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darquedreamer 's review for:

Malas by Marcela Fuentes
5.0
emotional funny 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: Yes

Vaqueros, punk rock, and Selena, oh my!

Malas was a powerful story of love, loss, grief, friendship, and family. It was a coming of age story full of grit, cultural beauty, and drama. It was about rebellion, strength, and acceptance. It was full of heartache, laughter, nostalgia, and amazing music.

This is the story I needed in my teen years. As a Latina who did not begin to truly embrace my culture until my adult life, I loved everything about this book, including the fact that I was so much like punky Lulu at her age. 

Woven beautifully with the Mexican and tejano culture was an outstanding story of strong women. Connections spanning generations. Superstition. Depression. Fighting against familial and societal norms and expectations. Self discovery, learning about where you came from, and figuring out what friendship and family truly means.


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