A review by seskuh
Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta

emotional inspiring reflective 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

Growing up, I didn't have many opportunities to read books written by Hispanic/Latin American authors because my library simply didn't have many to offer.  Now that I'm a somewhat matured adult, I am happy to see this isn't as much of a problem as it was before.

I loved this book, I think the experiences were raw and real. I didn't experience life like Belén did, but I do have friends and acquaintances who shared a similar story. While I didn't entirely related to Belén, I found myself connecting with her during her moments of grief and the coping mechanisms she used.  I could see those parts of myself in her character, and when those moments happened in the book, I began to cry.

Leti was a wonderful and thorough side character that I loved to read about. She was supposed to be the well-mannered and smart good girl with a great future ahead of her. That is until she becomes pregnant and has a lot more on her plate now, her religiously strict parents included. I also saw a lot of myself in Leti's character, and so...I cried even more when she was faced with challenges beyond her control.

Shut Up, This is Serious handled a lot of difficult and raw experiences in a relatable manner. It addresses racism, colorism, generational trauma, and sexism (and more, too) in a way that I wish I would have had as a teenager.