A review by amandalorianxo
Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This would be perfect for both middle school students and possibly freshmen in high school (mostly due to the higher-level vocabulary that is present throughout the novel.) I love the take on so many different ideas and concepts that make you think. The short chapters make the story manageable to break up in chunks. For kids that are looking for Mexican representation while adding illustrations that continue to lure you in, this book hits the mark. I did realize about a quarter ish of the way in that this was a little more emotional than I anticipated but if the kids are told ahead of time and are emotionally equipped, the content is not as intense as they might assume. Family, choices, fate, love, and some philosophical ideas are told in a way that is easy to understand. You root for Clara and Esteban throughout the entire story & while the end was bittersweet, you are swept up from beginning to end. 
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