Stef Soto, Taco Queen

Before Stef and her dad drop Arthur off, Stef’s dad prepares a special burrito for Arthur that accommodates all his food allergies. Stef realizes her dad had time to come up with the new recipe today, which means he must have had a very slow sales day. After Arthur leaves, Stef’s dad drives Tía Perla to one of their regular spots, where they do pretty well in sales. Done for the day, they drop Tía Perla off at the city’s commissary, where it seems like her headlights are “pleading with us not to leave her behind” (11).

For years, Stef’s dad has dreamed of owning his own restaurant. Scraping to save money allowed him to buy a food truck, which Stef suggested they name Tía Perla because it sounded like a homecooked meal prepared by a favorite aunt. Her parents agreed, and from that moment on, “Tía Perla was home and officially part of the family” (16). Four years ago, after they repainted the truck, it looked like new. Now, the paint is chipping and needs to be redone, but Stef doesn’t want to do it.

In a flashback, it is revealed that Stef used to be best friends with Julia, the most popular girl in the seventh grade. One day after school, Stef overhears Julia complaining she’s going to miss her bus home. When Stef offers to give Julia a ride, Julia refuses, and after Stef walks away, Julia says Stef smells like tacos and is the Taco Queen. Stef worries this is true and throws all her clothes in the laundry that night. Arthur and Stef’s other friend Amanda tell Stef to ignore anything Julia says about Tía Perla, but Stef desperately thinks “somehow, I have to find a way to wipe off the stains she’s leaving on my reputation” (22).

In the present, Julia announces to the class that famous pop star Viviana Vega is coming to town for a concert and that her parents bought her front-row tickets. Stef desperately wants to attend the concert but is sure her parents won’t let her. Her class’s writing prompt that day asks how the kids would convince their parents time travel was real. Stef doesn’t know, and all she can think to write is “I can’t convince my parents of anything” (26).

By lunch, everyone’s talking about Viviana Vega. That afternoon, Stef has art class—her favorite class because she’s always found it easier to communicate through pictures. Today, the class experiments with wax resist, which involves drawing on white paper with white crayon and then painting over it. The result is paint covering everything but the crayon lines, and Stef is amazed because “the wax is shining through, bold and bright and refusing to be painted over” (31).

Amanda is determined to raise money for Viviana Vega tickets, but she doesn’t manage to get the $40 before the concert is sold out. Arthur makes fun of Viviana’s music, to which Stef says, “don’t be such a music snob” (35).

On Saturday, Stef helps her dad with Tía Perla at the park, even though she doesn’t want to. Amanda has a soccer game, and afterward, she and Stef listen to the radio, where the DJ announces the 50th caller will win two tickets to Viviana Vega’s concert. The girls call in and win the tickets, and Stef is even more determined to get the okay from her parents, hoping “maybe they’ll trust me enough to let me go” (43).

When Stef and her dad return to the commissary that night, her dad tells Stef to rest while he cleans up. Stef offers to help, figuring if she’s going to convince him to let her go to the concert, “I have only a week to show my parents I’m not a little kid anymore” (46). Inside the commissary, there is a letter pinned on the bulletin board announcing proposed new regulations for food trucks. One of the drivers tells the group not to worry because nothing ever comes of this type of thing, but Stef’s dad looks concerned.

Stef usually sleeps late on Sundays, but this Sunday, she wakes up early to make breakfast and show her parents she’s responsible enough to go to the concert. Her parents are grateful but not convinced about the concert, leaving Stef feeling frustrated. The rest of the day is quiet and tense. Stef tries to feel hopeful because her parents “haven’t said no to the concert—maybe they’re at least considering it” (53).

Stef spends all day Monday trying to figure out how to convince her parents about the concert. After school, she is surprised Tía Perla isn’t in the parking lot. She finds the truck, along with two others, parked at a gas station down the street. The other drivers are sure the regulations will put them out of business, but Stef’s dad firmly states that “no one is out of a job” (60).

The next day in art class, Stef’s teacher announces they need to raise money to buy supplies for the rest of the year. Julia proposes they hold a school dance. Their teacher likes the idea and will ask the principal, telling the class “you better be prepared if she says yes” and “ you’re in for a lot of work” (67).