The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Pérez Narrated by Victoria Villarreal

Overview

A*2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

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 (María 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.
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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!

Includes a “How to Make a Zine” guide read by the author

"Malú rocks!"
-Victoria Jamieson, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning Roller Girl

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Select awards and accolades for The First Rule of Punk:

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book
A 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s Book
A 2018 Tom's Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Winner
A 2017 ABA Indies Introduce Title
A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick
An E.B. White Read-Aloud Middle Reader Award finalist
A 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Fiction and Poetry Honor Book
An Amelia Bloomer List Book
CCBC Choices 2018
A 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Publishers Weekly Flying Start
NPR Best Books of 2017 
Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2017
School Library Journal Best Books of 2017

★ "A charming debut about a thoughtful, creative preteen connecting to both halves of her identity." 
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Those who enjoy vivacious, plucky heroines... will eagerly embrace Malu."
—School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Pérez’s debut is as exuberant as its heroine... A rowdy reminder that people are at their best when they aren’t forced into neat, tidy boxes."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A voice that is equal parts witty and sharp."
—Bustle.com

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191681818
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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