The First Rule of Punk cover art

The First Rule of Punk

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The First Rule of Punk

By: Celia C. Pérez
Narrated by: Victoria Villarreal
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $22.99

Buy Now for $22.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

The First Rule of Punk is a wry and heartfelt exploration of friendship, finding your place, and learning to rock out like no one’s watching.

There are no shortcuts to surviving your first day at a new school—you can’t fix it with duct tape like you would your Chuck Taylors. On Day One, twelve-year-old Malú (María Luisa, if you want to annoy her) inadvertently upsets Posada Middle School’s queen bee, violates the school’s dress code with her punk rock look, and disappoints her college-professor mom in the process. Her dad, who now lives a thousand miles away, says things will get better as long as she remembers the first rule of punk: be yourself.

The real Malú loves rock music, skateboarding, zines, and Soyrizo (hold the cilantro, please). And when she assembles a group of like-minded misfits at school and starts a band, Malú finally begins to feel at home. She'll do anything to preserve this, which includes standing up to an anti-punk school administration to fight for her right to express herself!

Includes a “How to Make a Zine” guide read by the author

"Malú rocks!"—Victoria Jamieson, author and illustrator of the New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor-winning Roller Girl

©2017 Celia C. Pérez (P)2024 Listening Library
Geography & Cultures Growing Up & Facts of Life Multicultural Stories Music & Performing Arts Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

A 2018 Pura Belpré Author Honor Book

A 2018 ALSC Notable Children’s Book

A 2018 Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Winner

A 2017 ABA Indies Introduce Title

A Kids’ Indie Next List Pick

An E.B. White Read-Aloud Middle Reader Award finalist

A 2018 Boston Globe-Horn Book Fiction and Poetry Honor Book

An Amelia Bloomer List Book

CCBC Choices 2018

A 2018 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Publishers Weekly Flying Start

NPR Best Books of 2017

Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of 2017

School Library Journal Best Books of 2017

★ "A charming debut about a thoughtful, creative preteen connecting to both halves of her identity."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Those who enjoy vivacious, plucky heroines... will eagerly embrace Malu."—School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Pérez’s debut is as exuberant as its heroine... A rowdy reminder that people are at their best when they aren’t forced into neat, tidy boxes."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

What listeners say about The First Rule of Punk

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.