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jlpxoxo's review against another edition
1.0
It isn’t very often that I come across a book that I truly can’t stand, but this is one of those times. The ONLY reason I finished this book was so that I could spite my sister who, while we were in the store, picked it up, read the back cover, said “don’t buy this, I can tell it’s going to suck” before putting it back down.
I feel like I’ve read a first draft, not the completed, published novel I spent my hard earned money on at Borders.
NONE of the characters are fully developed, especially Mila, the lead character. The writing as a whole isn’t much better. Plots and entire story arcs kind of just drop off without anything really coming of them. There are entire passages that make no sense at all. You’re left asking, WHY is this in here?
I couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be a journal or a recollection of the narrator’s youth or what… the voice is off. Was she sitting in her office at 29 writing a memoir? Is this just supposed to be a story where she alludes to the present without ever taking us there?
The relationships between characters are unrealistic, dramatic and just downright bad. One can’t help but be annoyed how this girl lives her life the way she does but then everything works out for her in the end. I understand that a writer is connected to a character, but it was such a stretch that I refused to believe it.
I found it impossible to bond with this girl at all. Mila is such a self absorbed shallow character. Things happen and I remain completely uninterested in what this means for her. At one point something quite significant has happened and all this girl can focus on is that her mother is calling her by her legal name, Milagros, instead of the nickname she prefers. Seriously?! It took me right out of the scene. Monroy missed the mark by twenty feet. There was potential for me to have these experiences with Mila and understand where she was coming from as an American in a foreign country with a self-absorbed and absent mother….there was so much potential for me to like her and sympathize and CARE. But I don’t, not even a little bit….
I will never recommend this book to anyone
I feel like I’ve read a first draft, not the completed, published novel I spent my hard earned money on at Borders.
NONE of the characters are fully developed, especially Mila, the lead character. The writing as a whole isn’t much better. Plots and entire story arcs kind of just drop off without anything really coming of them. There are entire passages that make no sense at all. You’re left asking, WHY is this in here?
I couldn’t tell if this was supposed to be a journal or a recollection of the narrator’s youth or what… the voice is off. Was she sitting in her office at 29 writing a memoir? Is this just supposed to be a story where she alludes to the present without ever taking us there?
The relationships between characters are unrealistic, dramatic and just downright bad. One can’t help but be annoyed how this girl lives her life the way she does but then everything works out for her in the end. I understand that a writer is connected to a character, but it was such a stretch that I refused to believe it.
I found it impossible to bond with this girl at all. Mila is such a self absorbed shallow character. Things happen and I remain completely uninterested in what this means for her. At one point something quite significant has happened and all this girl can focus on is that her mother is calling her by her legal name, Milagros, instead of the nickname she prefers. Seriously?! It took me right out of the scene. Monroy missed the mark by twenty feet. There was potential for me to have these experiences with Mila and understand where she was coming from as an American in a foreign country with a self-absorbed and absent mother….there was so much potential for me to like her and sympathize and CARE. But I don’t, not even a little bit….
I will never recommend this book to anyone
bibli0rach's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great book -- I think it has a ton of Teen appeal...I smell an Alex Award! The story was also inspirational to me about getting out of the country and exposing our children to different cultures, languages, and cultures.
katyjean81's review against another edition
4.0
This book was an amazing insight into the lives of students at International schools. It was occasionally a touch sensationalist, but I hesitate to say that because anyone who hasn't worked or learned in this environment might think that the drugs, murders, and nightlife described are unrealistic. They are very realistic. I would be interested to hear some reflections on this book from someone who has lived in Mexico City, to see if it is culturally relevant. My guess is, yes. Speaking from the point of view of someone who lived in Sao Paulo for three years teaching these kids, I think the cultural schizophrenia students go through as they shift from country to country is exceptionally well portrayed. And the parent child relationships are spot on. Maids, Nannies and drivers often do most of the work and will do what you want for money. I really enjoyed this book and it made me sentimental for Sao Paulo, particularly that strange feeling you get as you are transitioning between cultures. Of course, the author attended an International School in Mexico for two years, so it should eb this well done.
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