I loved Camila's position when it came to pursuing her dreams and how to reconcile with a relationship. I loved her, because she has an abusive father, multifaceted abuse for each member of the family, which leaves the family environment very polluted, but thankfully it’s not just Camila who starts flying at the end of the book, because your mother also flies, improving their mother-daughter relationship.

As much as I have a weakness for the type of love relationship presented in the book - childhood friends who became something else and how they have to deal with it - I couldn't root for the romance so much because of how much it consumed from the book, my modus operandi during the book was: "get out of there man, give Camila space to shine".

Full review on: https://deiumjeito.blogspot.com/2020/09/review-furia-yamile-saied-mendez.html

Camila loves futbol and has always loved it. She wants to get a scholarship to a North American university where she can play and maybe get into a women's league. The team she plays on is so supportive of her, especially her friend Roxanna and her coach. When Camila's first love comes back into town from Italy where he plays for one of the biggest teams in men's futbol she starts to lose track of that dream. He takes her mind off of the normal stresses she has and offers her a chance to be with him but the only way to do that is to give up those dreams.

Camila's family dynamics are a big part of her story. She has to hide her passion of futbol from her parents because girls don't play sports. When she is forced to confront her father and the expectations he has for all of the family things start to get a bit messy. I really felt the strained relationships Camila had with her mother, father, and brother individually. She has a unique relationship with all of them but they also don't always see and support her the way she needs to be. The development of each relationship throughout the book was very well done.

Furia is about family, love, and never giving up on chasing your dreams. I enjoyed seeing the cultural differences of Argentina. I don't read many books involving sports but I thought it was a really fun center point of the story and I could feel her passion for it.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great YA Contemporary read that touches on family dynamics, culture, and a touch of romance.

I'll be totally honest, I don't even know where to start with this story because I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS. Furia does so many things so incredibly well. The characters are amazing, the story is exciting/heartbreaking/inspiring/badass, the references to familiar things, the growth...ALL OF IT.

Furia is a powerfully feminist story in which we see the lead character fighting to break the chains restricting what women can be and aspire to in a heavy patriarchal society. Camilla, our passionate fútbolera, chasing her dreams of playing at the professional level in a landscape where women aren't afforded the same opportunities as the men, like her brother Pablo and childhood friend Diego, is nothing short of brave and inspiring. She knows what that pursuit could cost her but she also knows that she and her Eva María teammates deserve it. She is also steadfast in her determination to make her own way in life and on numerous occasions mentions how she refuses to gain freedom from her household and oppressive father on the coattails of a man, be it her brother or Diego. Watching Camilla grow into her strength as a young woman and make the hard but formative decisions that are best for her is so refreshing and inspiring. I aspire to live with more elements of La Furia in me.

The plot itself is also riveting. Following Camilla's fútbol journey and having to navigate the complexities of the secrets she's hiding keeps you on your toes. The romance is adorable and although it was present a lot, it blends into the narrative so well that it's never really overpowering. While her journey to make it to the next level is exciting, there are also incredibly dark moments. Camilla's father says some of the most despicable things to his wife, daughter, and as general comments on the world and especially women. As mentioned in the content warning there is also a moment where he escalates from derogatory and vile comments to an instance of physical abuse. The passages were hard to read but a very terrifying reality for many women that I think is important to acknowledge, reflect on, and have open discussions about. There are also very difficult moments

The romance and general relationship between Diego and Camilla is both absolutely adorable and at moments infuriating. You can really see the strong bond and respect that exists between them but there's also so many hard decisions that have to be made by both parties. I'd honestly pick up a sequel about these two in a heartbeat because I adored their dynamic!

As mentioned in my quotes section I was also LIVINGGGGGGG for the references to popular culture laced throughout the story. I love little ties to the "real" world woven in to fiction as it make the book feel a little more like home. I'm also a little in love with Nicky Jam and Maluma so there's also that. #shameless

FURIA by Yamile Saied Méndez @yamilesmendez
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Camila Hassan is an AMAZINGLY talented soccer player knows as Furia (Fury) on the field. She dreams BIG dreams and hopes to one day obtain a scholarship and play for a US team. Unfortunately, her family has no clue about her talent. You see, in Rosario, Argentina, girls aren't admired for their fútbol skills, boys are. And so in her household, her brother and the neighbor that grew up alongside them are the soccer stars. When her local team qualifies for a championship game that could lead to an unbelievable opportunity, Camila has to choose between letting her dreams slip away or letting everyone in on her secret. Considering she'd have to face her abusive father, crush her mother's aspirations for her, and let down the love of her life, this task is more daunting than any seventeen year old is ready for.
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I cried, I gushed, I raged, I fell in love, and I now feel the need to put this in young girls' hands. Stories such as this one, let girls know that they are not alone in what they go through, they empower them to stand up for what they believe is not acceptable, and encourage them to trust in themselves. They demonstrate how making tough choices when following one's dreams can be difficult, but ultimately worth it. These stories are unforgettable and necessary. Read it for yourself, then gift it to the young girls in your life. Allow them to be inspired. ❤️
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Big thanks are due to @algonquinyr for reaching out to me as an #ownvoices reviewer. Kudos to them for the effort they are putting into diversifying their bloggers.

I love stories where young women triumph over their odds and Yamile Saied Méndez gives us a glorious one in Furia with Camila.

Overcoming patriarchy is hard everywhere. Having to overcome it in your own family and country, and then add poverty on top of it can be impossible. Sometimes luck does play a hand in life, but so does sacrifice and dedication. Camila demonstrates all of these characteristics.

Her family dynamics will be familiar to a lot of readers as will the state of her surroundings. Méndez does not soften any of the characters, even Camila as she missteps with her family. There is a saying in the book, “a lie has short legs” and this will come true many times in the book in ways that are expected and illuminating. The struggle to escape makes people take desperate actions.

Méndez creates a dramatic story in the background which runs throughout the book in which every female’s lives are judged against. It is an intriguing technique to utilize to illustrate the patriarchal ideas which run in men and women. It is also a sad reality of life.

There is a brief moment of domestic violence in the book. Méndez gives us a satisfying resolution to this situation.

Overall Furia, is a coming of age story about Camila, who with nowhere else to go but the soccer field is determined to succeed there and on fields everywhere. You will be cheering “Furia” too by the end as Camila races across the field.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

It’s release day!!!

Set in Argentina, Furia follows Camila, a girl who has big dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. With a budding-soccer-star for a brother, it’s easy to say that Camila’s talent runs in the family. However, her family’s expectations of her lead her to hide her love and talent for the sport.

I found the pacing in the beginning a bit difficult to get into. However, once I got used to it, it flowed beautifully. Méndez wrote this so beautifully I felt as if I was right there watching Camila play. It felt as if I was right there with my own Diego, enjoying Argentina. I felt myself rooting for her: I wanted her dreams to come true.

While reading Furia, I found there were a few storylines going on at the same time:

Camila and soccer. The main focus of the book is Camila’s love for soccer. It also showed the various ways she tries to work around her family just so she can keep playing. Her ambition, determination, passion, and drive to go as far as her talent would take her was inspiring to read.

Her abusive father. One thing I realized since becoming a parent myself: I will sacrifice and do what is needed for my kids and family. Camila’s father was no exception. He gave up what could’ve been a such a successful career upon learning that he’s going to be a father. What I didn’t expect was the resentment. I didn’t see it at first, but the verbal abuse they get from him were scattered and would be about a range of things it’s so easy to let it go. They weren’t so hard to ignore once I recognized these little comments for what they are.

Society vs. girls / women. Firstly, girls disappearing was something that simply exists in this novel. No one knows who’s doing these horrible things. Also, they’re quick to blame the victim for what happened to them. The worst part, it felt as if none of the authorities were doing anything to resolve them. Secondly, given her gender, Camila’s family thinks she shouldn’t be playing soccer at all. Furthermore, social conventions prohibits girls from playing the game.

Furia is a feminist, coming-of-age story centred on a girl whose dreams of becoming a professional soccer player faces familial and societal hurdles. Given this book’s target demographic are 14 – 18 year-olds, Méndez wrote a character who they can easily relate to. A character who didn’t let anything and anyone get in the way of her dreams. A character who believed in her ability and talent. Most importantly, a character who knows the value of hard work, and understands that she can can become successful in her own right.

I had the great pleasure of reading Furia, and I would like to thank Algonquin & Algonquin Young Readers for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review.

I enjoyed Furia, and I'm glad I read it, but I probably got what I needed from reading it the one time. The reason I wanted to read this book was because I studied Spanish for over fourteen years and I love travel, so I was excited to find a book that takes place in a Spanish-speaking country as well as support an Argentinian-American author. I appreciated this part of the book, especially the social issues that Mendez weaves into Camila's story. However, I knew I probably wasn't the target audience for the soccer aspect of the story. Going in, I had low expectations as to how much I would enjoy those parts, and I actually enjoyed them more than I thought! The fact that the author made it about more than just the sport, but as a feminist statement as well was wonderful. I would love to see how Mendez's writing style improves and grows with her next works, and if she continues to include social issues along the way, then it will be a good balance.

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.

I loved this book. It reminded me of the early 2000's sports movies that I used to watch. I gave me all the vibes. As well as it tackled tough topics, family drama, and the main protagonist that is daring and inspiring. 

I loved the sport aspects of the book and how you integrate Camilia playing soccer. I had a clear vision of the game and felt like I was apart of it.

I loved the romance in this novel. You can easily fall in love with Diego and their chemistry flows off the pages. 

Also, I loved how Camilia was such a feminist and didn't want to receive any handouts when the opportunity presented itself to her. She stood by her beliefs and morals.

If you love coming of the age stories with sports at it forefront and romance mixed in. Then this is the book for you! 

Rate:  4/5

In her #ownvoices YA book set in Argentina, Yamile Saied Méndez’s new novel revolves around a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line to follow her dreams. Furia is a story of love, hopes, and trying to make something of yourself even when it seems impossible.
I loved Camila and her story! I loved that it was first person POV so that we really get a sense of what Camila is thinking and how she feels. She is passionate, determined, and such an easy character to fall in love with! On top of that, the little sparks of romance make this YA book even more binge-worthy!
The interweaving of soccer and the stigma behind being a female soccer player and a male soccer player is so interesting to read about and the little bits of Spanish and Portuguese made me learn a bit of a new language, too!
This is a fantastic YA story about following your dreams while living in a world that tries to bring you down! If your a fan of young adult books, ownvoices stories, or sports novels, then this is a great pick!

*I received an ARC from Algonquin Young Reader in exchange for my honest opinion.

Furia became that book that I didn’t know I needed until I read it! An incredible story discussing sexism, being a female fútbol player, family, first love, and following your dreams. This novel is the perfect coming of age. The story is fast paced and there’s no dull moment in the narrative. The writing is nice and straightforward, with some great Spanish additions. Camila “La Furia” is such an inspirational character and a great one for young girls to read about. Her tenacity and belief in herself was empowering. As I read, I could not help but cheer aloud for her. She is truly an amazing character.

Furia is a powerful read that you won’t want to miss!

Furia was an inspiring story about following your dreams - said that way, it sounds trite, but Camila is a character who has to sacrifice a lot, including her personal safety and security, to follow her dreams of playing soccer. By telling the story of a young woman's struggle to make something of herself in contemporary Argentina, Méndez has not only opened reader's eyes to a South American experience they may not know, but also created some real challenges for Camila to overcome. It made for a good story, and some very heart-wrenching scenes.

Ultimately I didn't love this book more because the pacing was so off. We are dropped into seemingly the middle of a story - I felt like I spent the first 40% wondering if I had missed parts or if I was just somehow supposed to know what was going on. I'm usually all for a quick exposition but this book severely lacked any sort of introduction to the characters and their motivations. Done well, it's possible for a book to overcome that in interesting ways, but unfortunately it did not work in this instance and created a real disconnect between the reader and the characters.

WEPPPAA!
This book is everything that I'm looking for in own voices book. I absolutely adore Furia, and this book has to have one of my all time favorite YA Romance.
This book follows Camila. She walks on eggshells trying to be the perfect daughter to her abusive father. She dreams of becoming a famous soccer star like her brother, and childhood friend Diego. She knows her parents won't approve of her playing soccer. So she secretly joins a local women's soccer team with her best friend. While on the field La Furia shines. Furia is her alter ego, the confident powerhouse soccer player who dominates the field.
This book is so much more than soccer. It shines a light on the gender roles that restricted her from playing the sport that she lives. It talk about violence against women in El Barrio. Women and girls who have gone missing and murdered one of which she knows. It shines a light on machismo and toxic masculinity, it manifesting in her abusive father and it's affects on their entire family.
It was just so beautifully done, I feel in love with Camila. I found myself hoping that she will achieve her dreams, and finds stability in her life. I highly recommend this book.

"One day, when a girl was born in Rosario, the earth would shake with anticipation for her future and not dread."
A book about chasing dreams, fighting against all suppressive elements and most of all patriarchy, Furia is powerful and inspiring in that makes it a point for the women to be relentless and empathetic at the same moment.
Set in Argentina, it is about Camila Hassan who is struggling between the hopes of her family for her safe future and her dream of becoming an international futbolera. She is burdened with shame, lies and guilt of having to hide her secret from her family who wouldn't support her because she can never make it, the kind of money her family needs why, because she is a girl, a black Spanish speaking struggling to survive against all odds girl.
Camila, the protagonist was strong willed and brilliant from the very start of the novel and I could not help but cheer for her, always praying for the ball to be in her court, for her to shine and lead her women on the same path to achievement. She instills the same fire and passion in others and particularly her mother, who serves as the ideal example of the oppressed or as Simone de Beauvoir says 'the second sex' who is not given a voice, being heard is a far cry and assists her in finding the courage to pull herself out of the clutches of patriarchy. The novel debunks the patriarchal society and the rules and restrictions that come with it by raising upwards the incorregible girls and the need and the want to become independent and strong is reflected through the protagonist and her strong will.
I loved this book and like Felix Ever After, I am left wanting for more, especially more of the subplot of Karen, Roxana and of course Diego and Camila, I could've read another n number of pages or maybe there's a sequel (publish it already!) There were some drool worthy instances that I felt were not elaborated enough and the botineras (footballer wives) who had been brutally stereotyped by Camila and the cringe worthy instances wherein the women did not support women. I just fell in love with the writing and the characters so amazingly shaped and everything. One.Amazing.Book.

Absolutely loved this book. It is filled with hope and determination for life. Furia is a character that will stay with you for a long time. You will cheer for her to succeed and come clean from her mistakes all at once. Great read for high school students. I also loved the descriptions of day to day life in Furia's Argentina and learned new things. Bravo for Furia!!!

The plot of Furia, a young adult novel by Yamile Saied Mendez, centers around the identity of Camila Hassan in Rosario, Argentina. To her abusive father and her isolated mother, she is a girl. To her fútbol star brother, she is the little sister with the danger of losing the closeness they once enjoyed. To her best friend, she is a companion and teammate. To Diego, who has made it big in the international soccer scene, she is the childhood friend who has become his romantic interest.

Overriding all of these identities is the question, who is Camilla to herself? As she keeps secrets and lies to each of those who think they know her, how does she live up to the view as she adds yet another group? Her public who comes to see her play fútbol, the biggest secret of all, sees her as a powerhouse and calls her La Furia. This is the dream that just may take her to a North American university on an athletic scholarship. Then there is Karen, the shy stuttering girl in the group she tutors, who begins to come out of her shell with Camile’s encouragement.

Time, place, and culture form an important part of this story, but any teen girl can relate to being told what one can’t do “because she’s a girl.” Too many will relate to an abusive home situation with her ill-tempered father. Many will know the tug between romance and following one’s own dream. My first impression of a coming-of-age story became layered as I traveled through the book, and became more and more engaged as her story drew me in. I would recommend it to any female YA reader or anyone who remembers that age and loves their stories.

I loved this feminist #ownvoices story about a girl coming into her own and chasing after her dreams. Camila (known as La Furia on the field ⚽️) is such a special character; she’s both strong and gentle, which is such a beautiful depiction of femininity. This is a book I want to press into the hands of all the young girls that I know. Camila is intelligent and brave and oh so determined to mold her life into one that she’s proud of and passionate about. She also teaches English to underprivileged kids, and her relationship with her student, Karen, was my favorite aspect of the story.

Since this is set in a place where machísimo is alive and well, there is a strong theme of feminism and equality for women. While there are vivid examples of abusive men, there’s also a beautiful (closed door) love story with the dreamy Diego, giving a more balanced representation of Argentine men.

I also loved being transported to Argentina while reading FURIA. If you’re like me, you’ll want to drink mátes and eat all of the yummy foods mentioned. And all of the Spanish woven into the story made my heart soar.

Thank you to NetGalley, Algonquin Young Readers, and the author for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to read everything Méndez writes!

FURIA is a solid feminist YA contemporary book that explores a lot of important themes: girlhood in a society that sees you as a burden, complicated family, and following your dreams against all odds. In Camila we have a strongly crafted protagonist who is determined, fierce, and not afraid to deal with her emotions and how things affect her. Even though Camila lives in a caustic household with a father whose temper is borderline dangerous and a mother who doesn’t understand her, Camila finds her own moments and spaces of peace. I liked that her romance with Diego wasn’t cheesy or toxic, but it also wasn’t a perfect romance, as the power of Diego’s love directly conflicted with Camila’s dream of playing fútbol. The way in which heavier topics are dealt with (toxic relationships, verbal abuse, missing and murdered girls, sexism and misogyny) paints a picture of how Camila’s everyday life is living as a girl in a world that would rather she be quiet and hide herself. I look forward to this author’s next work.

I could not have loved this more. I loved the way Yamile created Camila's world. I felt like I was right there with her. I love that Camila is so incredibly strong, but, also, she's still a young girl in a man's world. She has so many hopes and dreams and she works hard towards her goals. She's not looking for an easy out, she's not looking to stay stagnant. She's so incredibly hard working and I loved her so much.

I loved how the romance was weaved into the story. The romance is definitely second in Camila's story, her love of futbol and her desire to make a better life for herself are always first. Camila is not looking for a savior, she's her own savior. But, I still loved Diego of course. I mean, he's definitely an adorable sweetie.

Her family story was heartbreaking and really hit me hard. I was a sobbing wreck towards the end there. But, overall, I was so happy with how the story ended. Also, the very end definitely left me happy and turning the page and hoping for more.

An engaging contemporary YA novel with a strong, well-developed heroine. Readers will enjoy rooting for Camila as she pursues her dreams and begins to stand up for herself. Some readers my be disappointed by subplots that aren't fully explored or one-dimensional supporting characters. Recommended for readers looking for a non-US centered YA title.