I have so many thoughts on this powerful and moving #ownvoice ya.

This book is uber special to me because I come from a HUGE soccer family and I’m #Latinx. This book was basically written for me ❤️

I want to talk about the soccer side of this book before diving into the cultural aspects of it.

I want to talk about why the USWNT is so dominant. The US started supporting its women way before other countries did. I remember reading an article a few years back about a husband not letting his wife play in a regional soccer tournament. This really helps explain the battles Camila faced. Being a professional women’s soccer player is extremely rare, and even more so in other countries. Tbh women in the NWSL don’t even get paid enough (look up Sydney Leroux’s article with Forbes).

Her dad was sadly an accurate representation of a lot of Hispanic fathers. Machismo (chauvinism) is way too common in my culture. His thoughts and beliefs may seem over the top for you but it’s something we grew up being familiar with. The family dynamics was also spot on 😔

One my favorite things about this book was the blend of so many languages and cultures. It really captured how diverse people, cultures, and countries are.

Mendez nailed the soccer side of this book and that’s coming from someone who lives and breathes international soccer. The Juventus details were exceptional! 🤍🖤

She also gave us some age appropriate romance that I was really here for. It didn’t overshadow the message of this book and I love that. Camila harped about not needing a savior and being her own rescuer.


You simply cannot miss this coming of age book that is so moving and just makes you feel good.

I have to say that I stayed up all night so that I could finish FURIA, and I wasn't disappointed. I feel so honored to have been able to read an early copy of it. Coming from the angle of a White, gay male, this novel really opened my eyes to the life of Camilla in Argentina. Her fighting spirit rang throughout me the entire time. The writing style was perfect, and the cover pulls you right in. Thanks to this book, I will make more of an effort to read more books like FURIA.

Reading this story was really weird in a good way. I was reading a book written by an Argentinian author in English and it narrated things that even if they weren't that similar to my own experience, since I'm not from Rosario, were incredibly near to similar. Maybe I didn't recognize the street names, but I did recognize the mate with facturas. I might haven't found myself in the pasión futbolera for the barrio's team or the famous goalie, but I did see my friends and family there. Maybe my dream isn't being la Furia in professional fútbol, but I found myself in Camila and her passion for what she does, how hard she feels and fights.

I may have not found myself in Rosario, but I saw Camila in my friends and her mother in a couple of mothers and grandmas I know. I saw someone I don't see anymore in Marisa, and I saw a second grade girl I once met in a really poor school in Karen. I see Eda every time I turn on the TV. And that's why Furia is important.

We first get sold on fútbol, and yeah, it is about fútbol. We experience everything in this story through fútbol, from family dynamics through love to dreams and goals of our protagonist and everyone she knows. To be honest, I don't really care about fútbol. Like, at all. I don't get hurt by the stereotypical fútbol-loving Argentine trope, but I couldn't care less for having the shirt or the autograph of a certain player. You're lucky if I ever remember to watch Argentina matches when the World Cup's on.

But loving this book this much shows how important it is, even if you don't like fútbol.

Furia is about fútbol, yeah. It is also about love, friendship, identity, our roots and gender violence, street violence, child poverty and the reality of those who grow up way too soon not really having a childhood, yet not being really adults. The topics didn't always convince me while I was reading, but at the same time I felt it was way too mine, too similar to what we all live every single day, mostly in most remote and poor barrios.

The author narrates this story through the sharp and crude eyes of a teenager that already went through too much. Many of these experiences aren't mine, yet I felt them on my skin every single time. The scenes at the merendero, for example, broke my heart because I've seen them for myself. The scenes with her father, mostly those where she suddenly remembers she didn't lock the door that night and that she's only wearing a Juventus shirt and her underwear, gave me goosebumps.

It is sincerely one of those books that I'm really happy I got to read. First, because it's really weird reading myself in a book published in another language, in another country, marketed for a very different public: when she describes the mate's afteraste as green I wasn't really impressed, but at the same time my mother gave me a mate and after that I couldn't help but think yeah, that aftertaste tastes like the concept of green, and not only because of its color. I might sound as if I'm bullshitting this, but I didn't feel this kind of feeling of proximity with any US published book ever before.

Second and mostly because I liked how she treated the book's topics. I think the feminist scenes, thoughts and its topics could have been introduced less abrupt way, but even then I'm thankful our green handkerchiefs can be now read in other countries. How many times do we read here's a thread on what's happening in x country on Twitter? How many times do we get updates on marchs, countermarchs, social movements and activism from the US, while we don't even know what's happening on the other side of the General Paz?

Talking about not only the machismo so, so rooted in our society but also about the gender and family violence, the grooming, children poverty, the hunger at the barrios and the rupture of family cycles is something we need to see, read, consume for us to experience them, if not on our own then through someone else's voice.

Furia is a beautiful and needed book, and its tiny details I have to criticize exist only because I searched for, as we say in Argentina, the cat's fifth paw. It's in its essence a feminist and liberating book that's about fighting for your dreams and believing in yourself.

And we're all Eda. They keep blaming us for our mere existence and they keep on killing us. Let Eda be the last victim of patriarchal violence in both a fictional world and our reality. The Ni Una Menos movement is as present as ever ✊🏽🔥💜💚

More like 3.75/5

HEY HI IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN OWNVOICES REVIEW THIS IS IT, I WAS BORN IN ROSARIO, I LIVE IN ROSARIO WHEN THERE'S NOT A GLOBAL PANDEMIC GOING ON!!

Okay so, as someone who went back to Rosario as a uni student my experience in it and whit it is entirely different from Camila's. I've never really been to her barrio, though I've passed by, because it's so freaking far away from anything and everything. I do go to zona sur literally every single day since my uni is there (that's where El buen pastor is), and I know la costanera even though I go there way less often than I would like to. Central's stadium I've passed by but I'm not really interested in. Unlike Camila I couldn't despise fútbol more so the fact that I gave such a high rating to a book that centers around it speaks volumes about the quality of the author's writing.

But despite all of our differences, the book truly captured what it is to be rosarina. There's something I can't quite explain about the family dynamics, the atmosphere, the small day-to-day gestures that spoke to my personal experience. And I don't even like mate!! But the curandera, the noisy neighbors, the monoblocks, sitting by the river watching the sunset, taking public buses, the small barrio clubs, not having a phone when everyone else does, the way christianity is woven with charity work, the green handkerchiefs, buying facturas first thing in the morning. It's always the little things that make a work of fiction feel real, and this book hit the nail on the head.

As for the plot, I had to suspend my disbelief for a bit but I liked it overall. As I said, fútbol is not really my thing at all so I couldn't connect with Camila in that department, but I didn't find it boring at all. The matches kept me on the edge of my seat long enough to power through them and get to the parts I was more excited about. Camila and Diego's relationship felt so real, too, and it might be because it wasn't easy and it wasn't really a happy ending, either. There's some things that love just can't overcome and it's okay because it's not the end of the world to be 17 and single. I loved that Camila put herself first every step of the way.

What I would've liked is for the feminist movement to be a stronger plot point. I think Eda's march was supposed to feel like a turning point for Camila but it was rushed, and the author didn't get into how it feels to be in the middle of a wave of women crying and chanting because we don't want any of us to be the next reason to march. It's such a large part of my and my friends' life, and I don't think it got enought page-time in this book.

To round up, we need more books set in Rosario. I'm begging please.

Amazing!
What a powerful book for girls and women to read. A wonderful YA, coming of age, feminist book set in Argentina, all about a girl's dream of playing soccer (Argentina Futbol). But it's not only about soccer. It's about the darker parts of life in Argentina, a family that is scared of their father mixed in with a little bit of childhood romance. This book is not only empowering for #ownvoices females, but for ALL females with a dream.

Camila "La Furía" Hassan has been keeping a secret from her family. She has been playing on a local soccer team with other girls that have a passion for the game. Her parents have only let her older brother pursue his love of soccer because "girls don't play sports" after a certain age. But Furia is just that. She has a passion and we get to see it played out on the field. The images the author uses to describe her playing style just flows right off the page. I could see Camila on the pitch and being taken over by her love of the game. I was there and I saw the passion dripping from the pages. This wasn't just a game, this was a way of life for her and she was going to make it happen any way she could. But keeping it a secret from her family won't hold for long once her team qualifies for the big SudoAmerican tournament.

"We'd made the space. We'd filled in the cracks of the system and made room for ourselves where there was none. No one had given us anything. We had taken it. But no one wanted to hear the truth."

But Camila's love of the game is further complicated by a childhood friend that returns home to visit Argentina from Italy where he is playing professional futbol. Diego and Camila have grown up together along with her brother. But he wants more from her and she isn't sure if he is enough. She wants futbol AND Diego. Can they survive distance and a difference in opinion? Or will Camila continue to carve out her own path?

I loved the messages in this book and I loved how strong of a character Camila was. Her strength passed onto her brother, her mother, her teammates, and even to a child she ended up teaching. The way Argentinian life was portrayed was heartbreaking, but obviously real and something that I'm glad the author addressed. She didn't shy away from the hard subjects, but dealt with them carefully without going too deep into the matter. This was a girl's story. A girl's dream. A girl's fight to conquer what she had set out to do with so many hurdles in her way. I enjoyed each moment of it, even when life got hard.
This book has so much passion put into it and you can feel it. I hope many girls with dreams and with goals will get their hands on this book. It's needed in this day and age when much of what women here is 'you can't do that'. Yes, YOU CAN! And you will!
Highly recommend this powerful and stunning book by Yamile Saied Mendez

"I don't want you to save us, at least not in the way everyone else does. I want you to break the cycle, Camila."

Fierce!!!!!!!
That's the only way to describe this book and Camila's passion.

I do hope that young girls all over the globe will keep breaking the cycle of patriarchy and leading new paths for others to follow.

Read the rest of my review on the blog:
http://www.oliviasose.com/furia-by-yamile-saied-mendez-book-review/

Furia was a story that swept me away from the start with its resilient protagonist and message of female empowerment. It was great to read a about a girl’s passion for sports set in South America, as the cultural aspect really impacted my reading experience for the better.

~★~ What is this book about? ~★~

Camilla is a seventeen year old living in Rosario, Argentina. Over the years she has grown used to concealing her love for soccer, as her strict mother and abusive father would never approve of something like this from their daughter. Her brother being a rising-soccer star only fuel’s Camilla’s dream, and so she has made a routine of lying to her parents every time she goes to soccer practice. As her talent reaches great heights, Camilla believes she may be on the edge of a breakthrough to something huge.

~★~

Camilla was a truly brilliant protagonist. She was strong willed from the very start of this novel, and I couldn’t help rooting for her. It was amazing to follow her through every hardship and success as her future became ultimately bright.

The writing flowed at a great pace all the way through; I ended up finishing this book in one sitting because I simply couldn’t put it down. The author’s Argentinian culture was integrated into the narrative so well, I really did feel like I was in another continent while reading.

Best of all, I felt empowered by Camilla. She never gave up hope when things seemed dark, and always continued to push towards her dreams. It was wonderful to see the love and friendship between girls in this book; I had such a great time reading!

This is a story I cannot wait for others to get their hands on. Furia is magical in it’s own way, with a protagonist’s voice that is sure to stick with you for a long while. This was a complete gem of a book.

I was | | close to rounding up on this one because there are aspects of this story that are so strong, so wonderful, but I can't quite boost it.

<i>In my barrio, most of the people didn't know my name or even that I existed. To them, I was only Pablo's sister, or Andrés and the seamstress' daughter -- my mom, too, was nameless. But I was determined to leave my mark.</i>

If what you've always wanted in life is a YA version of KULTI by Mariana Zapata but with a heavy dose of feminism and very relevant, and present, topics of life in Argentina, you absolutely have to pick this up. This story is both empowering and heartbreaking and sometimes those conflicting feelings are rooted in the same moment.

<i>Fútbol could do that -- make people forget about the price of the dollar, the upcoming elections, even their love lives. For a few hours, life was beautiful.</i>

There were many triumphant moments both for our protagonist, Camila, and for her team. But not every triumph was due to winning. I loved how the author made a point to balance this group of women's ambitions, including that of the coach, but constantly remind the team -- and through them, us -- to play for themselves, for joy, no matter the score. I feel like if you take away nothing else from this story, particularly the younger readers, that would be enough. But there are even more powerful messages within the pages, too.

<i>I'd leave the house the first chance I got, but not by chasing after a boy, including my brother. I'd do it on my own terms, following my own dreams, not someone else's. </i>

I think what really took away some of the enjoyment for me were the family dynamics. I have no doubt it is more common than not but some of it just felt a little OTT or extra and while much of it shaped Camila, drove her, to be something else.. I don't know, I just wanted those moments over with. So that's definitely a personal thing. As for the romance, I initially thought it might have been the weaker element of the story but I was pleasantly surprised to have been wrong and, also, surprised by how that turned out. No spoiling!

Overall, I think this is definitely a book worth picking up, even moreso as it's #ownvoices. And, I mean, did you read Micky's review? Even I wanted to award this five stars after reading her thoughts -- and even though I'm not, I would definitely read this author again.

3.5 stars

Yamile Saied Méndez’s Furia ignited my inner feminist.

Camila Hassan’s family dynamics set the stage for multiple confrontations as she leads multiple lives: the dutiful daughter, the talented soccer player, and a woman seeking equality and respect.

As a daughter, Camila sees how her mother cowers to her father and accepts the limitation he and society place on her. The freedom and respect Camila feels on the pitch juxtapose the two worlds in which she lives creating a conflict that is authentic and relatable for someone feeling limited or restricted by family expectations and societal norms. Camila’s internal struggle adds another dimension and perspective to the story.

As Camila evolves, I found myself cheering for her as she confronts her detractors. The universality of her struggle adds to the novel’s appeal and is a book my students will relish.

I am definitely adding Yamile Saied Méndez’s Furia to my classroom library and look forward to discussing the many conflicts Camila tackles.

I received Yamile Saied Méndez’s Furia from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't really know how to start this review, I'm not even able to describe how much gratefulness I feel for the existence of this book. This is the unapologetically argentinian and feminist tale of Camila Hassan, a rosarina with big dreams and a powerful voice. I loved every second of it and I'm leaving this book sort of speechles, sort of teary but very emotional and very eager to read it again.
Camila is forced to live a double life. At home she has to be very careful, between pretending to be what her mother thinks she has to be, living in the shadow of her older brother (rising fútbol star, the stallion), the abusive rule of her short-tempered father and hiding her true passion, fútbol.. When she is out playing on the field she is better known as la Furia, the dynamite that exudes talent and hard work. However, things start to get complicated, as her team qualifies to the Sudamericano. This tournament might just be her chance to show she's got what it takes to chase her dreams and play professionally abroad, somewhere where they respect and aprecciate her craft, but at the same time, this tournament requires her family's sign, and her Furia-power. With her childhood sweetheart, international star athlete Diego Ferrari, back in town, Camila will have to hold on to her ambitions and her core to navigate her way through a world that doesn't exactly welcome girls with dreams like her.
This story has a lot of heart and pulls the reader in from moment cero. It's very endearing. From the well-developed complex characters to the action on the field, it fully enganges you. Even the romance I found it to be very sweet and I was extremely satisfied with where the story decided to take it.
Like I said earlier, the characters are great. They are real. I've met these people (even those who I wish I hadn't). Even very secondary characters who only said one line, I've come across them in my life. This story felt real because the people were real, and that's the beauty of it. It has those details, even though it's contemporary, it is palpable that the world was very well constructed and thought-out. And this reality didn't take anything from the feeling of the story.
In adittion, the message and representation are awesome. I can't get into specifics because I will start crying again, but this book does a wonderful job of denouncing and empowering at the same time. It's very inspiring. I wish girls (and boys) from here in Argentina and everywhere get to read the story of Camila, and Roxana, and coach Alicia, and little Karen, and Camila´s mom, and the team, and everyone who reaches from the page to be heard. This book felt like holding my mom's or my friend's hand when mourning those who aren't with us anymore, yelling a victory gol en la cancha, a burn of ambition and love, and the howl of our past ancestresses leading us to the future, all simultaneously.

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez was a beautiful read. During the story we follow Camila known as “Furia” a talented soccer("futbol")  player who has to hide her love and passion for the sport due to her parents believing women shouldn’t play sports. Much to her dismay she constantly lives in the shadow of her older brother Pablo, a rising soccer player. One day Camilia’s former love interest Diego returns, as their romance rekindles Camilia is forced to decide whether she’ll go with Diego to Europe or go against what her family wishes and follow her dreams to play professional soccer in the US.  
Camila was an amazing character that I admired. She overcomes so much during the story. I loved her strength, her passion and her ambition to achieve her dreams especially dealing with pain from her abusive father and not having the support she needed. She was so relatable and I was able to connect to her. My heart went out to Camila and her mother, struggling to allow their voices to be heard in a country that is so male dominated. With some men that view women as objects, possessions and even punching bags. 
I enjoyed the relationship between Camila and Diego; they had amazing chemistry. Their relationship never felt rushed or forced. I like that Camilia didn't lose sight of her dreams or what she wanted in order to make Diego happy during their relationship. She stayed true to herself. 
I admired the author's writing and discussed specific topics in the story such as domestic violence, family dynamics, women's role/rights, masculinity and romance/relationships. The way Yamile Saied Méndez used soccer as a tool to discuss misogyny was done in such an incredible way. 
Although I enjoyed the read, I did feel the ending was a bit rushed Overall, Furia was an impactful read. Thank you Netgalley and Algonquin of the ARC.

At home, in her barrio in Argentina, Camila Hassan is the dutiful daughter who follows the strict rules of her home, lives in the shadow of her brother the rising fútbol star, and avoids her abusive father's short fuse.

But Camila lives a double-life, and on the fútbol field she is fierce, she is La Furia, she is a powerhouse that leads her women's team and has dreams of playing in North America.

Living two lives is not easy. When her brother's friend and international fútbol star comes back to town, she can't deny the fire that's kindling between them, but she has to focus on her own dreams. As her world comes crashing down around her, Camila is forced to publicize her secret life, but at what cost?

Furia is a great blend of Argentine culture, first love, and fútbol action on the pitch.

This phenomenal YA presents an engaging and memorable main character that readers will cherish, along the lines of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. The author presents universal themes of YA in the context of a unique story. Students who are fans of sports books will particularly enjoy this title. Highly recommended.

This reads as an Argentine version of Bend it Like Beckham, albeit a version filled with a very authentic background in Argentinian society. Camilla's devotion to her team and concern for her brother and mother will resonate with readers who are deeply into sports; the history and concerns in Argentine society at that time don't overwhelm but will inform readers looking for #ownvoices insights.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

This is a compelling story full of heart and feminism and kick-butt female athletes. I have no interest in soccer, but that didn't put me off at all; the soccer parts are really well-written and the story is much more about the relationships and deeper wants, while still having plenty to offer the reader who does love soccer. The Argentina setting is vividly drawn.

I loved everything about this book - strong female characters, soccer/futbol, family relationships, finding your own way in life... Camila "Furia" Hassan is a complex character who constantly pushes against the expectations of her family, her controlling father in particular, as she fights to make her own path in life. This a must-have for my classroom library.

Wow!

This was a fantastic feminist YA, with coming of age themes all set in the context of futbol in Argentina. I love a sporting context book especially those empowering women and if you want a YA that strongly empowers young women, then look no further. There is a romance in this story but it is pitched well and doesn’t overpower the story or the amazing heroine Camila ‘Furia’ Hassan.

Set in the barrios of a city in Argentina, the background for FURIA was rich, vibrant, dangerous and varied. The environment was one where women were oppressed but fighting for equality, rights, a life and dreams. There were background story lines that painted a picture of life for all females especially children and young women that were chilling.

Camilla ignited my interest like a flame with her hopes of becoming a professional futbol player and going to the USA where there were more possibilites. In fact, Camilla had familial credentials in professional football but no-one was championing a young women like Camilla, no matter how talented she was.

Camila however, had drive for her dreams and played secretly in a team. I loved the scrimmage and match play narratives, the description was excellent and I truly felt like a spectator watching ‘Furia’ come alive. Camila’s dream and life was complicated by Diego, her childhood friend returning for a visit from Juventus. Sparks ignited between these two and it was something real and beautiful.

This story took a direction that made my feminist heart sing for Camila. The decisions and sacrifices she made; the fights physical, verbal and emotional were all worth it to have hope. This was a read of excitement, beauty in the barrios and characters to feel truly wrapped up in but most of all it conveyed an empowering message for young women.

I highly rec this book, it’s going to be a favourite of the year. FURIA, FURIA, FURIA…(in football chanting song).

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for the early review copy.

I absolutely loved this book. Camila Hassan wants to play soccer professionally and spends much of this book secretly practicing for the FIFA Sudamericano Tournament. There is so much that Camila has to overcome including an abusive father and a society that is very negative towards women. I think Camila is a strong character who knows what she wants in life and isn't afraid to push boundaries and will not settle until she reaches her goals. Camila's father is a very toxic man. One of the things that I hate about some men is this sense of machismo, and that is exactly how I would describe Camila's father and the culture of society in this book. I really found myself rooting for Camila and I wanted her to succeed. At the same time I also really loved how her relationship with Diego grew and progressed. I found myself wondering how she could balance her dreams (which seemed impossible) and being in a relationship with someone who was so famous and had an entire life in a different continent. The pacing in the beginning and middle of the book was excellent, but I did feel the ending was a bit too rushed, especially the events after the Sudamericano games. Still, I really enjoyed this book.

Thank so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book. I was so excited to read this book and I ended up not being disappointed.

I loved this. I loved the family dynamics, the soccer (futbol!), and even though I'm usually way too gay to enjoy hetero romances (but the perfect amount of gay for a good sports book), I even was entirely compelled by Camila and Diego, and the tension that following her own dreams or being with the boy she loves created. I'd also read an entire book just about Coach Alicia, which is both a testament to how much I love badass older women and how well written the secondary characters in this book were.