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botlump's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
mom2stitch's review
emotional
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Perfect book to recommend to tweens who live in a violent neighborhood.
literarygoldrush's review against another edition
3.0
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Don’t forget to search Trigger Warnings before reading.
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Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
➿
This book was a unique read. Written as a 12 year olds diary this book covers a lot of topics from perceptions of womanhood, crime, family, borders, danger to females, etc. I felt like most of these topics were covered as well as they could be since a 12 year old was telling the story. Though I felt these topics could have been covered better if our narrator Julia was around 15. At times she was extremely naive and constantly repetitive that I almost wanted to just sit the book down.
➿
This one is written for middle grade and that’s where my review dropped a few stars. I felt this book was written for more young adult or adult readers. When I found out it was a middle grade I was honestly confused. I feel this book would make a bigger impact with its topics in a high school classroom or in a book clubs discussion.
➿
There was also a bit of stereotyping that I found disgusting. Throughout the book there is 1 plus sized character who is the stereotypical bully and is only referred to as Fat Nelly. I understand that this book is about a 12 year olds diary but the stereotyping of Nelly just didn’t sit right with me and bothered me throughout the books.
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Overall I felt it had some highs and lows. If the synopsis interests you I would definitely check it out! It is definitely an interesting read and I hate to rate it what I did.
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Synopsis: 12-year-old Julia 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. Cars and people disappear, leaving behind pet cats. Then Dad disappears and Julia and her brother go live with her aunt in El Paso. What’s happened to her Dad? Julia wonders. Is he going to disappear forever? A coming-of-age story set in today’s Juarez.
Don’t forget to search Trigger Warnings before reading.
➿
Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
➿
This book was a unique read. Written as a 12 year olds diary this book covers a lot of topics from perceptions of womanhood, crime, family, borders, danger to females, etc. I felt like most of these topics were covered as well as they could be since a 12 year old was telling the story. Though I felt these topics could have been covered better if our narrator Julia was around 15. At times she was extremely naive and constantly repetitive that I almost wanted to just sit the book down.
➿
This one is written for middle grade and that’s where my review dropped a few stars. I felt this book was written for more young adult or adult readers. When I found out it was a middle grade I was honestly confused. I feel this book would make a bigger impact with its topics in a high school classroom or in a book clubs discussion.
➿
There was also a bit of stereotyping that I found disgusting. Throughout the book there is 1 plus sized character who is the stereotypical bully and is only referred to as Fat Nelly. I understand that this book is about a 12 year olds diary but the stereotyping of Nelly just didn’t sit right with me and bothered me throughout the books.
➿
Overall I felt it had some highs and lows. If the synopsis interests you I would definitely check it out! It is definitely an interesting read and I hate to rate it what I did.
➿
Synopsis: 12-year-old Julia 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. Cars and people disappear, leaving behind pet cats. Then Dad disappears and Julia and her brother go live with her aunt in El Paso. What’s happened to her Dad? Julia wonders. Is he going to disappear forever? A coming-of-age story set in today’s Juarez.
abbytalksbooks's review
3.0
This story broadens your view point of what it looks like to be a child who lives on the border of the United States and Mexico.
The diary entry format, allows the reader to follow Julia's inner most thoughts as she struggles through the typical challenges of becoming a teenager, as well as growing up surrounded by violence & the choices her parents made in order for their family to survive.
This story highlights the differences between what it is like to grow up on either side of the border and is a great jumping off point for discussions in late middle school, early high school classes. I wish we had read a book like this in my Spanish classes.
Thank you OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for this ARC of the audiobook.
The diary entry format, allows the reader to follow Julia's inner most thoughts as she struggles through the typical challenges of becoming a teenager, as well as growing up surrounded by violence & the choices her parents made in order for their family to survive.
This story highlights the differences between what it is like to grow up on either side of the border and is a great jumping off point for discussions in late middle school, early high school classes. I wish we had read a book like this in my Spanish classes.
Thank you OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for this ARC of the audiobook.
destdest's review
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
Really good. Kids understand more than you think. The main character Julia’s narrative is very believable, even as the narrative gets more and more disturbing. There’s a lot of family dysfunction, growing pains, and narcos business.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Dementia, and Death of parent
inkdrinkerpdx's review
4.0
Julia, a 12 yr old, but almost 13 and don’t forget it, keeps a diary of her life in Juarez, Mexico. People say it’s the murder capital of the world.
It was hard to get into this at first because Julia is young so her thoughts are a little juvenile and choppy. But as the story goes on you notice her grow and try to navigate all the weird things she doesn’t understand. I could not put this book down a and was captured by the world through Julia’s eyes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
It was hard to get into this at first because Julia is young so her thoughts are a little juvenile and choppy. But as the story goes on you notice her grow and try to navigate all the weird things she doesn’t understand. I could not put this book down a and was captured by the world through Julia’s eyes.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
ekschulz's review
4.0
I feel like I learned a lot from this book and gained a valuable perspective. There were some moments of such beautiful language. On the other hand, the character's naivety and childish voice felt a little forced/fake to me at moments, as though she referred to herself as a child or fought for her maturity the way adults think 12-14 year olds /should/ more so than the way they actually /do/.