bethanysallbooked 's review for:

Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia

5.0

challenging emotional funny reflective sad 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

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This book is absolutely gut-wrenching. It’s based on the author’s real life experiences with his brother Daniel and how they were raised. It follows their lives from the time they are small children to grown adults. It is a true look at brotherhood and growing up.

This book is written in multiple viewpoints, from first and third person. It also includes illustrations that were gorgeous, beautiful lyrical interludes, and a lot of amazing proverbs. It was an incredible way to keep the reader engaged.

This book discusses in detail things that Daniel and Pedro went through, including constant physical and emotional abuse from their mother. They were also bullied in school. Daniel was a victim of sexual assault at the hands of the Catholic Church and he later contracts HIV. Pedro became a doctor who specialized in HIV and desperately wanted to save his brother. He did not succeed. When Daniel’s health deteriorated, my heart broke. 

I sobbed at the end of this book. As the chapters started to move toward the end, knowing Daniel is dying, I couldn’t hold in the tears anymore. These two brothers who didn’t have enough time to spend together as adults. They suffered and truly only had each other to count on. 

So so so well done. Can’t say enough good things about this novel.