Accidental Love (Soto)

Soto, Gary. Accidental Love. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, 2006. ISBN 9780152054977

PLOT SUMMARY

Marisa, a 14 year-old hispanic girl from the wrong side of town, makes major life changes after a chance encounter with Rene, a cute nerd. Marisa had always been a tough “homegirl”, but inspired by Rene, Marisa begins to spend more time studying and works on controlling her temper. Her parents even allow her to bend the rules and transfer to Rene’s school for a better education. Marisa begins loosing her extra weight, increases in self confidence, and sets new goals for her life once her and Rene become a couple. However, after Marisa and Rene are separated and Marisa must return to her derelict school, Marisa decides the changes she made were ultimately for herself and would remain a part of her regardless of where she is or who she is with. Accidental Love is a humorous, coming of age story in which a young girl experiences first love and in the process discovers who she is and where she is headed in life.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Gary Soto has created an authentic, ethnically rich novel for young adults in Accidental Love. Marisa’s life is filled with language, food, and style that represents her Latino and American heritage. Her story manages to both represent and break many stereotypes, especially those of the Mexican-American culture. 

Marisa, her family, and Rene, like many bilingual speakers, use a mixture of languages throughout their day. Marisa’s mother asks, “How are you, mi’ja?” using a Spanish term of endearment. Throughout the novel emotional responses of any kind are often a mix of language. Marisa affectionately calls her boyfriend “my precious nerdito” and later angrily yells in English, but throws in a sprinkling of mild  Spanish curses. Marisa’s language is somewhat rough and improper, but her boyfriend Rene Torres, provides a glaring contrast with his extensive vocabulary and well phrased sentences.

Spanish is also used in the book when an English equivalent does not adequately describe the situation. For example, Marisa’s original school is being described as filled with “cholos,” or Latino gang members, and Asian and White students who use Spanish words like “mi jefita” to fit in with the majority. Soto has created a novel that, while written in English, may prove somewhat confusing to those unfamiliar with the Spanish language. In such cases the glossary of selected spanish words and phrases will be much appreciated by the reader.

Marisa and her family eat albondigas, a traditional Mexican meatball soup, have enchilada’s on Wednesdays, and use tortillas to eat their refritos. However, she and her family also indulge in American classics, such as lasagna, chocolate ice cream, powdered donuts and barbecue potato chips. Food becomes an important part of Marissa’s struggle when she decides to lose weight. Marissa deals with food cravings as she forgoes junk food and decrease portions of her favorite foods, including her favorite cheesy enchiladas.

The clothing and styling differences of Marisa and Rene represent their differences.  Rene tends to dress in a “nerdy” way, wearing high-water “pantalones” and white socks to school. Rene’s meek look appeases Marisa’s parents, but  is slightly embarrassing for his girlfriend. In comparison to Rene, Marisa dresses more like a gangster, wearing “brown lipstick and teased hair.” This look causes Marissa to feel judged occasionally, specifically by Rene’s mother. 

The couple’s look mirrors their stereotype breaking relationship. The female, Marisa, is the stronger and tougher of the two and protects Rene from teasing and abusive situations. In the end, the couple teaches each other how to be better versions of themselves, not for the other, but for themselves. Rene learns to stand up to his bullies, including his own mother and Marissa learns to control her anger. This change is represented, once again, in clothing. By the end of the novel Rene is wearing modern jeans and blue socks while Marissa begins wearing red lipstick and a dress!

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist: “With humor and insight, [Soto] creates memorable, likable characters.”

Kirkus Reviews: “fresh and fun”

Publishers Weekly: “Soto accurately depicts popularity and stereotypes in high school, while conveying a melting pot of cultures.”

School Library Journal: “warmhearted, humorous novel”

CONNECTIONS

Read other novels by Gary Soto:

Soto, Gary. The Afterlife. ISBN 9780152052201

Soto, Gary. Jesse. ISBN 9780590528375

Soto, Gary. Taking Sides. ISBN 9780152046941

Variety of novels where young teenagers make important decisions and discover who they want to be:

Lipstyle, Robert. One Fat Summer. ISBN 9780060238964

Munoz Ryan, Pam. Esperanza Rising. ISBN 978-0439120425

Schmidt, Gary D. Okay For Now. ISBN 9780547152608