Furia is a beautiful book featuring women empowerment and highlighting many problems that women in Argentina are facing, including teen pregnancies, domestic violence, rape and even murder.
Despite all of the obstacles that Camila is facing in her life the strives to become a professional soccer player. She has the talent, now she just needs to convince her parents to let her. I loved Camila "Furia" s character, she is smart, strong willed, and knows what she wants in life, but sadly some of the character development fell flat for me. Towards the end the story seemed rushed, as if the author ran out of ink and wanted to still bring us conclusión. I would've given her another 50 or so pages to give more depth to the family issues and the tournament itself. Overall, this was a great read and I highly recommend it.

Camila Hassan is such a strong and interesting character. I loved her strength as an athlete and the many facets to her. Argentina was brought to life with Mendez with writing. This is an important coming to age tale about resilience and what it means to be a young woman.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Wow, this book blew me away. I loved how Méndez wove together Camila's fight to follow her dreams with the feminist movement that was happening when the story took place. I feel like this is a great recommendation for many different types of readers.

While I loved the main character, the setting, and the story of a futboleria I did feel that the writing style was a bit choppy. I had a hard time following transitions.

I read this one for #latinxheritagemonth and I loved reading about the culture of the author’s native Argentina. I especially loved the way that the author blends Spanish into the dialogue, along with descriptions of the local food, and how she touches on social and political issues. Camila is a character that I think a lot of young girls will love, and it was so great to see her passion and ambition for football placed front and centre in this narrative. The only thing I didn’t love was the romance. I just didn’t really feel all that invested in the relationship between Camila and Diego, and I wanted more of the scenes with Camila and her football team. It just didn’t feel necessary that Camila even needed a love interest, though I did like how that particular narrative thread played out. The writing was also a little choppy to me, though I do feel like this would translate really well onto the screen (a la Bend it Like Beckham).

All in all, an enjoyable YA read which I think younger girls (particularly those interested in sports) will love.

Thank you to @netgalley and @alonquinyr for the free copy of this book. All thoughts are my own

Camila navigates her own way to adulthood under expectations of Argentinian society and her family. This YA read has layers to the characters and the setting.
Thanks to Netgalley and Algonquin for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Soccer/fútbol fans will definitely enjoy this book but so will teens looking for a book with a strong female role model who they can look up to and relate to. Furia is a strong, courageous and determined young woman who goes after her dream and doesn’t let anyone get in her way.
Furia is also a very intelligent and generous person, who teens can look up to as she works with young children as they learn English just like she did.

Mendez writes so beautifully including Argentinian words throughout and describing the sights, sounds and smells of the town of Rosario, you actually feel like you are there or at least you want to be there drinking some mate and talking with your friends. The relationships between the friends and family in this story are also so vividly described that you can relate to at least one character.

I have several favorite quotes from this book, but when Furia got angry at something her father said, Mendez did such a great job describing that feeling, “my tongue knotted, and the air in my lungs turned into steam. I took in the words in silence, but later, I’d purge them from my body”. I could sense the anger and fury building up and Furia getting ready to blow.

While I am continuing to post my regular content, the BLM movement is still going on. Please keep referring to my story and linktree to find ways to help out.✊🏻‼️

THIS REVIEW WILL BE POSTED ON MY INSTAGRAM ON 10/21/2020

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Hiii!! Welcome back to another Netgalley review! Super proud of myself for finishing another ARC, and I’m so excited
to review it for all of you.😁
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Furia is a YA novel centering on seventeen year old Camila living in Argentina who has two separate lives. In one life she is the perfect daughter who abides by her parent’s every wish. In the other, she is a killer soccer player, putting her older brother, Pablo to shame. Faced with issues of her family thinking that she can’t do what she loves because she’s ‘a girl,’ while also battling a crush on one of Pablo’s teammates, Diego. Trying to find her footing in life, Camilla pushes through every obstacle she possibly can so that she can achieve her dream of playing in the World Cup in America.⚽️
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This was a delightful read, but 100% not an easy one. It battled with extremely topics like abusive parents, as well as personal battles of sexism, even bigger issues as the terrible crimes happening in Argentina. Camilla was such a fun narrator to spend time with, and she had such a strong personality which I fell in love with from the start. The romance was a little iffy, and I thought that part of the book could’ve been done just a tad bit better, but I think this is a perfect book that came out at the perfect time. I cannot wait until other teenagers read it and become empowered by Yamile Saied Méndez’s gorgeous prose.🥰
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What’s the last book you read that really inspired you? Let me know!💋
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Dm me to talk about all things book or writing related! I’ll be looking forward to it! —Em😌

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This book is about a girl who lives in a society where its unusual for girls or even women to make their own decisions. So when Camila decides she wants to play soccer. Its hard trying to keep it secret from your family. As this novel progresses Camila has a lot of challenges in front of her. She has a lot of decisions to make in her life and decide who she wants in it and who she doesn't.

In a world where girls and women are discounted, abused, murdered, and disappeared, Camila Hassan fights for her right to exist and succeed. Although she is a gifted soccer player, better than either her father or her brother, she must keep her talents a secret from her disapproving family. Will she count on others to rescue her? Or will she own her fierceness and power on the soccer field as La Furia? An uplifting and powerful story of young womanhood and family and romance against the odds.

i was so excited to read furia because it was set in argentina, i lived in buenos aires for three years as a child and it is always thrilling to see a different perspective of a place i somwhat know. what is real and what is just memory isn't teased out with fiction exactly, but still it's lovely to see familiar landmarks in a new light.
camila is a wonderfully compelling heroine. her fight and struggles to reach her dreams are a true joy to read. we need more of this kind of #latinx representation in literature. not just about the diaspora, but also about the ones who stayed.

**furia will publish on september 15, 2020. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/algonquin young readers in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a late review because I’ve been so busy but this book was everything I wanted. It’s everything I love in YA books. The sweet first love, which was so perfect I almost cried because it sucks it’s not real life. Camila is a perfect example of what every girl should strive to be like. It’s perfect for young girls who read this book so they see that sometimes people won’t approve or support your decisions but if it brings you joy, do everything you can to follow your dreams. Camila really went through hell. I felt so bad for her at some points. But she’s such a strong young woman that I just knew she’d find a way. She’s a very complex character that pushes boundaries, stands up for herself and others, and questions everything. It was so beautiful watching her grow and her relationship not only with Diego (which was so sweet my teeth hurt) but with soccer. She was so passionate I loved it. I loved every single thing about this book and if you’re looking to get out of a slump... READ THIS!!!

Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez is realistic fiction, set in Argentina. I feel that Americans tend to believe the United States centers the world--everything revolves around us and we have little cares for others. Often people only travel in the United States and might not even absorb the different cultures here much less cultures from a foreign land. Take a trip to life in Argentina and see what you can learn.

In this novel Camila Hassan descends from several different cultures. She lives in Argentina where futbol (soccer) rules. Her brother plays for a national team and their father feels that he will save the whole family. He fails to realize that Camila has more talent.

Camila lives two lives. At home, she creates the image of an obedient daughter. She may not always come home on time, but she isn't like other girls, getting pregnant and becoming a wife, expecting a man to provide while she raises kids and takes care of a house with hardly any money. Her family believes that she will become a doctor and expect her to study. She does study and do well in school. She's worked very hard to speak English fluently and be able to teach English. Camila is close to her brother even though his destiny is supposedly to become a famous futbol star. Camila's mother gave up on happiness years ago. She loves her kids, but life hasn't treated her well. Her husband, Camila's father, lacks the ability to love. The world revolves about him and what he wants. He feels life has treated him badly and his family is partly to blame, so his son will save them all. Camila fears her father to an extent, keeping her from telling him--even her mother--about her real life and her real dreams.

Camila plays futbol with girls and they are really good. Camila hopes to get seen and become a player in the United States. She secretly competes, but the news does pick up on her furious playing and uses her new nickname: Furia. Camila has to hide her uniform, lie about where she is, and practice in secret in order to attempt to achieve her dreams. Her best friend is a great help because her family comes to all of the games and helps.

One day her brother's friend, Diego, returns home. He plays for a team in Italy and makes the town proud, for he is an amazing player. He has always had a soft spot for Camila. Now she has a third secret to keep: Diego. The media follows him everywhere, so people assume Camila is just one of his women. The thing is, Diego isn't a bad guy like everyone wants to say that he is. He cares for his hometown and he truly cares for Camila. The question is--do you follow your heart or do you follow your dreams? Camila wants out; the way out is to play futbol and she loves it--she's better than her brother; she wants away from her selfish father and the narrow expectations of her mother; she wants to be seen by American teams; and, she wants Diego. How? She's poor and lives in a town in Argentina. Can she do it?

I really liked this novel a lot. I like that Camila stays focused on her dreams. She makes a plan. She practices. She studies. She doesn't expect fate to take care of her. The plot isn't about luck; it's about skill. I also like Diego. His personality is opposite of how Camila's brother describes him, which shows jealousy. Diego actually cares for people and doesn't let fame alter who he is. I like that he learns to believe in Camila instead of force her into a stereotype. Girls--read this to read about making good choices and how actions can lead you to the future you want. You may even have a different opinion about people from other countries and how life is more dangerous and difficult than you thought. The United States can be a sanctuary for people and they will strive to contribute to this country. Diego and Camila have a chance. Their tenacity, skill, courage, and leadership skills lead them to their futures.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the eARC. 4.5, rounding up here. There is SO much to love here in this fully realized, well written, feminist #ownvoices novel about an Argentinian teen who dreams of becoming a professional fútbol player. Camilia, known as Furia on the field for her gifted and aggressive style of play, is hiding her participation on the team from her family, even though her own brother is a respected player moving up in the ranks. The reasons for her keeping this secret are nuanced, and Saied Méndez really excels at depicting Camila's complicated family life and Argentinian gender struggles as a whole, with a window (for me) into the Green Handkerchief movement. Beyond money and gendered familial/societal expectations and opportunities, a further complication on Camila's pathway to her dream is her burgeoning relationship with a childhood friend who is now famous and playing for Juventus F.C. Every choice Camila makes here feels authentic and earned, and the afterward that flashes into the future feels empowering. A truly impressive debut novel, I can't wait to recommend this book and I know that we'll all be looking out for more by Saied Méndez.

Camila is a girl with dreams. She’s living in Argentina in a community where violence and injustice against women is the norm, even in her own home.

Despite all the challenges she faces, Camila is a powerhouse on the soccer field and is constantly chasing a life as a pro.

This YA novel follows Camila (or Furia as she’s known on the field) through her love story with a childhood crush Diego (I also fell in love with him oops) and discovering more and more of her power as a woman.

I loved the way that Camila stayed true to herself and what she actually wanted for her life. Even during her relationship ups and downs, she never wavers on what she wants, never gives up on her dreams and goals. (Content warning: domestic violence)

Thank you so much algonquinyr and yamilesmendez for this ARC - I truly enjoyed this bright, inspirational story and can’t wait to share it with others.

This Argentine #ownvoices story is pretty special, and I definitely feel lucky to have read this ahead of release date. It ticked off five of the best Fs I usually look for in stories—feminism, family drama, feelings, familiarity, and fassion… I’m kidding, I mean passion for fútbol, of course. I thought it was almost perfect how everything came into place, contributing to the success of the plot rather than overshadowing or over-layering.

The story starts in Rosario, Argentina, and from what my search results has shown me, it looks like a beautiful and progressive city. But anybody coming from a developing place knows better, and so Camila’s dilemma of keeping her La Furia identity a secret wasn’t just some obsolete fantasy. So ‘seeing’ her excel in a traditionally male-dominated sport was a pleasure, something I think a lot of feminist readers would enjoy.

On the other hand, the family dynamics and drama were pretty brutal, which at times were emotionally challenging. But then again, because of context, it shouldn’t really be a foreign concept anymore. There’s poverty, obligation, and expectation, and I thought it was fantastic how the story was able to show the friction and disappointment caused by these things.

“What would it be like to have my mom come watch my games, comfort me if I lost, celebrate my victories? Now, that was wishing for the moon, and before I let sadness ruin the sweetness of this moment, I joined my teammates in jumping and singing around our coach.“

“For him, my whole childhood had been a business investment.“

Thankfully, there was a balance established and some early resolutions, in the form of Camila’s mom and through her fútbol team and coach (Alicia! What a strong figure), from which she got great support. It was a subtle yet skillful way to strengthen the example of modern concepts of family, and I wished there was more of it.

What there was more of was actually the teen romance, and while I want to say that I could have done with more La Furia on the filed rather than La Furia with the El Titan, I admit having a love interest in her childhood friend and international star athlete Diego was pivotal in terms of igniting that fútbolera dream in her. That just goes to show that we indeed should want someone in our lives who inspire and make us want to be the best we can be, right? Not to say they didn’t have their downs, but I found the approach to how their relationship grew smart because I could see each of their perspective on life and things and how they handled the problems that came their way.

“For you, it’s only black or white. But in my life, things aren’t so simple. I have to compromise. I can’t separate the parts that make me who I am: a daughter, a sister, a captain, your girlfriend. La Furia.”

Now did they end up together? I’d love to spoil you but I’d be taking away your chance to bask in a couple of glorious moments.

And speaking of those kinds of moments, it was equally a treat to have a peak of Argentine culture. Coming from and living in the Philippines, there were a lot of shared experiences, traditions, and even values that I picked up on. I for sure did a lot of location and translation searches as I read. Plus, the cast of characters is also multicultural, spreading the celebration of diversity even wider.

However, while I do think the elements complimented one another and built a remarkable story, I would have just loved to see more of Cami blazing on the field in the earlier parts, and less of her expounded rekindling with Diego. It would have been fun to learn more about the sport.

There is so much that is right with this book, and yet, it seems to let a lot of opportunities slip by. Camila is a teen in Argentina and that comes with a lot of expectations. She needs to be a good girl and behave in a certain way. That does not include playing soccer, which is her passion. It also doesn't involve dating, let alone dating a world class soccer player who used to be just another kid in the poor neighborhood where she lives.

Unfortunately, this is sort of where the story goes: to the soccer pitch and the successes that can be found there. And that's it. There is a secondary storyline involving the disappearances of girls in the neighborhood. I wish this had been explored more, in addition to the pro-female story of Camila and her team. I feel that the author sort of dropped the ball on what could have been an impactful story.

My thanks to Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for the advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set in Argentina following Camila also known as La Furia by her football teammates. We see the difficulties Camila faces being a girl in her society, having a dream and falling in love.

It was very interesting to read a book set in Argentina. The protagonist, Camila, felt very real. She was flawed and learning how to navigate life. I was drawn into the story with a writing style that made me want to keep reading. I am not a huge fan of sports stories but I loved the determination and passion show within this book.

Soccer is one of the biggest sports in the world. Children dream of becoming rich and famous like Ronald or Messi. Yet, only a few make it to the pros, while others sacrifice their life to try and reach their dreams. Furia is a heartwarming story against the brutal truth of what life for a Latinx girl really is. Furia is trying to make her way through life and not be in debt to her father nor leech off a man. She has a natural gift for soccer but is treated like an accessory. Saied Mendez brings the excitement, disappointment, and competition of soccer to the reader. Furia is an enduring protagonist who is strong, headstrong and the black sheep of her family. Readers will connect with her struggle to become her own person and fight against the gender restrictions placed upon her. Saied Mendez does not shy away from the real struggles teen Latinz girls experience day to day but rather gives the reader a glimpse of death, pain and happiness that occurs.

I honestly feel like it is so hard to start a book review for a book that touched you in many ways especially when you are not used to writing a review but filming one. In my case, my camera screen broke a couple of months ago therefore I need to write instead of speaking into a camera, which I feel way more comfortable doing.

Either way, I would love to start off this review by thanking the publicists and the whole team at Algonquin Young Readers for treating me with such care and genuine kindness. It reminds me of how much I want to work in this industry. When I was sent the offer to read this book in exchange of an honest review I was shocked at how much this blurb caught me by surprise. From that moment, I knew I was going to absolutely love this book.

Yamile Saied Méndez, followed me instantly on Twitter after I publicly thanked the publisher for having sent me the book and these past few weeks I have been discovering more about this author and how she is one the sweetest people in this industry. FURIA is essentially a love letter to the city Yamile grew up in and you can feel the love overflowing expressed through words written on the page.

As Yamile has mentioned in previous interviews, she writes from her heart and to me that is the most important aspect of your story telling because the reader always ends up realizing that what is happening on page is in fact real life and it makes you reflect on the challenges that our characters go through. It is important to mention too that this story is #ownvoices which I have been supporting since I became an active member of this community in 2013 and the main character of this story is Latinx just like the author is.

Camila, our protagonist, has been dreaming her whole life of becoment a fútbol player but as we know, society teaches us the wrong ideas about women playing this sport and how it is ridiculously portrayed as a masculine sport. In fact, female players are paid way less than male players and this novel fights against those wrong morals.

The book talks about such important topics that truly need to be discussed such as having an abusive father which was the hardest part for me to read during this whole experience because I could relate to Camila. Not only that but the patriarchy, misogyny and racism depicted will make your blood boil and I love a book that makes me think but most importantly, feel.

A story that will be fast paced featuring a love interest, fighting for basic human rights, and the exploration of how a teen girl is treated by the people that are supposed to take care of her but in the end they end up not believing in her power. Camila’s power and self-love took her to a brilliant spot in life and I genuinely feel like she would be my best friend.