Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa

22 reviews

just_one_more_paige's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective 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? No

5.0

This one ended up on my TBR thanks to a review post on IG that I saw, but I didn't note who posted that review, so I can't give credit where it's due. Anyways, after just recently finishing, and loving/being totally impressed by, We Deserve Monuments, I was in the mood for another emotionally hard-hitting and salient YA novel. And this seemed like the perfect fit.

Ander Martínez has lived in San Antonio, Texas, for their whole life. They even delayed leaving for art school in favor of sticking around for a year to work on local murals and, of course, at their family's taquería. When he and a (super hot) new waiter, Santiago López Alvarado, fall for each other over the summer, everything changes. With Santi's help, Ander starts to understand who they want to be as an artist, while Ander helps Santi start to really make San Antonio feel like home. But the world is not that easy to live in - though why shouldn't it be?! - and when ICE agents come for Santi, Ander realizes how fragile everything they've built together actually is. How can they hold on to love when the country they live in tears them apart? And what options are there for the two that allow for them to follow their dreams *and* make a future together, while not sacrificing the safety/stability they deserve to have?

Oh this novel was beautiful and tragic and *just barely* on the happier side of hopeful. Let me start with some of the lighter things that I loved. First, the narrative voice was fire. It's told from Ander's perspective, and their voice is seriously spot-on, tone-wise, for a smart and snarky adolescent. The way they spoke with everyone around them, from coworkers to family (especially their mom; I was such a fan of her character and voice as well) to, of course, Santi was spectacular. And you know I'm a sucker for great dialogue. And it went past that into incredibly genuine relationships as well. The casual acceptance from parents/family for Ander’s gender (here's to more novels where that is not the primary conflict) was so great. I loved seeing the gender neutral Spanish. The tension/pull between Ander and Santi is top notch, both leading up to and after they get together. Now, I will say, Ander was so much bigger than Santi on the page. And so, partly, I feel like they were much more developed, character-wise, than Santi, who then ended up as more of a support/secondary role, instead of an equal. Now, Ander had a bigger personality IRL, which played into that. And the fact that it was told from Ander's POV probably also increased that impression. But I did want to mention it. Finally, OMG that cover. *star eyes*

As far as the heavier topics, Villa doesn't shy away from addressing them head on. Which: yes to that. The rage and terror of being undocumented, or caring for someone who is undocumented, is portrayed without any softening. As it should be. There is no circumstance where a person should be considered illegal simply by trying to live and remain safe and try for a better future for themselves/loved ones...and we see myriad ways where that is not only the baseline assumption of our country's immigration law/policy, but how unjust and horrific it is in general and in a very individual, very human, way. Ander and Santi are just two young people in love, already a very real challenge for many, and they cannot simply enjoy or experience it without the threat of separation and legal ramification over their heads (we see this mostly in regards to Santi's citizenship, but also, knowing they are in Texas, there's a very real threat due to their queerness as well - that intersectionality that leads to, potentially, no safe spaces is deeply tragic). So yea, that aspect was full of love and hope and tender youthful optimism, but mixed with upsetting and disrupting and horrific realities that this kind of young love (or just, young…or just, people, any people) shouldn’t have to list as part of their struggles/worries. By the end, this part of the story had me bawling my eyes out in all the good and bad ways.

There was also a phenomenal interrogation of art throughout the novel. Ander is struggling with what one is “allowed” to do, to want to do, to idolize and emulate, to represent. As Ander is finding their identity as an artist in general, and a queer Mexican-American artist specifically, and learning to own what they care about because they care about it, for not other reason(s) and regardless of whether they should or not, it's hard, but it's handled with care and nuance. The way Santi helps them with it is beautiful. And what it provides for Santi in turn is equally touching.

If I could say one thing about this novel, it would be this: it is so vibrant and full of freaking LIFE. It presents an important and necessary POV in a style that is the epitome of YA: funny and hopeful and messy/inappropriate (in the most wonderfully inclusive way), even under the shadow of very real threat/danger. This is why youth are the future, you can’t quash that instinctive belief that things will get better. Heartbreaking and spectacular. I saw fireworks while reading this.

“It’s a weird space to be in mentally, aware that I'm really good at something but still so afraid of the future.”

“I hate that sometimes liking that art I do seems like I'm settling for what people expect me to be doing. That they get in my head and make me overanalyze every idea I have and make me ask myself, Is it because I want to paint this, or is it because I'm supposed to only want to paint this?”

“There’s only us, here together in a moment that is both beautiful and frightening, for however long the world wants to give us. And we're going to make the most of it.”

“There are these moments where I can't tell the difference between authenticity and trying to make a point.”

“And with every touch, I am reminded that we are powerful. That our existence is powerful. That we can be both protector and protected. [...] ...we exist. Together. Right here and right now, with each other. ANd no man or government or racist ideology can ruin this. At least, not right now.” (my god it’s so unbelievably tender and, as I believe is the point but is also universal and should never be as easy to ignore as it seems to be, *human*)

“Fuck borders. Fuck some arbitrary lines that colonizers made up on land that doesn't even belong to them. And fuck how those lines have become a way to make people hate each other and fear each other and want to keep each other out and have no guilt about any of it.”

“Because time continues to exist whether we acknowledge it or not.”

“I wish that this wasn’t the world we’re forced to live in.”

Content Warnings

robinks's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-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? No

4.75

I enjoyed Ander & Santi’s love story, though some moments felt too predictable and perfect. I love Roque’s voice acting! Also, amerikkka sucks.

Content Warnings

abby_can_read's review

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emotional hopeful 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? No

Content Warnings

scrubsandbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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

4.0

A beautifully written love story with gut-wrenching commentary about xenophobia and deportation with an unexpected ending. I loved and cherished everyone in the book (except for the ICE agents of course).

Content Warnings

skudiklier's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was beautiful; I loved nearly everything about it. I loved the characters and their relationships, having a nonbinary main character, all the art, the way the book doesn't shy away from the really hard parts. This so perfectly captured the best version of falling in love for the first time.

This story is such a necessary depiction of how awful the United States's immigration system is, and it accurately and fairly villainizes ICE. It's heartbreaking and amazing and I'd recommend it to anyone. It made me cry but was still so joyful and hopeful in so much of it.

Also I saw a different review talking about how the gen z slang was too much, but I thought it felt pretty natural and realistic. Just to offer a different point of view with regard to that!

My only complaint is sooo small and I'm only bringing it up because I can't find any other reviews mentioning it and I just want anyone looking for this to know if this matters to them (but I'm also spoilering it because it's kind of a spoiler and also I don't want people to see me talking about this lmao):

I was a bit confused by how closed door it was? Not that I expected it to be open door from the start, but there were several little comments/lines that pointed towards it being more open door throughout the first third of the book or so. Like usually I feel like there are hints toward what will happen that help manage expectations, and this book kind of did the opposite--hinted at being open door then was closed door in the end. Which again, is fine, but I'd rather just not have had all those little comments at the beginning that made me think that. It was a little annoying. But overall not at all a huge thing in the scope of the book, and I still would absolutely recommend it and rate it 5 stars.

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sashahc's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Ander & Santi Were Here" by Jonny Garza Villa is a beautiful and incredibly funny romance between two teens: a non-binary Mexican-American and an undocumented Mexican boy both living in San Antonio. There is an incredibly supportive family that gives shade like they are professionals. There are queer friends and mentors and so much Spanglish. There is fcking ICE. The book overflows with art and food and music. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Content Warnings

beesjess's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful inspiring sad 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

andremay's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? No

5.0

I don’t know how coherent I can make this review, considering just how my thoughts are still all over the place, but here it goes, because I just loved this so much, I cannot let it go unreviewed.

This book was like a warm and cozy blanket on a Friday night during the winter. I was hooked just from reading the description on the back and the only reason why it took me days to read it was because I needed time to get my emotions back in check during tumultuous times and preparing myself for the inevitable (which hurt a lot, but thank the universe for the small retrieve during the epilogue), otherwise I would have devoured Ander and Santi’s developing relationship in a couple of hours.

Although I read my (huge) share of romance novels, a lot of the ones that are recommended to me end up being a huge disappointment due to focusing only on the romance and using every plot device to further that relationship without any actual character development, memorable plot lines or chemistry. This one was the complete opposite of what I’ve just described. It provided so much representation through characters without making the reader feel like the author just chose random sexualities and identities to please certain crowds. There were so many insightful quotes that a lot of POC and queer people can relate to, and they bring this sense of belonging and of community which wrapped around me tightly as if this book was my safe haven.

Ander and Santi were flawed teenagers who tried their best to navigate a world that was made to put every possible obstacle in their way and who, in just a few months, had so much personal growth alongside each other.

Gender and sexuality talk was written in such a real way, from Ander’s personal gender expression to Santi’s “I just like pretty people”. They weren’t made to fit usual stereotypes we see so many times in books recommended for having “queer rep”, the characters were simply unapologetically themselves, and a part of them happened not to fit the cishet norms in our society.

I loved the veritable discussions around undocumented immigrants (predominantly from Mexico and mentions of characters from South and Central America), and the characters speaking up against the injustice that kept happening, knowing it may not lead anywhere, but trying nonetheless because they knew they couldn’t be silent no matter what. The reality is as black-and-white as Republicans love to make it seem, and people deserve to live a full life, damned be imaginary borders humans have changed and fought over for centuries. US has been a stolen land for hundreds of years anyways, bold of Americans to feel so righteous when it comes to POC immigrants, with green cards or without.

ICE has been and always will be the real villain in these stories.

Content Warnings

fareehareads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad 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 AM SO EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTIONS

Anyway, I read this first as an alc with libro and I was immediately invested. The story felt grounded and comfortable in the way Cemetery Boys felt (minus the supernatural elements of course) but with a completely new environment and a very compelling pair of mcs. I immediately got my hands on the book and I must confirm that the cover is as gorgeous in person as it was on my phone. I devoured this book in a few sittings. Queer YA books by nonbinary and trans authors have begun to heal me in my mid 20s in a way that I guess I should have predicted (given the fact that I had NOTHING like this growing up) and yet books like this come along and rock me to my core whether I'm prepared for not.
I have no idea how young me would have actually felt if I had a book like this growing up, but I'd like to think it would have helped me understand quite a bit more about myself and the people around me. Onto the book itself.
This story follows Ander (they/them) a nonbinary gay artist, muralist, and all around incredibly entertaining main character with sooo much heart who meets Santiago, a boy they instantly fall for. Their relationship, their heartbreaks, and the breaking apart they are forced to endure, all of it was so beautiful and completely nerve-wracking to watch. I loved seeing them grow into each other, I loved that there was wayy more spanish in this book than I expected (literally took me back to high school when my honors spanish 3 teacher spoke to us exclusively in spanish for the whole year even when we didn't know what she was saying but she just expected us to know so we just had to catch on or get lost). I personally love that in these newer YA books. Like yeah, include the words these characters would actually say, thank you I will look it up on my own time. Also Santi is such a cute nickname for Santiago.
I could see a mile away what was coming for them but damn was I not ready for that ending (it's a good one I promise!!). I loved the nods to the art community throughout the book, I can tell that this author clearly knows someone or is someone that is deeply in the art scene, and while the bay area scene is quite different from San Antonio, muralists and street artists everywhere become mirrors, reflecting their people and communities through a visual language that you can read in basically every major city with various minority communities sprawled throughout this country (can you tell I know a muralist?). Also the cover art takes on a whole new meaning by the end of this book and I love shit like that.
I have read a handful of books that mention ICE or DACA but this was the first where the real world seeped into and attempted to destroy the beauty that was growing in this book. It was surreal to read. So much of what I read in fantasy books is an author trying to make you believe their stakes are high and their character's actions are grounded to their imagined reality. This story, this author, these characters didn't need that extra step. This is a present reality made fictional and this is the power storytelling can have. Especially for people who don't know anyone in these situations, or with these present fears weighing on them. So many people have been effected by these exclusionary racist immigration laws and the very real fear and tragedy Santi faced in this book was difficult but handled with the upmost care. I can literally gush about this book for hours and I may have to on a tiktok or something. But yeah, I hope a lot of people read this.
It was beautiful and I did cry 11/10 experience.

Content warning: Ice, forced detainment, mention of death

Content Warnings

imstephtacular's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

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