Summer Reading Short Essay In the novel Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Peña, the theme of fitting into society is shown, which is revealed through the protagonist, Danny, when he stays with his cousin in National City, Mexico. Since Danny is half white and mexican, Danny doesn’t fit in with the other kids, so the author uses characterization in order to show how Danny evolves over the story. When Danny arrives in Mexico he doesn’t feel like he fits in because he doesn’t have the same skin tone as the full mexicans. Danny’s cousin introduces him to group of kids who play a game similar to baseball. When Danny doesn’t talk one of the players questions “‘Cat’s got dude’s tongue?’”(Pena 17) to Danny’s cousin. Danny isn’t just shy but he doesn’t …show more content…
When Danny was playing the baseball game, he accidently hits Uno’s brother who was watching with a baseball bat. Uno’s brother’s nose gets broken, which just makes Uno even more furious than he was for getting showed up, so he steps “forward with all his weight”(24) and knocks Danny out. Danny gets penalized in this situation for just being the baseball player he is. Even in just a game, Danny can’t be himself because he is really good. Uno later decides that Danny isn’t trying to make him look bad, so he asks Danny is he wants to team up with him to hustle other overconfident baseball players. Danny accepts his offer and when an angry player tries to fight Danny, Uno stands up for Danny and makes sure “‘Ain’t nobody touch’” him “‘like that’”(153). Danny isn’t the one who changes, but instead Uno does, the one who disliked and beat him. Sometimes when fitting in, it is just a matter of the people around you being more accepting, so it wasn’t Danny who actually changed, but Uno, who helped Danny become a part of the National City