Identity In Mexican Whiteboy By Matt De La Peña

“But for now Danny’s happy right where he is. Sitting on the train tracks. With his best friend. Watching a sunrise.”(de la Peña 247) Finding inner peace and knowing where one belongs brings many new obstacles, relationships, and hidden secrets. This place that offers harmony and all the secrets revealed is a sanctuary providing a long trip but the comfort of being at ease. In the novel Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Peña, we are introduced to a shy, Mexican-American, sixteen-year-old boy named Danny. Who always feels some type of neglect by his two mixed cultures. Along with the wreckage of his ethnic identity, he has a problem overthinking everything he does; he wants to be more connected with his Mexican side. He asks questions about having

As an individual, Danny overthinks how he should act in National City to fit in with others. In the following line, “Danny nods with a shy smile, aims his eyes at the asphalt. He feels the heat of their stares and for a second he wishes he could morph into one of the ants zigzagging in and out of tiny crevices in the street. Their little lives, he thinks, totally off the radar”(de la Peña 2). Through identity issues, the author demonstrates that the importance of traveling to a different place makes Danny or even anyone wish for something impossible for the reason being that they aren't used to the environments around them. Danny should be seen as an intimate person by his height but since he is such a worrying person about the things he does; people around him might slowly notice that he isn't comfortable being in places that will make him overthink. Still, he needs to be there to find a connection with his Mexican heritage and find the answers to his questions. To finally stop feeling neglect from his culture, he has to make a sacrifice of talking and meeting new people that may collaborate to resolve this issue. Danny starts to meet people but is shy and accepts that fitting in is hard. Danny being in uncomfortable situations makes him turn to self-harm. The book quotes, “Behind his back he grips his left wrist, digs his fingernails into the skin until a sharp pain floods his mind, Makes him

Given that they are the ones who must teach their children how to navigate the world, parents have a massive impact on their children's lives. In this instance, Danny had difficulty coping with his absent father since he couldn't accept it. To illustrate this statement, the author says, " But Danny’s chosen to spend this summer in National City, instead of in San Francisco with his mom and sis, is because he’s got a plan. He’s gonna save his money and fly to Mexico. To Ensenada. He’s gonna track down his dad and spend some quality time with him. So they can get to know each other again”(de la Peña 5). Danny is beginning to dispute his father's absence because he wants him back in his life. Danny needs access to his father so that he may convey all of life's lessons and let him feel more of his love. Danny may find it difficult to accept this situation because he loved his father's company and became connected to him while still in his life. Since his mother has struggles Danny's relationship with her started to fade away and he saw her as someone that will never comprehend his struggles. Danny might've had a much better relationship with his father, which makes him crave that love from his father; and the love or attention that he gets from his mother isn't enough to fill in the