Review by hannahleelovestoread - Gone to Ground

hannahleelovestoread 's review for:

Gone to Ground by Morgan Hatch

5.0

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Javier is a Mexican-American high school senior. Tough and jaded but an excellent student headed for college, he is deeply concerned for his younger brother, Alex, who is a target for initiation into the local gang Denker Street. Meanwhile, the mysterious and sinister George Jones — whose motto is, “Some people flip homes. I flip zip codes,” — is determined to remake Javier’s neighborhood to his liking, provoking civil unrest and even seemingly natural disasters.

This isn’t a light read or an easy one, but it’s a skillfully written story. I was captivated by so many of the themes featured within it: the brand of resilience unique to children and young people; the fierce sense of duty and protectiveness that first-, second-, and even third-generation male immigrants feel towards their families; educators’ genuine desire to see their students succeed; and more. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a literary gamechanger.

Content Warnings