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thenovelmaura's review
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
4.5
4.5 stars! Furia has my whole heart and I'm still thinking about Camila weeks after reading it. Trust me when I say this #OwnVoices contemporary should be on your radar!
Camila Hassan lives in Rosario, Argentina and she dreams of becoming a professional fútbol player. While her older brother plays professionally and is lauded for it, Camila was told at the age of 12 that she was now too old to play sports. Having played soccer myself for nine years, the lengths that Camila went to to hide this part of herself from her father were really painful for me to read about. I couldn't imagine playing without having my parents cheer me on, and this showed how passionate Camila was about her dream. I also need to add a content warning here for domestic and child abuse, as well as violence against women. These topics are handled sensitively, in my opinion, and Méndez uses them to critique a patriarchal society where women are disregarded and silenced. Argentina's growing feminist movement was prominently featured in the story and demonstrated how women playing fútbol was just as powerful a statement as women marching in the streets.
But I'm doing this book a disservice by making it sound like it was bogged down by heavy topics! There was a lot of light here, and Camila brings joy to these pages whether she's on the field, on a date, or teaching at an orphanage. Like any other teen, she tries to balance schoolwork, friendship, crushes, and keeping secrets from her parents—often without success. And while Méndez had me swooning over Diego for most of the book, I did want to get past the romance and back to the field at times (this is my personal, soccer-obsessed preference, though). The games were so fun to read and I felt like I was standing on the sidelines, cheering La Furia on. Even if you've never touched a soccer ball in your life, try this book! I think you'll be as inspired as I was by Camila's fierce spirit, open heart, and courage to fight for her dream.
Camila Hassan lives in Rosario, Argentina and she dreams of becoming a professional fútbol player. While her older brother plays professionally and is lauded for it, Camila was told at the age of 12 that she was now too old to play sports. Having played soccer myself for nine years, the lengths that Camila went to to hide this part of herself from her father were really painful for me to read about. I couldn't imagine playing without having my parents cheer me on, and this showed how passionate Camila was about her dream. I also need to add a content warning here for domestic and child abuse, as well as violence against women. These topics are handled sensitively, in my opinion, and Méndez uses them to critique a patriarchal society where women are disregarded and silenced. Argentina's growing feminist movement was prominently featured in the story and demonstrated how women playing fútbol was just as powerful a statement as women marching in the streets.
But I'm doing this book a disservice by making it sound like it was bogged down by heavy topics! There was a lot of light here, and Camila brings joy to these pages whether she's on the field, on a date, or teaching at an orphanage. Like any other teen, she tries to balance schoolwork, friendship, crushes, and keeping secrets from her parents—often without success. And while Méndez had me swooning over Diego for most of the book, I did want to get past the romance and back to the field at times (this is my personal, soccer-obsessed preference, though). The games were so fun to read and I felt like I was standing on the sidelines, cheering La Furia on. Even if you've never touched a soccer ball in your life, try this book! I think you'll be as inspired as I was by Camila's fierce spirit, open heart, and courage to fight for her dream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Violence
wenwanzhao's review
emotional
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Sexism, Misogyny, and Infidelity
imstephtacular's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
whatninaread's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Camila Hassan dreams of playing soccer professionally, but in Rosario, Argentina, good girls don't play fútbol. So Camila plays in secret, living in the shadow of the male superstars from her neighborhood, including both her brother and her childhood crush. When she leads her team to the Sudamericano tournament, Camila is forced to reveal her secret and come to terms with just how far she's willing to go to follow her dreams.
Furia was my first five-star read of the year (I'm very stingy with five-star ratings), so as you can guess, I absolutely adored this book. It was pretty darn close to perfect!
Furia was beautifully written and descriptive. I never annotate books, but I found myself highlighting so many passages. I felt like I was in Camila's barrio as I was reading, despite never having been to Argentina. Sports scenes can be difficult to write well, but Yamile Saied Méndez made the soccer scenes exciting without letting them overwhelm the narrative.
Camila was exactly the kind of role model that young girls (and adult women) need to see in books. She's strong and determined in the face of a world that has been stacked against her. Though she stumbles and faces hardships, Camila holds tight to her dreams and isn't willing to give them up. My teenage self would have felt so seen watching Camila struggle with her family relationships and friendships and trying to find a way to follow her dreams when the world is telling her she can't do it.
Méndez also does a wonderful job of showing why representation and role models matter, both on a national/international scale, but also on a local, more personal level. Camila sees that her dream is possible through the futbolera Marta, but also through the examples of her coach Alicia and Gabi Tapia. Camila herself serves as a role model to Karen, a young girl she tutors. Though the hardships of Karen's life don't change, we get to see her blossom as she learns that she has choices in life, something she's never been told before.
If all of that wasn't enough reason to love this book, Furia definitely reminded me of an Argentinian Bend it Like Beckham!
Furia was my first five-star read of the year (I'm very stingy with five-star ratings), so as you can guess, I absolutely adored this book. It was pretty darn close to perfect!
Furia was beautifully written and descriptive. I never annotate books, but I found myself highlighting so many passages. I felt like I was in Camila's barrio as I was reading, despite never having been to Argentina. Sports scenes can be difficult to write well, but Yamile Saied Méndez made the soccer scenes exciting without letting them overwhelm the narrative.
Camila was exactly the kind of role model that young girls (and adult women) need to see in books. She's strong and determined in the face of a world that has been stacked against her. Though she stumbles and faces hardships, Camila holds tight to her dreams and isn't willing to give them up. My teenage self would have felt so seen watching Camila struggle with her family relationships and friendships and trying to find a way to follow her dreams when the world is telling her she can't do it.
Méndez also does a wonderful job of showing why representation and role models matter, both on a national/international scale, but also on a local, more personal level. Camila sees that her dream is possible through the futbolera Marta, but also through the examples of her coach Alicia and Gabi Tapia. Camila herself serves as a role model to Karen, a young girl she tutors. Though the hardships of Karen's life don't change, we get to see her blossom as she learns that she has choices in life, something she's never been told before.
If all of that wasn't enough reason to love this book, Furia definitely reminded me of an Argentinian Bend it Like Beckham!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Violence
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is a YA situation that appealed to me on a very deep level. I grew up playing soccer because my father played. And my brothers too, though they were younger than me, they started before me and I decided to try because, I don’t know, sibling FOMO maybe? Anyways, it turned out to be a great choice because, though my skill was clearly never what Furia’s was (and though my general experience with team spirit/support definitely didn’t touch Camila’s either), I DID make two of my longest friends from it. In fact, they are half of my long-distance book club today! So, I’d say it was more than worth it. Plus, of course, there is true joy in playing hard and leaving everything you’ve got out on the field. And just in general, soccer is an important sport for my family – we never had cable growing up, but we would get short term contracts for it every four years for the World Cup and we would watch every game – even the ones between low ranked teams or that ended in a draw after 90 minutes of scorelessness. It was just…a big thing. And even with those fantastic memories of watching, and my own personal fun playing (fully supported by my family), there is a lot that about Camila’s story that hit home while reading…we never got as into woman’s games/tournaments and things like “women’s play just isn’t as exciting” was commonly heard. I never really questioned it. And it was nothing like the barriers or backlash Camila faced. And yet…there are recognizable threads of commonality. So basically, that’s a super long intro for me to say: I’m into soccer (and Spanish – that’s what I studied in undergrad), so you know I’m gonna read an Argentinian-set, feminist, soccer-themed, YA novel!
Camila has a big secret. At home, she lives in the shadow of her mother’s expectations, her brother’s fútbol career and, mostly, the looming fear and tension of her father’s anger. But they don’t know that outside of the home, she too is playing fútbol, the star of a local women’s team, even though women are supposed to play, and she definitely wouldn’t be allowed if they knew. On a larger scale she’s living surrounded in a country soaked in dangerous machismo, facing the ever-present danger of becoming the next “disappeared” girl. And of course, there’s the added complication that Diego, her first love, her childhood best friend, is now a major international fútbol star and is back in town.
I loved Camila. From the very first page her ambition is palpable and drives her daily life and decisions and I loved that about her and for her. But even with all her inner strength, she is facing some truly difficult environmental threats to her success, like her father’s temper and societal expectations and judgements. (So, so many judgements; even from many of the supportive people in her life.) So yea, she is dealing with many of the normal teenage stressors, plus the additional issues of inter-family violence and poverty and oppressive anti-feminist culture. And fútbol is her dream and her escape, both in the present and for the future. I loved the way that passion for the game was woven into everything, as a fan and as a talented player. It is central to the story because it is central to the country, the culture, her family, and Camila herself. It was done in a way that might sometimes seem over the top for anyone who is not a fan, but felt so real within the context. I know I already said this, but I loved how focused Camila was – it’s the kind of drive that takes a person from one level to the next, the way that leads to true success. Within that, I loved her team and coach. They were so encouraging of her dream to play on a bigger stage, with all the support and toughness that comes with that kind of co-dreaming. I did feel like, at times, some of her closest people, Coach Alicia and Roxana, got a bit pushy/judge-y about Diego in a way that felt extreme/negative to me personally, but looking at the bigger picture and the sociocultural reality, it also makes sense. Relatedly, I did appreciate that the author presented first love in a nuanced way (though with some very cheesy dialogue) – something that Camila very much longed for and wanted (reasonable), but that she knew when to put her foot down against in order to protect her own dreams and not lose herself to it (impressive). What genuineness and strength! Basically, I love loved Camila’s fire, her fury, on and off the field.
I want to highlight here how amazing the female relationships in this book were. Honestly. They were often not perfect and I love them more for it. This novel is very much based in a reality where the daily limitations and trauma women face are overwhelming (to say the least) and Méndez honored and recognized this reality while cushioning it for the reader by also highlighting the female solidarity that was created within it. As I said, the team support and spirit were gorgeous pieces. As was, though difficult, the inclusion of the feminist movement calling for an end to the insidious and pervasive violence against women. In addition, the mother-daughter relationship between Camila and her mother was so wonderfully complex, developing dual desire to protect, but frustration at being unable to, and the “wanting the best for” the other in a way that is both safe and fulfilling (but again, not always within their power to grant). It was heartbreaking and heartwarming in turns and just so authentic.
I truly loved how the story wrapped up and played out in regards to relationships versus personal dreams, and wanting both and making tough decisions, but not letting that stop one from still indulging in feelings and hope for both. I love the message that it’s ok to be competitive and successful and still want love and the ending leaves us (those who “want it all”) with such hope, but, again, within a realistic boundary. Also, the title is just perfect: Furia is both a great nickname for Camila and encapsulates many of the feelings I had while reading because of the impotence of myself (as the reader) and the characters (as women) to stay safe or affect change or achieve dreams as “normally” as should be the case. Finally, the narrator was spectacular – the perfect voice for Camila and phenomenal in bringing the story and characters and setting and emotions to life.
The novel was just a beautiful ode to achieving dreams while still recognizing the limitations and losses that exist within and around that success in a way that is important for teens to see/read and will absolutely still resonate with adult readers. You can tell the love and pride Méndez has for her country (her barrio) and fútbol, even with full recognition of its flaws and the need for change, and you can feel her heartbeat all throughout this story.
“When boys and men became angry, they tried to fix the world by breaking it down with their fists.”
“Her ears were trained to detect any kind of lie, but her heart was trained to ignore the things she couldn’t deal with.”
“...prejudice didn’t read or obey laws. It was a hard weed to pull from people’s hearts.”
“One day, when a girl was born in Rosario, the earth would shake with anticipation for her future and not dread.”
“The sense of wonder and possibility – that I owed to the Argentine women who had fought for freedom before the universe conspired and the stars aligned to make me.”
“Always be proud to play like a girl.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence and Physical abuse
ellaisntreading's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Violence
caitisbooked's review
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Violence
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