Tequila Worm

Canales, V. (2005). The tequila worm. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

The Tequila Worm is a great book about Mexican-American culture.  The main character, Sofia, has grown up in the Texas valley town of McAllen.  She has a close, loving family, and she excels academically.  In high school, she is offered a scholarship to go to a private school in Austin, and she agonizes over whether to accept.  When she finally does, she has to earn $400 in order to go.  Her "comadres" help her, and she eventually earns the money and moves.  There, she experiences culture shock, but succeeds and moves on to Harvard.  The title is somewhat deceiving - the tequila worm represents her culture, but the focus is definitely not on alcohol.  The book seems somewhat autobiographical, as the author has a similar story.