The Tequila Worm: A story of growing up in south Texas as a Catholic, Mexican-American girl

We all have something that we are passionate about. That was the message south Texas author Viola Canales gave to Incarnate Word Academy Middle Level students about her latest book “The Tequila Worm.”

Canales traveled to the IWA campus on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012 to meet and greet students after they read her novel during class. “The Tequila Worm” is a coming of age story about a Catholic, Mexican-American girl growing up in south Texas.

Teacher Marci Levings invited the 2006 Pura Belpré Award winner to talk to students about her book, the extensive publishing process she experienced and the importance of reading. “I liked the fact that the students were able to make a connection with the author,” Levings said.

After taking some time to discuss the characters in her book, Canales answered questions from IWA’s Middle Level students and signed autographs. Canales said that she loved that the students felt inspired by her book.

“It gives me hope that these students will fall in love–not with just this book, but with other books,” Canales said.

Many IWA Middle Level students said they were excited to meet the storyteller behind the book that discussed Catholicism, friendship and loss.

Eighth grader Alexandria Ybarra said she loved how the author explained the writing process and the things that she had to do to get “The Tequila Worm” published. She also said there were so many resemblances between the book and her family.

“I was very excited,” Alexandria said. “It took my breath away to meet the author of this book, and to feel her presence in school.”

Another eighth grader, Michael Diejomaoh, could not have agreed more after getting the author to sign a copy of the book.

“I liked how she explained all her experiences as a child,” Michael said.

Canales, who also wrote “Orange Candy Slices and Other Secret Tales,” is a McAllen, Texas native. She attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She has been a captain in the U.S. Army, a litigator and an official in the Clinton Administration.

Levings hopes that her students felt inspired after meeting the author.

“It’s important for them to feel inspired and to explore their spirituality,” Levings said.