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sarahs_bookdragon's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book educational. It helped me understand the struggles Mexicans face with drug dealers, border patrols, and legal immigrants. There were a few times when a serious topic was approached and I was forced to think deeply on something I didn't normally.
However, I found the characters unrealistic and spontaneous. There was no character development, and the display of character personality was lacking. I felt that there were too many irritating characters. Most of them were a little ridiculous.
I didn't particularly like the humor, and the conflict left me somewhat disappointed.
However, I found the characters unrealistic and spontaneous. There was no character development, and the display of character personality was lacking. I felt that there were too many irritating characters. Most of them were a little ridiculous.
I didn't particularly like the humor, and the conflict left me somewhat disappointed.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD narrated by Susan Ericksen
3.5***
In the tiny coastal town of Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico, nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop and dreams about her father, who left for America years ago. Her Aunt Irma is campaigning for Mayor, and when a gang of bandidos begins to move in, the women and children of Tres Camarones realize that they are helpless – all the men have left for “el norte.” Inspired by a showing of Steve McQueen’s The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli and her girlfriends: Vampi, Yolo and Tacho (who is the local homosexual), agree to go on a mission to bring some Mexican men back from the United States to repopulate their village.
This is a quest novel, a coming-of-age story, and a road trip adventure, populated by one of the most eclectic cast of characters in literature. I loved Nayeli, whose smile is like the sunrise. She’s honest, fierce, loyal to her friends, and determined to succeed in her mission. Despite many set-backs – losing all their luggage, being mugged, caught by the border patrol, etc – she keeps her mind on their goal and keeps her troops together and moving forward. Along the way the warriors meet some people who help them: Porfirio and Ariceli, who share their meager shack and a meal, Atómiko, who is their best chance for getting across, Rodrigo, who rescues Tacho, Matt, a surfer dude and former missionary who welcomes them to his late mother’s San Diego house, and – my favorite – a librarian who provides the key to Nayeli’s quest.
Despite loving Nayeli, Tacho, Tía Irma and a host of other characters, I thought the novel was a just okay. The plot and message seemed to get lost in the quirkiness. I liked it. I’m glad I read it. But it wasn’t the kind of memorable read that gets a fourth star – at least not from me.
The novel is translated from Spanish to English, but still includes much Spanish and even some “Spanglish.” This may be challenging for readers who don’t speak Spanish.
The audio book is performed by Susan Ericksen. While she did a reasonable job with all the many characters she had one major flaw. Her Spanish pronunciation is TERRIBLE. Surely the publisher could have found a narrator with better Spanish for this very MEXICAN book. 1 star for her performance.
3.5***
In the tiny coastal town of Tres Camarones, Sinaloa, Mexico, nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop and dreams about her father, who left for America years ago. Her Aunt Irma is campaigning for Mayor, and when a gang of bandidos begins to move in, the women and children of Tres Camarones realize that they are helpless – all the men have left for “el norte.” Inspired by a showing of Steve McQueen’s The Magnificent Seven, Nayeli and her girlfriends: Vampi, Yolo and Tacho (who is the local homosexual), agree to go on a mission to bring some Mexican men back from the United States to repopulate their village.
This is a quest novel, a coming-of-age story, and a road trip adventure, populated by one of the most eclectic cast of characters in literature. I loved Nayeli, whose smile is like the sunrise. She’s honest, fierce, loyal to her friends, and determined to succeed in her mission. Despite many set-backs – losing all their luggage, being mugged, caught by the border patrol, etc – she keeps her mind on their goal and keeps her troops together and moving forward. Along the way the warriors meet some people who help them: Porfirio and Ariceli, who share their meager shack and a meal, Atómiko, who is their best chance for getting across, Rodrigo, who rescues Tacho, Matt, a surfer dude and former missionary who welcomes them to his late mother’s San Diego house, and – my favorite – a librarian who provides the key to Nayeli’s quest.
Despite loving Nayeli, Tacho, Tía Irma and a host of other characters, I thought the novel was a just okay. The plot and message seemed to get lost in the quirkiness. I liked it. I’m glad I read it. But it wasn’t the kind of memorable read that gets a fourth star – at least not from me.
The novel is translated from Spanish to English, but still includes much Spanish and even some “Spanglish.” This may be challenging for readers who don’t speak Spanish.
The audio book is performed by Susan Ericksen. While she did a reasonable job with all the many characters she had one major flaw. Her Spanish pronunciation is TERRIBLE. Surely the publisher could have found a narrator with better Spanish for this very MEXICAN book. 1 star for her performance.
abaugher's review against another edition
5.0
well-written and well-narrated. this is the 2013 Fox Valley Reads title. in an area where there are many Latinos, I'm glad to see we're finally putting a little ethnicity into our book choices!
a small town in Mexico has no men because they all went to the US to find work. Banditos come along and take over. Nallely and her friends decide to go on a quest to find seven ex-soldiers or former policemen from San Diego, like the Magnificent Seven. Nallely also wants to find her father, who went to Kankakee years ago, and never returned.
Before they even leave Mexico, the group of friends finds trouble. Somehow they manage to make it through each situation, sometimes a little battered and weary. America is amazing to them in its beauty, extravagance, and cleanliness. But, Mexico is beautiful to these people, and not everyone wants to leave it.
the perspective is one that would be familiar to many latinos, and refreshingly new for the rest of us.
a small town in Mexico has no men because they all went to the US to find work. Banditos come along and take over. Nallely and her friends decide to go on a quest to find seven ex-soldiers or former policemen from San Diego, like the Magnificent Seven. Nallely also wants to find her father, who went to Kankakee years ago, and never returned.
Before they even leave Mexico, the group of friends finds trouble. Somehow they manage to make it through each situation, sometimes a little battered and weary. America is amazing to them in its beauty, extravagance, and cleanliness. But, Mexico is beautiful to these people, and not everyone wants to leave it.
the perspective is one that would be familiar to many latinos, and refreshingly new for the rest of us.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
Very different from "The Hummingbird's Daughter," this enchanting comic novel follows a young woman named Nayeli and three friends to the U.S where they plan to recruit seven Mexican men to return to their village, fight off the narcos who have taken it over, and bring the little town back to life. Yes, she did get the idea from a recent showing of "Magnificent Seven" at the local theater, but why shouldn't it work? The only men left in town are the aged mayor and the gay taqueria owner. The residents of Tres Camarones want to stay there, have families, and live their lives among friends and family. Someone has to do something.
Their adventures are tart and funny, and take a kind look at people on both sides of the border. (Urrea takes the harshest view of the rapacious border Mexicans who pick the bones of border-crossers.)
"The Beautiful North" will not appeal to those who want to demonize one side of the other of the illegal immigration issue. But who can't empathize with Nayeli and her friends and their plan to save their town and pay tribute to Kurasawa? This lovely, lighthearted novel takes on a serious issue with heart and spirit.
Their adventures are tart and funny, and take a kind look at people on both sides of the border. (Urrea takes the harshest view of the rapacious border Mexicans who pick the bones of border-crossers.)
"The Beautiful North" will not appeal to those who want to demonize one side of the other of the illegal immigration issue. But who can't empathize with Nayeli and her friends and their plan to save their town and pay tribute to Kurasawa? This lovely, lighthearted novel takes on a serious issue with heart and spirit.
maysa_christmas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
luna_bear's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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
3.5
annahickman_'s review against another edition
adventurous
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
janewhitehurst's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for The Big Read and I put it off for a while, thinking it might be super dense or boring...but I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really loving the book. It tells the story of four friends in their late teens who live in a small, southern Mexico town. When they have a sudden realization that all the men in their town have moved to the United States to find work, they go on a mission to bring back the men. The novel weaves themes of friendship, family, poverty, illegal immigration, and patriotism into a really quick-moving travel story. I found that once I started reading, it was tough to put this one down.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 2012 Community Read for Kalamazoo. It is a good entry level book for those interested in thinking more about immigration and the relationship between Mexico and the United States. The writing can be quite funny. He tells the story of Nayeli, a young woman from a small town in Mexico who realizes that all the men of the town have gone 'north' to find work and new lives. She, and her motley crew, head to the US to find the men and bring them back to the village. Good story.
liz_morgan73's review against another edition
4.0
such a good book. propulsive and explores so many different areas of immigrants moving north toward the states - those with papers and those without, the difficulties, the scary parts, the beauty. It was so good and sad.