Note: I received an ARC of this book via netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review of this audio book.

Audio book narration: 5*****

Lori Felipe-Barkin has done a wonderful job narrating this audio book. The narration makes this book easy to listen to.

Novel: 3***

I have so many issues with this book, but most of all, it was hard to listen to because I never got invested in Julia's story. This is not a happy book, and it's a hard read without having something that keeps the reader interested. 12-year-old Julia is irritatingly naive. Maybe this is explained by the fact that she does not have internet access (so cannot learn what her family, isolation and school are withholding from her), only leaves the house for school or with her parents, her family is severely dysfunctional and her parents keep her uninformed on everything from what her dad's job is to periods.

The book is promoted as a glimpse at life on both sides of the US-Mexico border, taking place in Juarez and El Paso, but for a major part of the novel we are introduced to Juarez through the eyes of a naive girl who is locked away at home and only see the direct consequences events have on Julia's life (such as being unable to leave the house).

Despite the fact that Julia's mother puts her husband before her children's safety and happiness at all times, a 14-year-old Julia and her baby brother eventually end up living in El Paso with their Tia, Bis (great grandmother) and cousin Jonas. Julia suddenly turns from naive girl to angry teen but still remains hopelessly childish in her thoughts and actions. Her anger is justified, but it seems highly unreasonable for her to resent finally being in the place she had been asking to move to for years because of all it has to offer her.

Even once she lives with her Tia I had lots of issues with the messages Julia and the reader are given. When Julia gets lost after her third day at school and arrives home late she is greeted with a slap on the cheek and a conversation that includes: "It happens everywhere. Girls are never safe." Also included are such gems as her best friend explaining to her that ' she has her father's blood, she is just like him' (that would be an organized crime hitman) and none of these things are ever questioned.

The ending has some positive notes, her hermanito is playing on the street, her mother may be returning to the land of the living and she has settled into high school... but I would have liked to see some more supportive characters, a teacher or school psychologist, an after school club or more positive friendships. Ideally, I think some therapy would have been appropriate for both children after all they have been through.

I was excited to read this book and am aware how much books by own voices authors on topics like these are needed, but I think this one has missed the mark, especially with middle grade readers in mind. It may still be a valuable resource if read at school with the support of a teacher or librarian who can fill in any gaps of information.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All of the opinions are my own and this did not affect my review in any way.

The only thing I knew about this book was that it was about a little girl growing up in Mexico and that is all it took to get me intrigued by it. Moreover, the author is Mexican and I love supporting Mexican authors.

In The Everything I Have Lost we follow 12-year-old Julia, who keeps a diary about her life growing up in Juarez, Mexico. Life in Juarez is strange. People say it’s the murder capital of the world. Dad’s gone a lot. They can’t play outside because it isn’t safe. Drug cartels rule the streets. The Every I Have Lost is an impactful coming of age story.

This book is phenomenal on so many levels. The way the author tells us Julia´s story through her diary entries makes the story much more personal and impactful. This book is an honest and raw glimpse on what some Latinx people live through and I thank the author for telling Julia´s story.

The character are outstanding, they are definitely flawed but that makes the book so much more realistic and it is easier to connect with them. Julia is such a sweet girl who is just trying to find where she fits in in this world. We see how she grows up throughout the book and it is very pleasant to find out who she ends up becoming.

For me the best part about the book was both the descriptions about both cultures and the ending. I am Mexican so reading about my country was a very heartwarming and heartbreaking experience. I loved how the author didn’t shy away from talking about both the good and the bad stuff from both Mexico and the USA. I loved how the author managed to make me feel like I was there with Julia experiencing everything my culture has to offer.

The ending brought me to tears, I believe it is one of the most impactful endings in a book I have ever read. There is no big plot twist or something like that, but the reflection and conclusion that Julia comes to in the end just hit me hard.

This book in my opinion is a masterpiece, I cannot wait to read everything that the author comes out with and I truly recommend this outstanding coming of age story. This is not only an excellent book but it is also a very important book to read now a days.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me read and review this book.

I was granted a copy of this audiobook by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
The narrator of this audiobook was great.
We follow a perspective through diary entries of our POV 12 years old character, Julia that goes throw a lot, it’s is tough, this novel explores heavy topics along with the hard challenge that comes with being a teenager, and we see everything throughout the eyes of a young girl. The novel itself was very engaging and interesting to follow through. It became very emotional to see the relationship between mother and daughter.
I surely recommend this has a audiobook and book whatever your preference is, But surely the audiobook made it more intense for me.

Have you ever felt like your world was collapsing around you? Julia not only feels this is her truth she knows it is in a way you can only know when you are thirteen going on fourteen. She knows that her world is falling apart when her father's new job almost gets him killed, her best friend moves, away, and she has to cross the border to live with her Tia. She used to love spending time with her Tia and cousin in El Paso but now she is not so sure. Her brother Willie needs her to be strong and her Mom keeps saying its only for a little bit. Is she right her world is falling apart or is it just her tendancy to be a drama queent that makes things look so dark?

3.75 I love that this is written like a diary. It was a very good depiction of what it’s like to live in mexico with drug cartels and such. The author does a good job explaining everything through a child’s eyes. It kinda annoyed me that somethings were just glossed over and not really explained throughly... I wanted moreeee. But all in all a good coming of age story.