Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

7 reviews

amberinpieces's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


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laureliz's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0


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zombiezami's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'm not that into sports, but I found this book to be quite beautiful. I loved getting to know more about Argentine culture and the Ni Una Menos movement. 

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caitlino's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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anna_23's review

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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itsmeyseniab's review

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emotional slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I was provided an ARC by Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own.

I was really excited to get my hands on this one, but I'm sad to say that I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I would.

I was so intrigued going into this novel because the plot sounded right up my alley but ultimately it felt all over the place: it felt like a bunch of subplots rolled together to the point where I was unsure at times what the novel was 100% about (I knew what the overall message was, but I didn't know which event was supposed to serve as the climax as multiple pivotal events took place at different points). While all the subplots discussed important "hard-hitting" topics, it became overbearing - I think that the novel would've benefitted from a more streamlined sequence of events. For lack of a better phrase: less is more!

I found it really hard to care about Camila and her story at times. I wanted to root for her, but I felt such a strong disconnect from the plot that I wasn't really intrigued by her story. It was really great seeing her come into her own and beat the odds by the end of the novel, but I didn't feel as much gratification from it as I expected. That being said, I feel the same way about all of the supporting characters - I felt "meh" about them all: even her father and Diego! I wish we got to know them all a bit more, they all felt one-dimensional to me.

I was just left wanting a lot more. :(

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caitisbooked's review

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content warnings: domestic violence, mention of rape, mention of murder

Furia follows the story of Camila Hassan, a teenage girl who's life revolves around playing football. However, Camila has to keep her football playing a secret from her family, to ensure she can continue to play football, and make it big like her brother and her love interest, which is her biggest love in her world. Known to her teammates and opponents as La Furia, due to her football abilities, Camila wants to move to the US to go to school there for more football opportunities she knows aren't as readily available in Argentina.

I am in awe of this book. This has to be one of the best novels I've read this year. I loved everything about it, from the focus on football, which doesn't overwhelm the reader with terminology, from the strong characters, to the story line. As someone who loves football and knows a fair share about it, I absolutely loved reading a YA book with such a focus on football, but it was so easy to read. I also loved that it was a female sports player as well. I feel like sports, especially female sports isn't a theme in YA books enough. I need more books like this.

Camila is one of the best protagonists I've read this year. She is such a strong willed character. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, even with her family and her knowledge that her family won't support her choices to play football. Her story line is an incredibly important one to read, especially about never giving up when things go wrong and family problems continue to arise and make things more difficult for herself and others in her family. She knows that her choices make her and she will make the choices that benefit her football career, even if that means turning down her love, Diego. Her relationships with other characters, such as her mother, Isabel, her best friend, Roxana, and her love interest, Diego, were a highlight for me. I felt like these relationships felt very realistic. I loved how Camila stood up to some of these characters (Diego I see you), and I loved how she stayed true to herself when there was arguments or disagreements.

I only have wonderful words for this book. The medium pacing of the story line is so well suited to this book as it continues to flow and doesn't feel too fast or too slow at any point. You don't just learn about Camila as a character, you truly feel her progression throughout the book and feel her become an even stronger willed young woman.

I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on Furia and read this amazing own voices coming of age novel. Camila is a character that will definitely stick with you for a long time. Although I believe it is a standalone, I would love for a sequel about Camila's future in playing football and if there is more closure to Camila and Diego's relationship or even if they reunite as well!

Thank you very much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.

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