Hola, hola!
I have been on a roll lately with my reading. I gotta take it a bit slower now, so I don’t tire myself out before Latinx Heritage Month starts!
Today, I’m bringing you a review of Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez. Thank you so much to Algonquin Young Readers for sending an early copy of this book and for reaching out to me to be part of this blog tour! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Title: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Méndez
Pages: 356
Publisher: Algonquin Your Readers
Release Date: September 15th 2020
Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father. On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far her talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university, but the path ahead won’t be easy. Her parents, who don’t know about her passion, wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. Meanwhile, the boy she once loved, Diego, is not only back in town, but has also become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Things aren’t the same as when he left: Camila has her own fútbol ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, she is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and passion of a girl like her.
CW: Domestic abuse
Furia became that book that I didn’t know I needed until I read it! An incredible story discussing sexism, being a female fútbol player, family, first love, and following your dreams. This novel is the perfect coming of age.
Furia is set in Argentina, it has been a while since I read a book that wasn’t set in the US or a fantasy world. I loved the setting and how it made me think of issues outside of the country I lived in. Also, all the food sounded delicious and now I really want to try alfajores. Also, the fútbol scenes were amazing I felt as if I was watching a game on TV.
The story is fast paced and there’s no dull moment in the narrative. The writing is nice and straightforward, with some great Spanish additions. I’m loving how bilingual my last reads have been, this one included. Furthermore, the themes that it discusses are wonderful and so important for young readers. I enjoyed how Ni Una Menos and Machismo was explored throughout Camila’s story.
Camila “La Furia” is such an inspirational character and a great one for young girls to read about. Her tenacity and belief in herself was empowering. As I read, I could not help but cheer aloud for her. She is truly an amazing character. The duality in her character is one that is real for many of us. Wanting to fulfill those expectations that your family sets upon you and following your dreams. I loved how this was depicted!
I found the romance in the book very satisfying and I loved how true to herself Camila was. Can you tell how much I loved Camila? If you can’t then let this be a proclamation. Her resilience and how she navigates the issues in her life felt so real and tangible.
I haven’t read many books that feature sports heavily. Tv shows yes but no books. Furia set the bar quite high.
Okay, I think that I have gushed enough!
Furia is a powerful read that you won’t want to sleep on and it is the perfect read to pick up at the start of Latinx Heritage Month.
Furia releases tomorrow (Sept 15th). Make sure to preorder, today!!
Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is a fútbol-obsessed Argentine American who loves meteor showers, summer, astrology, and pizza. She lives in Utah with her Puerto Rican husband and their five kids, two adorable dogs, and one majestic cat. An inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she’s a graduate of Voices of Our Nations (VONA) and the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College of Fine Arts. Méndez is also part of Las Musas, the first collective of women and nonbinary Latinx middle grade and young adult authors. Furia is her first novel for young adult readers.