THE SKIRT by Gary Soto

A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Soto, Gary. 1992. THE SKIRT. Ill. by Eric Velasquez. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385306652

B. PLOT SUMMARY
Fourth grader Miata Ramirez forgot her special dance skirt on the school bus Friday afternoon. She and her dance troupe were going to dance folklorico after church on Sunday. She needs that skirt. Hoping her friend Ana will see the skirt before she gets off the bus Miata waits anxiously to hear from Ana. The story is about Miata’s efforts to get her skirt off the school bus without her parents finding out. Enlisting the help of Ana, Miata is able to retrieve her skirt only to receive a surprise from her mother before church on Sunday.

C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Soto presents the problem in this story immediately, causing the reader to identify with Miata as she struggles to retrieve her skirt. Miata is a fourth grade girl that helps her mother, gets taunted by boys with frogs, has a best friend, gets good grades, and loses things. Soto establishes Miata’s character early when he has Miata admitting to herself before even reaching home that it is her fault alone that she left the skirt on the bus. Wanting to avoid a lecture from her mom, Miata determines to get the skirt back on her own. Miata’s actions do not match her internal discussion. The guiding force for Miata is avoiding a reprimand from her mother and the retrieval of her skirt. Soto has the girls rationalizing their actions as they walk toward the bus parking lot. Ana thinks it’s stealing, Miata argues it’s her skirt so it is not stealing. After trespassing on school property, the girls retrieve the skirt, but Miata’s dad and another man show up to work on the bus! Immediately the suspense increases. The girls are able to hide and evade Miata’s dad, but are seen by the other man. Soto continues the suspense with conversation between Miata’s parents about the kids seen in the parking lot. It is evident by Miata’s actions that she knows what she did was wrong and she should tell her parents but Soto does not have her tell the truth.
This book is illustrated by Eric Velasquez. The simple black and white drawings express the emotions occurring throughout the book. Miata worry is obvious in the drawing of her talking on the telephone. The picture of the family dinner shows a happy close knit group. The last picture shows a happy Miata dancing in the church folklorico and proud parents watching her.
Cultural markers appear throughout this book. Spanish language is incorporated into the text. Folklorico, prieta, bueno, papas fritas, chorizo con huevos are some of the Spanish words used in the story. While the girls are in the library they check out the globe and Miata states that her parents were from Sonora in northern Mexico. Ana’s grandfather was from Guerrero. The radio station plays Mexican music. Another cultural marker is the characters’ names. Rodolfo, Ana, Miata, and Mrs. Carranza are a few of them. The skirt does not become a true symbol of culture until the end of the book, when Miata recognizes the importance of the skirt to her mother. The illustrations provide cultural markers also. The girls and Miata’s mother all have long hair. The picture of the folklorico dance is a final cultural marker in the book.

D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book starred (March, 1993)
In this cheery snapshot of a Mexican-American family in California, Miata attempts to retrieve from her school bus the folklorico skirt she left behind. There is just enough suspense in the spare story line to hold the attention of readers new to chapter books.

Kirkus Review (1992)
Again, fourth-grader Miata Ramirez has lost something. This time it's her mother's folklórico skirt, saved from her childhood in Mexico. Miata's costume for the church dance performance is now on board a school bus, locked up for the weekend. Unable to face her mother's scolding, Miata breaks into the bus and retrieves the garment, only to find out later that her mother has bought a new skirt as a surprise. Sorry that the old skirt may not be worn again, Miata dons both on her special day. As in previous books (Baseball in April, 1990; Taking Sides, 1991), Soto shows a mainstream audience that the lives of middle-class Hispanics resemble their own. Ultimately, however, the story is unsatisfying: Miata rescues the old skirt to avoid a lecture, not because the garment embodies a sense of time, culture, or tradition for her. A mixed showing from a talented author.

Publishers Weekly (April 25, 1994)
Described by PW as a ``spunky and imaginative'' heroine, Miata comes up with a clever plan to retrieve her beloved folklorico dance skirt. Ages 7-10. (May)

E. CONNECTIONS
Students can discuss why or why not Miata should have told her parents the truth. Students could rewrite the ending. What might happen if Miata had not recovered her skirt?

Other books about dance and losing things by Gary Soto:
Soto, Gary. MARISOL. ISBN 1584859725
Soto, Gary. TOO MANY TAMALES. ISBN 0399221468