The First Rule of Punk - a review 8.17.17

The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Pérez

published by Viking

August 22nd

What I love about The First Rule of Punk is that it's original and it's a book for kids.

I'm going to start with that second statement.  We're doing our best to get books in the hands of young readers.  Many teachers are reading books so we can talk and share these books with our young readers.  Some of the books that are getting so much love among adult readers are not always books that kids love.  This one I think is different.  It's a book I see being passed around from reader to reader.  I think they will appreciate the coming of age story because it's not as typical as some of the others that are out there.  There's culture explored.  There's being your own person - being different from your parents.  There's standing up for being different.

Then there's the first reason I love this story so much.  Pérez has included her love for creating zines in this story.  I didn't know what that was at first, but once I saw it, I had memories of doing something similar.  See, most kids find ways to express themselves.  It might not always be traditional art, but almost everyone does some kind of art, doodling, creating.  Zines are pages that are created with mixed media, including cut up magazines, that express some kind of original thought.  I love that there are zines included throughout this book.  It's original and I think it's going to really make this book stand out.

I can't wait to share this book with readers this fall.  It's going to be easy to book talk this one!

Goodreads summary:
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 Malu (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 Malu 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, Malu 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.