This is what good middle grade fiction looks like in 2025—culturally authentic, creatively ambitious, and unafraid to let kids question the rules. Pérez gives us a protagonist who's messy and real, not a perfect role model, and that's exactly why she works.

The punk rock framework is brilliant because it gives kids permission to be critical thinkers without being preachy about it. Malú isn't rebelling for rebellion's sake—she's finding her voice and her community. The zine pages and collage art make it more than just a novel; it's an invitation to create.

The cultural piece is handled with real nuance. Malú loves being Mexican-American but bristles at her mom's specific vision of what that should look like. It's a conversation a lot of bicultural kids are having, and the book doesn't oversimplify it.

This is a strong pick for kids who feel like outsiders, kids who are creative, or kids who just need to see that there are multiple ways to be yourself. And honestly? It's just a fun, well-written book that doesn't feel like homework.