Scan barcode
A review by caitisbooked
Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content warnings: domestic violence, mention of rape, mention of murder
Furia follows the story of Camila Hassan, a teenage girl who's life revolves around playing football. However, Camila has to keep her football playing a secret from her family, to ensure she can continue to play football, and make it big like her brother and her love interest, which is her biggest love in her world. Known to her teammates and opponents as La Furia, due to her football abilities, Camila wants to move to the US to go to school there for more football opportunities she knows aren't as readily available in Argentina.
I am in awe of this book. This has to be one of the best novels I've read this year. I loved everything about it, from the focus on football, which doesn't overwhelm the reader with terminology, from the strong characters, to the story line. As someone who loves football and knows a fair share about it, I absolutely loved reading a YA book with such a focus on football, but it was so easy to read. I also loved that it was a female sports player as well. I feel like sports, especially female sports isn't a theme in YA books enough. I need more books like this.
Camila is one of the best protagonists I've read this year. She is such a strong willed character. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, even with her family and her knowledge that her family won't support her choices to play football. Her story line is an incredibly important one to read, especially about never giving up when things go wrong and family problems continue to arise and make things more difficult for herself and others in her family. She knows that her choices make her and she will make the choices that benefit her football career, even if that means turning down her love, Diego. Her relationships with other characters, such as her mother, Isabel, her best friend, Roxana, and her love interest, Diego, were a highlight for me. I felt like these relationships felt very realistic. I loved how Camila stood up to some of these characters (Diego I see you), and I loved how she stayed true to herself when there was arguments or disagreements.
I only have wonderful words for this book. The medium pacing of the story line is so well suited to this book as it continues to flow and doesn't feel too fast or too slow at any point. You don't just learn about Camila as a character, you truly feel her progression throughout the book and feel her become an even stronger willed young woman.
I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on Furia and read this amazing own voices coming of age novel. Camila is a character that will definitely stick with you for a long time. Although I believe it is a standalone, I would love for a sequel about Camila's future in playing football and if there is more closure to Camila and Diego's relationship or even if they reunite as well!
Thank you very much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.
Furia follows the story of Camila Hassan, a teenage girl who's life revolves around playing football. However, Camila has to keep her football playing a secret from her family, to ensure she can continue to play football, and make it big like her brother and her love interest, which is her biggest love in her world. Known to her teammates and opponents as La Furia, due to her football abilities, Camila wants to move to the US to go to school there for more football opportunities she knows aren't as readily available in Argentina.
I am in awe of this book. This has to be one of the best novels I've read this year. I loved everything about it, from the focus on football, which doesn't overwhelm the reader with terminology, from the strong characters, to the story line. As someone who loves football and knows a fair share about it, I absolutely loved reading a YA book with such a focus on football, but it was so easy to read. I also loved that it was a female sports player as well. I feel like sports, especially female sports isn't a theme in YA books enough. I need more books like this.
Camila is one of the best protagonists I've read this year. She is such a strong willed character. She knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it, even with her family and her knowledge that her family won't support her choices to play football. Her story line is an incredibly important one to read, especially about never giving up when things go wrong and family problems continue to arise and make things more difficult for herself and others in her family. She knows that her choices make her and she will make the choices that benefit her football career, even if that means turning down her love, Diego. Her relationships with other characters, such as her mother, Isabel, her best friend, Roxana, and her love interest, Diego, were a highlight for me. I felt like these relationships felt very realistic. I loved how Camila stood up to some of these characters (Diego I see you), and I loved how she stayed true to herself when there was arguments or disagreements.
I only have wonderful words for this book. The medium pacing of the story line is so well suited to this book as it continues to flow and doesn't feel too fast or too slow at any point. You don't just learn about Camila as a character, you truly feel her progression throughout the book and feel her become an even stronger willed young woman.
I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on Furia and read this amazing own voices coming of age novel. Camila is a character that will definitely stick with you for a long time. Although I believe it is a standalone, I would love for a sequel about Camila's future in playing football and if there is more closure to Camila and Diego's relationship or even if they reunite as well!
Thank you very much to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review and allowing me to participate in the blog tour.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Rape and Violence