Originally from Miami, Florida, Celia lives in Chicago with her family where she works as a community college librarian.
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September 14, 2017
They don’t warn you in library school. They’ll tell you about all the cool children’s books you’ll get to read. They’ll stress how you’ll be able to make a difference in the lives of kids by introducing them to books they might never find on their own. They’ll talk about the glory of the profession, and rightly so. But they won’t tell you about Middle Grade Novel Burnout. It’s a killer, that one. You see, if you read too many middle grade novels in a given year, you begin to sense patterns that no one else can see. In 2017 I’ve started down that path. I’ll give you an example of a particular pattern: The new kid in school. It’s not a new idea for a book (Joseph Campbell would probably tell you that it’s just a variation on the old “A Stranger Comes to Town” storytelling motif) but this year it's gotten extreme. In book after book authors have hit the same notes. Kid is new. Kid is awkward in the lunchroom (seriously – if I never read another lunch room scene again it’ll be too soon). Kid makes friends with outcasts. Kid triumphs by being true to his or her own self. Simple, right? They blend together after a while, but it’s not the fault of the format. A good book, a really good book, transcends its format. Much of what I’ve read this year has already faded into a fuzzy haze in my brain. You know what hasn’t faded? The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez. A riotous, raucous conglomeration of Zine art, Mexican-American punk rock, and a nicely flawed protagonist with enough verve and oomph to keep those pages turning, I’m happy to say this book distinguishes itself from the pack. Even if there is the occasional lunchroom scene or two.
When your mom is SuperMexican life is tough. And when SuperMexican announces that you are moving with her for two years from Gainesville, Florida to Chicago, Illinois, away from your beloved father and friends, you’re allowed to get peeved. The trouble is that Malu doesn’t think she has ANYTHING in common with her mom. Malu doesn’t like cilantro, loves punk music, makes Zines, and has absolutely no interest in connecting with her Mexican roots, so to speak. Still, Chicago isn’t quite what she expected. And when the chance comes up to put together her own ragtag punk band, she finds that sometimes you follow the rules, sometimes you break the rules, and sometimes it’s a lot more fun to just go on out and make your own rules.
First and foremost, Ms. Perez makes sure right from the start that kids reading this book will find it fun. That's why right after the very first chapter we get our first glimpse at Malu's Zines. Now I've seen novels like this work in doodles and line art all the time. But wrack my brain though I might, I cannot remember a single time that I've ever seen Zines as a way of breaking up the text. It's seems so obvious, but it would only really work if it was consistent with the main character's personality. Check and check on that front. Ms. Perez isn't interested in weighing you down with some almighty tome. There's fun to be had in them thar pages, and she's going to show you that right from the get-go.
Adults reading this book definitely will have a different take on a lot of the scenes, character, and elements than a kid would. Perfect Example A: Malu’s dad. One of Malu’s more prominent flaws is her complete and utter blind adoration of her father. To her, the guy could do no wrong. He’s cool (owns a record store, introduces his daughter to punk rock, plays music, etc.) so therefore he’s the perfect parent, right? Kids will undoubtedly be inclined to agree with Malu on this point. Wouldn’t you rather stay with: your rocker dad or your uptight uncool mom? But to any adult reading this book Malu’s dad has warning signs written all over him. Put another way, the dude’s a loser. Not a total loser. He’s a good dad, insofar as it goes. But when it comes to being a practical parent who could support his kid solo for months at a time, don’t rely on him. Malu’s mom (who, from the way she puts up with the kid’s attitude, verges on having the patience of a saint) knows this full well. So does he, for that matter. It’s just Malu and the kids reading this book who may be unaware of the situation in full.
One thing that kids won’t remain ignorant of are the moments when Ms. Perez slips in some old-fashioned learning. Now she has an Ace up her sleeve in at least one respect. The Zine format allows her to work in pretty much anything she wants, just so long as it has art and good design. Hence we’re able to hear about “Punk Senorita” Marianne Elliott-Said and not feel like we’ve been handed a history lesson. This could all have backfired, however, if the story itself had had an abundance of history cluttering up the pages. Instead, it's woven in subtly. As an example, one of the highlights of the book for me is when Malu discovers that in Chicago there has been a strong punk Mexican American scene. Actual bands are name dropped like The Zeroes, Alice Bag, the Plugz, and the Brat. One does wonder why Malu’s dad didn’t bother to seek out any of this information for his daughter himself, but that’s neither here nor there.
I was discussing this book with another reader the other day when they mentioned that they found Malu’s attitude towards her change in life, venue, and situation “too young” for her age. At the time I had to process that comment for myself. Malu is a middle school kid, just hovering at the cusp of adolescence. Honestly, when I sat down and thought about it, I actually found her attitude to be a bit mature for her age. She’s doing full on teenage tantrums much younger than you’d usually expect. Is she immature? Completely! But she’s immature in a self-absorbed, narcissistic way. You know. Teen-age stuff! Malu is so complete wrapped up in her own head that she does come close to distancing the reader emotionally several times. You want your heroine to be headstrong but not stupid. To speak her mind but not be too much of a jerk. Kids will give their protagonist a lot of leeway when it comes to parental units, but you can only lead them in that direction so far, so it’s up to the author to know exactly where to draw the line. Ms. Perez does a pretty good job in that department. You sympathize with Malu, but you’re also allowed to disagree with some of her choices. Trust me when I say that a protagonist that’s always right is a pretty dull person to read about. Other middle grade novels will prove that much to you.
I wouldn’t call it a perfect novel. The propensity of grown-ups to break rules for Malu happens repeatedly and is most unbelievable when a fellow parent is in on the conspiracy. The principal that promises fire and destruction in the event of an alternative Fiesta doesn’t seem too miffed later. And a mom apologizing for freaking out when her daughter dyed her hair green? That’s where it totally lost me. Sorry, kids. Moms will be freaking out moms. But at its best The First Rule of Punk is like a Mexican-American High Fidelity meets School of Rock for kids. A game plan for taking expectations and giving them a personal twist. And hey, any book that inspires kids to make their own Zines is a-okay with me.
For ages 10 and up.
When your mom is SuperMexican life is tough. And when SuperMexican announces that you are moving with her for two years from Gainesville, Florida to Chicago, Illinois, away from your beloved father and friends, you’re allowed to get peeved. The trouble is that Malu doesn’t think she has ANYTHING in common with her mom. Malu doesn’t like cilantro, loves punk music, makes Zines, and has absolutely no interest in connecting with her Mexican roots, so to speak. Still, Chicago isn’t quite what she expected. And when the chance comes up to put together her own ragtag punk band, she finds that sometimes you follow the rules, sometimes you break the rules, and sometimes it’s a lot more fun to just go on out and make your own rules.
First and foremost, Ms. Perez makes sure right from the start that kids reading this book will find it fun. That's why right after the very first chapter we get our first glimpse at Malu's Zines. Now I've seen novels like this work in doodles and line art all the time. But wrack my brain though I might, I cannot remember a single time that I've ever seen Zines as a way of breaking up the text. It's seems so obvious, but it would only really work if it was consistent with the main character's personality. Check and check on that front. Ms. Perez isn't interested in weighing you down with some almighty tome. There's fun to be had in them thar pages, and she's going to show you that right from the get-go.
Adults reading this book definitely will have a different take on a lot of the scenes, character, and elements than a kid would. Perfect Example A: Malu’s dad. One of Malu’s more prominent flaws is her complete and utter blind adoration of her father. To her, the guy could do no wrong. He’s cool (owns a record store, introduces his daughter to punk rock, plays music, etc.) so therefore he’s the perfect parent, right? Kids will undoubtedly be inclined to agree with Malu on this point. Wouldn’t you rather stay with: your rocker dad or your uptight uncool mom? But to any adult reading this book Malu’s dad has warning signs written all over him. Put another way, the dude’s a loser. Not a total loser. He’s a good dad, insofar as it goes. But when it comes to being a practical parent who could support his kid solo for months at a time, don’t rely on him. Malu’s mom (who, from the way she puts up with the kid’s attitude, verges on having the patience of a saint) knows this full well. So does he, for that matter. It’s just Malu and the kids reading this book who may be unaware of the situation in full.
One thing that kids won’t remain ignorant of are the moments when Ms. Perez slips in some old-fashioned learning. Now she has an Ace up her sleeve in at least one respect. The Zine format allows her to work in pretty much anything she wants, just so long as it has art and good design. Hence we’re able to hear about “Punk Senorita” Marianne Elliott-Said and not feel like we’ve been handed a history lesson. This could all have backfired, however, if the story itself had had an abundance of history cluttering up the pages. Instead, it's woven in subtly. As an example, one of the highlights of the book for me is when Malu discovers that in Chicago there has been a strong punk Mexican American scene. Actual bands are name dropped like The Zeroes, Alice Bag, the Plugz, and the Brat. One does wonder why Malu’s dad didn’t bother to seek out any of this information for his daughter himself, but that’s neither here nor there.
I was discussing this book with another reader the other day when they mentioned that they found Malu’s attitude towards her change in life, venue, and situation “too young” for her age. At the time I had to process that comment for myself. Malu is a middle school kid, just hovering at the cusp of adolescence. Honestly, when I sat down and thought about it, I actually found her attitude to be a bit mature for her age. She’s doing full on teenage tantrums much younger than you’d usually expect. Is she immature? Completely! But she’s immature in a self-absorbed, narcissistic way. You know. Teen-age stuff! Malu is so complete wrapped up in her own head that she does come close to distancing the reader emotionally several times. You want your heroine to be headstrong but not stupid. To speak her mind but not be too much of a jerk. Kids will give their protagonist a lot of leeway when it comes to parental units, but you can only lead them in that direction so far, so it’s up to the author to know exactly where to draw the line. Ms. Perez does a pretty good job in that department. You sympathize with Malu, but you’re also allowed to disagree with some of her choices. Trust me when I say that a protagonist that’s always right is a pretty dull person to read about. Other middle grade novels will prove that much to you.
I wouldn’t call it a perfect novel. The propensity of grown-ups to break rules for Malu happens repeatedly and is most unbelievable when a fellow parent is in on the conspiracy. The principal that promises fire and destruction in the event of an alternative Fiesta doesn’t seem too miffed later. And a mom apologizing for freaking out when her daughter dyed her hair green? That’s where it totally lost me. Sorry, kids. Moms will be freaking out moms. But at its best The First Rule of Punk is like a Mexican-American High Fidelity meets School of Rock for kids. A game plan for taking expectations and giving them a personal twist. And hey, any book that inspires kids to make their own Zines is a-okay with me.
For ages 10 and up.
July 14, 2017
A realistic and captivating middle grade voice and a plot that moves along at a perfect pace. This story of identity explores being Mexican American, being punk, being torn between cultures and parents, transition, and discovering your "own patchwork quilt" you. Plus, Malú's zines woven in are awesome!
Read
October 31, 2017This debut middle grade novel by longtime zine-maker Celia C. Pérez is a touching story about punk loving Maria Luisa, who likes to be referred to as Malu. When she and her mother move to a new town and Malu starts a new middle school, she keeps reminding herself of the first rule of punk: be yourself. Unfortunately, Posada Middle School makes that hard to do with rules about dress code and an anti-punk principal. Readers will enjoy Malu’s wry sense of humor and relate to themes like fitting in and being new. The book has black and white illustrations and collages throughout, which add to the charm. An entertaining, fun read that I would recommend for middle schoolers and beyond.
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In June 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/07/03/riot-...
— Karina Glaser
from The Best Books We Read In June 2017: https://bookriot.com/2017/07/03/riot-...
October 6, 2022
My daughter just turned nine and it’s an exciting time as her personality really starts to shine and I learn her interests and opinions (there are a lot of those!)
So I’ve started reading middle grade novels with her and I’ve found that I absolutely love them too!
The First Rule of Punk is the story of Malú, far from home, discovering who she is … which requires accidentally violating the school dress code with a punk rock look, going up against the middle school queen bee, and learning to embrace her Mexican-American heritage.
Through her love of punk music, skateboarding, and zines, Malú learns the first rule of punk is to be yourself.
I adored this story of finding your people, your style, your own sense of acceptance. The zine pages were a perfect eye-catching addition that added to the authenticity of this story!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
So I’ve started reading middle grade novels with her and I’ve found that I absolutely love them too!
The First Rule of Punk is the story of Malú, far from home, discovering who she is … which requires accidentally violating the school dress code with a punk rock look, going up against the middle school queen bee, and learning to embrace her Mexican-American heritage.
Through her love of punk music, skateboarding, and zines, Malú learns the first rule of punk is to be yourself.
I adored this story of finding your people, your style, your own sense of acceptance. The zine pages were a perfect eye-catching addition that added to the authenticity of this story!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
December 31, 2020
My heart grew three sizes while reading this book. It’s such a fun and heartfelt middle grade story featuring punk rock music. I really loved Malú as a character. It was rewarding to watch her journey of learning to stick up for what she likes and what she believes in. She has to deal with people thinking she’s not Mexican enough because she’s half white, doesn’t have the best Spanish skills, loves punk, and making zines. It was great to see how she ends ups blending traditional Mexican culture and history with punk rock. I also really enjoyed the mother daughter relationship in the book. It was frustrating at times, but that made it feel so real. Definitely check this out if you’re a fan of middle grade.
January 14, 2020
Updating this to 5 stars because I love it so much.
-----
Being punk meant a lot of different things, just like being Mexican meant many things. Sometimes those things didn't seem to match. And that was okay because I'd discovered that maybe the first rule of punk was to make your own rules.
The First Rule of Punk is such wonderful middle grade book about belonging and being yourself. This book is a debut from a badass librarian and is own voices for the Mexican-American representation. Malú is biracial and there's lots of Mexican culture and history that is weaved throughout the story.
We follow the spunky and passionate Maria Luisa, aka Malú, who loves expressing herself with her punk style and zine making materials. What she doesn't love is her mom's insistence on being a perfect señorita or her mother's embracing of Mexican culture. Malú doesn't think she has anything in common with her "Super Mexican" mom and certainly doesn't expect to find her voice when they move from Gainesville to Chicago. However, Malú is inspired to start her own punk band, discovers punk music by chicano artists, and everything changes.
This book was a whole lot of fun! Within the text are several of Malú's black and white zines about topics such as the story behind her name, Mexican history like the Bracero program, discovery of Mexican punk artists, and of course what it means to be punk. I love when middle grade includes bits of history for readers to explore. I was completely captivated by Malú's growth to full confidence in her full identity. Malú's experiences and voice will resonate with many children because she doesn't speak Spanish well, is called a "coco", is teased and she doesn't ever give up. Her parents, community, and new friends are endearing. I loved everything about this story so much!
I highly recommend this book. Also can someone create the punk cover of Cielito Lindo because I was in a puddle of emotions when Malú performed it!
-----
Being punk meant a lot of different things, just like being Mexican meant many things. Sometimes those things didn't seem to match. And that was okay because I'd discovered that maybe the first rule of punk was to make your own rules.
The First Rule of Punk is such wonderful middle grade book about belonging and being yourself. This book is a debut from a badass librarian and is own voices for the Mexican-American representation. Malú is biracial and there's lots of Mexican culture and history that is weaved throughout the story.
We follow the spunky and passionate Maria Luisa, aka Malú, who loves expressing herself with her punk style and zine making materials. What she doesn't love is her mom's insistence on being a perfect señorita or her mother's embracing of Mexican culture. Malú doesn't think she has anything in common with her "Super Mexican" mom and certainly doesn't expect to find her voice when they move from Gainesville to Chicago. However, Malú is inspired to start her own punk band, discovers punk music by chicano artists, and everything changes.
This book was a whole lot of fun! Within the text are several of Malú's black and white zines about topics such as the story behind her name, Mexican history like the Bracero program, discovery of Mexican punk artists, and of course what it means to be punk. I love when middle grade includes bits of history for readers to explore. I was completely captivated by Malú's growth to full confidence in her full identity. Malú's experiences and voice will resonate with many children because she doesn't speak Spanish well, is called a "coco", is teased and she doesn't ever give up. Her parents, community, and new friends are endearing. I loved everything about this story so much!
I highly recommend this book. Also can someone create the punk cover of Cielito Lindo because I was in a puddle of emotions when Malú performed it!
December 28, 2017
Malú is unsure about moving to a new place, but all she has to remember to survive is the first rule of punk. Filled with three-dimensional characters and featuring peeks at Malú's zines, middle grade readers will devour this one whole!
February 6, 2019
Being punk meant a lot of different things, just like being Mexican meant many things. Sometimes those things didn't seem to match. And that was okay because I'd discovered that maybe the first rule of punk was to make your own rules.
actual rating: 4.5
This is a really cute book about a punk girl with a Mexican mother and a White father who is trying to find her place in the world. It offers a really interesting look into some of the problems that mixed raced children might come across in America, and I think that even if you don't share Malu's exact problems that everyone has something about them that they think is 'weird' and causes them to struggle to fit in at school or fight with their parents. I especially saw a lot of myself in Malu in regards to her interactions with her mom - who doesn't like her clothes or the music she listens to - and it's nice to see them work out their differences and come to understand each other better in the end. Definitely a fun read and I think it will really hit home with people who are struggling with accepting themselves as they are vs. how the world maybe thinks they 'should' be acting.
actual rating: 4.5
This is a really cute book about a punk girl with a Mexican mother and a White father who is trying to find her place in the world. It offers a really interesting look into some of the problems that mixed raced children might come across in America, and I think that even if you don't share Malu's exact problems that everyone has something about them that they think is 'weird' and causes them to struggle to fit in at school or fight with their parents. I especially saw a lot of myself in Malu in regards to her interactions with her mom - who doesn't like her clothes or the music she listens to - and it's nice to see them work out their differences and come to understand each other better in the end. Definitely a fun read and I think it will really hit home with people who are struggling with accepting themselves as they are vs. how the world maybe thinks they 'should' be acting.
May 25, 2017
The first rule about reading the book The First Rule of Punk is that you will LOVE it. This story has everything: emotion, wit, culture, intelligence, heart and a fantastic soundtrack (make a playlist might be rule 2). I can't wait to see the final artwork in the finished copy because I love Malú's zine so much. I learned a lot from reading this while still being reminded of my own childhood experiences. I am eagerly awaiting another book from Celia C. Pérez. This is my favorite middle grade book of 2017 so far.
August 2, 2017
one of my favorite middle grade reads of the year. a funny but heartfelt story about finding your people, being yourself, taking pride in your heritage, and standing up for what you believe in
September 17, 2017
Enjoyed this. Have now seen finished copy (with zines) and my opinion is as before --- a charmer.
May 10, 2020
A fast-paced, punk rock story about truly finding your place and your people. I loved the Mexican-American history, the music and the zany zines.
“You know, Malú, I like to think of us as more like patchwork quilts,” Mrs Hidalgo said. “Some pieces are prettier than others. Some pieces match and some don’t. But if you remove a square, you’re just left with an incomplete quilt. And who wants that? All our pieces are equally important if they make us whole. Even the weird ones.”
I needed this message today.
“You know, Malú, I like to think of us as more like patchwork quilts,” Mrs Hidalgo said. “Some pieces are prettier than others. Some pieces match and some don’t. But if you remove a square, you’re just left with an incomplete quilt. And who wants that? All our pieces are equally important if they make us whole. Even the weird ones.”
I needed this message today.
May 13, 2018
So this book was good, it was not amazing but 9-13 year olds would enjoy, it has a lot of cultural heritage talk, and what it means to be excepted in more than one cultural, and also to discover who you are within those cultures. Also the idea of taking to ones parents about all this to, has a huge play in this book.
September 21, 2017
My eyes have been replaced with emoji hearts. That was a delight.
July 12, 2019
I love everything about this book. Can not wait to share it with my middle school students. Wish I'd had it when I was in middle school. I'm off to make my own zine . . .
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 24, 2020
Super cute!
Full RTC.
Full RTC.
April 23, 2018
Someone described this to me as "Moxie" (by Jennifer Mathieu) for middle grades, and I think that fits perfectly! It's a little more lighthearted than Moxie, but still packs a powerful message of standing up for your beliefs. It's fun, inspiring, and full of endearing, dynamic characters.
October 18, 2018
You're in for a fun ride if you pick up this book to read. I listened to the audio and loved the narrator, but will definitely need to flip through the hardcover to check out the zines.
I loved the mix of characters and enjoyed seeing Malu grow to appreciate her heritage and her mother although at times I wanted to give her a talking to! ;) The supporting cast of characters were a great bunch and I had fun learning more about the Hispanic culture of Chicago.
I loved the mix of characters and enjoyed seeing Malu grow to appreciate her heritage and her mother although at times I wanted to give her a talking to! ;) The supporting cast of characters were a great bunch and I had fun learning more about the Hispanic culture of Chicago.
September 22, 2020
For me, personally, this book was such a surprise. I ran across it looking for some diverse middle grade books, picked it up, and just really enjoyed myself reading it. The main character is super cute and relatable for the intended audience, and it gives fun, accessible history lessons in Mexican/Mexican-American culture and the punk/zine scene. Absolutely loved it.
September 23, 2017
Incredibly adorable, original with a pure punk spirit. I loved this character and her journey to embrace her full self. And a subversive librarian? Perfection!
July 16, 2017
When I think about where I live (south central Texas) and how hard it has been for me to find stories for my students that are mirrors into their lives in multiple ways, it was a struggle the last few years. The First Rule of Punk though BLEW me away. I was thinking about all of my past students and even future students who will relate to this in more ways than just the protagonists storyline. This is a book I will immediately preorder multiple copies of.
Malú is a young girl who feels that who she is doesn't meet her moms expectations (every girl age 12&up) solely because she is half Mexican/half white, and because of that her mom is constantly on her about learning her heritage and wanting to be proud that their family came from Mexico to America and the hardships they went through to get here. Her Dad on the other hand is this punk rock, record store owning, creative soul who Malú finds herself clinging to. Then her world crashes upside down when her and her mom have to move to Chicago for a couple of years for her moms career. Malú finds herself unsure she will ever make friends, especially after a few run ins with Selena, who isn't exactly the nice girl to the "weirdos" slash "coconuts" as she calls them. Malú goes through a lot of typical new student challenges, and in the process she realizes that being herself is exactly who she needs to be, even though it may not be a direct reflection of her Mom, she does understand that her Mom has good points and she needs to meet her halfway with learning her culture and appreciating where her family came from. This is an amazing story that encompasses how so many of my students whose families that come from Mexico have discussed with me. They don't know about their culture and what things mean, nor do they speak Spanish, and Celia does an absolutely AMAZING job of weaving in historical points throughout the text that are a lot of Mexican traditions or sayings that get misconstrued by the public.
I'm so thankful for this book in so many ways. I can't wait to share with my students.
Malú is a young girl who feels that who she is doesn't meet her moms expectations (every girl age 12&up) solely because she is half Mexican/half white, and because of that her mom is constantly on her about learning her heritage and wanting to be proud that their family came from Mexico to America and the hardships they went through to get here. Her Dad on the other hand is this punk rock, record store owning, creative soul who Malú finds herself clinging to. Then her world crashes upside down when her and her mom have to move to Chicago for a couple of years for her moms career. Malú finds herself unsure she will ever make friends, especially after a few run ins with Selena, who isn't exactly the nice girl to the "weirdos" slash "coconuts" as she calls them. Malú goes through a lot of typical new student challenges, and in the process she realizes that being herself is exactly who she needs to be, even though it may not be a direct reflection of her Mom, she does understand that her Mom has good points and she needs to meet her halfway with learning her culture and appreciating where her family came from. This is an amazing story that encompasses how so many of my students whose families that come from Mexico have discussed with me. They don't know about their culture and what things mean, nor do they speak Spanish, and Celia does an absolutely AMAZING job of weaving in historical points throughout the text that are a lot of Mexican traditions or sayings that get misconstrued by the public.
I'm so thankful for this book in so many ways. I can't wait to share with my students.
April 30, 2018
I couldn't get into this book. I'm so tired of traumatized kids because they are moving away! Especially one which is only for two years! In this age of online connection and smart phones, it simply isn't nearly as traumatic as it used to be. It would be one thing if the child were younger but this is a preteen. In addition, Malu (nickname for Mara Luisa) is in full rebellion against her part Hispanic heritage, as symbolized by her absolute hatred of cilantro. She loves making zines as a way of communicating, which are homemade magazines aka big art projects. Of course she makes enemies and friends and settles in in her own rebellious way. Everything gets worked out between her and her Mom although likely not between her and the principal. She accepts at least some of her heritage. The end. I suppose I could have added graphic novel to the shelves for this book, but it really doesn't fit. There are lots of "zines" in this book. I don't feel they added anything to the book but I suspect I have a minority opinion of that.
I simply was unimpressed with this book. The supporting kids were not three dimensional with the exception of Joe. I had to look up the main character's name even though that is a bone of contention between the kid and Mom. Forgettable and not all that interesting. At least the zines made the book read faster.
I simply was unimpressed with this book. The supporting kids were not three dimensional with the exception of Joe. I had to look up the main character's name even though that is a bone of contention between the kid and Mom. Forgettable and not all that interesting. At least the zines made the book read faster.
January 14, 2023
Trigger warnings: racism, racial slurs, bullying
3.75 stars.
In a lot of ways, this felt like a middle grade version of Moxie but with a focus on race rather than sexism and misogyny? But maybe I just feel that way because the zine content.
I really liked the zine content AND Malu as a protagonist. But I did want her to use her words more than she did. Like, I get why she didn't. She's 12. Kids aren't great at using their words. But the somewhat antagonistic relationship between Malu and her mother - her mother wants her to act more Mexican, she refers to her mum as SuperMexican because she's so into being seen as Mexican - frequently got to the point where it grated because if she'd just been like "Mum, I don't like it when you tell everyone that I don't have Mexican tastebuds because I don't like cilantro"? Things would have been a lot smoother.
Essentially, I wanted more of the tension to be focused on the principal and the fact that she's so focused on Malu from day 1. And I wanted more resolution with the Selena plotline, given that she's ridiculously antagonistic towards Malu because Malu is biracial...
Anyway, I've focused quite a lot on the negative here, but I did genuinely enjoy this! It was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
3.75 stars.
In a lot of ways, this felt like a middle grade version of Moxie but with a focus on race rather than sexism and misogyny? But maybe I just feel that way because the zine content.
I really liked the zine content AND Malu as a protagonist. But I did want her to use her words more than she did. Like, I get why she didn't. She's 12. Kids aren't great at using their words. But the somewhat antagonistic relationship between Malu and her mother - her mother wants her to act more Mexican, she refers to her mum as SuperMexican because she's so into being seen as Mexican - frequently got to the point where it grated because if she'd just been like "Mum, I don't like it when you tell everyone that I don't have Mexican tastebuds because I don't like cilantro"? Things would have been a lot smoother.
Essentially, I wanted more of the tension to be focused on the principal and the fact that she's so focused on Malu from day 1. And I wanted more resolution with the Selena plotline, given that she's ridiculously antagonistic towards Malu because Malu is biracial...
Anyway, I've focused quite a lot on the negative here, but I did genuinely enjoy this! It was a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 20, 2020
Solid. That's what this novel with zine elements is. I not only felt for the protagonist, I made friends with her new friends; grumbled with her against the injustices of being a young person who has no choice but to go along with what the adults say 'cause, y'know, they're the ones paying and making the plans; felt very aware of the struggles of living in between cultures, and finally, I got an intro to punk rock culture that I wasn't lucky enough to receive when I was the protagonist's age. If I'd known about punk's non-white rock stars, I might have been more interested. For real, though, there are so, so many things to enjoy in this novel that includes wonderfully punky and informative zine interludes. I forgive the plot's predictably because the characters, the pacing, the art, and the cover are well realized and satisfying. I hope First Rule of Punk gets all the notice it deserves.
Update 2020: This novel has an awesome music playlist - http://celiacperez.com/playlist
Update May 2020: I keep thinking about this novel, so I'm upgrading my rating to 5!
Update 2020: This novel has an awesome music playlist - http://celiacperez.com/playlist
Update May 2020: I keep thinking about this novel, so I'm upgrading my rating to 5!
February 11, 2018
Malu is not happy that she has to move from Chicago to California. She hates abandoning her awesome dad, who runs a record shop and treats her like a person. She hates that she'll be alone with her mom, the "Super Mexican," who is trying to get Malu to behave more like a seniorita and less like a punky mcpunkerson. All Malu has are zines to help her cope. Until she discovers some fun kids at school and decides that embracing her half-Mexicanness and punk is the best way to shove it in everybody's face while also having a grand old time!
I looooooved it! Malu is a spark plug, her friends are rad, and the understanding that she reaches with her parents is freaking hearwarming as shit. I was finishing this read over breakfast and legit started crying. Everybody read this!!
I looooooved it! Malu is a spark plug, her friends are rad, and the understanding that she reaches with her parents is freaking hearwarming as shit. I was finishing this read over breakfast and legit started crying. Everybody read this!!
December 3, 2019
Spoiler alert: the first rule of punk is to be yourself. Malú is a great protagonist - she isn't afraid to be different and fights for what she believes is right, but still has flaws and middle school doubts enough to make her realistic and relatable. Her twin loves of zines and punk rock are so fun, and it was great to see and learn about some Chicano culture through her mom (whom she calls "Super Mexican") and friends. Eight-page zines are scattered throughout the book, as well as punk and ranchero music references aplenty to inspire readers to listen to something new.
June 27, 2018
This book got lots of great reviews and press. I did not love it. The main character is half Mexican and moves to Chicago with her mother who she called SuperMexican. The main message is self acceptance and appreciation of one's culture. I thought that overall the book was predictable and didactic. Lots of time spent celebrating Mexican culture--maybe young readers "need" that. I just didn't love the story or characters--they seemed flat. Too much culture teaching and not enough plot and character development for me as a reader.
September 11, 2017
This is one of my favorite books of the year! The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez is about twelve-year-old Malú, a Mexican-American girl who moves to a new state with her mom (who Malú calls “Super Mexican”). As Malú adjusts to her new school, she works on her zines (which are cleverly inserted into the book itself) and starts a punk band with other school misfits. I loved this book, and I guarantee you will too!
July 1, 2017
I was lucky enough to receive this INCREDIBLE ARC! I can't recommend this book enough. All the stars for Malú who, in search of her true punk persona, attempts to avoid the identities to which she feels others want her to conform. Her creative and charismatic middle grade voice shines in this amazing debut novel from Celia C. Perez and she realizes that identity is not quite as straight-foward as she once thought. So thankful for the opportunity to read!
December 11, 2019
Celia rightfully got a lot of attention for her debut novel. María Luisa “Malú” O’Neill-Morales got her Mexican from her mom and her punk from her dad. And at her new school in Chicago, where other Mexican American kids see her as a coconut, she is going to assert both her uniqueness and her cultural heritage. This music- and zine-filled celebration of identity reminds us that there are as many ways of being Mexican American as there are Mexican Americans. Phenomenal.
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