Danny, as the title says, is half-Mexican half-white. Danny's father, whom he loves, is Mexican and his mom is white. Danny's dad has disappeared to Mexico and his mom is left to take care of Danny and his little sister. When Danny's mom announces that he has one of two choices, (either go with her to live with her boyfriend Randy or to go to visit his cousins) he chooses to visit his family.
While living with his cousins, Danny runs into Uno. Uno is a half-black half-Mexican boy. He and Danny have much in common, but there first meeting is filled with conflict. Danny shows Uno up at playing baseball and Uno retaliates. Later, Uno realizes that Danny (and Danny's baseball skills) is his best bet to make the money he needs to go and live with his dad. So, Uno sets out to make things right and make a business deal with Danny. This business deal involves a little shady business, but they both really want to live with their dads. Is it worth the effort or will they get into big trouble?
Mexican Whiteboy covers a range of topics. He discusses the importance of a father-son relationship and how Danny deals with that. Pena also brings up important issues like: multi-culturalism and how that can affect identity, self-mutilation, violence, crime, reality v.s. imagination, the stark reality of sterotypes and rascism. This book reveals a world where everyone views everyone else as the lucky ones and sheds light on the fact that we all can be who we want to be.
Pena has an amazing touch with creating characters and letting you in on their thoughts and personal lives. I have a tie on my favorite characters. Raul and Lolo are best friends but also rivals. They are so much fun when they pick on each other. The way Lolo speaks, with his broken English, makes his statements so much funnier.
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