Hurdles in the Dark by Elvira K. Gonzalez is a triumph! It will engaged even the most reluctant of readers and is extremely accessible nonfiction read. A must add for the teen collection.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a fascinating and inspiring read. This young woman went through so much in her life, and it was definitely an eye opener to what a lot of people unfortunately go through! Definitely an impactful read, and the author did a great job as the narrator as well.

It’s always hard to review non-fiction because what can I even say besides I don’t like the way the story was told? It’s factual information and I was either interested or I wasn’t. And this one had me riveted. But I can say without a doubt I had to take breaks. I just couldn’t read this in one go.

Ok so the reason i couldn’t read this in one go was the content. Elvira was mistreated and abused by so many people in her life. I felt so bad for her. And knowing she was only a teen at the time and knowing that it’s kids like her that I advocate for…… Man it just broke me. I think it hit different because she said she pulled these stories from her old diary, so they were told in her voice as a child. To imagine her as a child writing this after it had just happened just did something to me.

With that being said, I HATED every single adult in this book. Like every single one. I gave her mother some grace because she was suffering from a mental break. I can’t imagine what she went through while she had been gone. That had to be terrifying. But the way she didn’t even want help when she came back bothered me. I think because she let this terrible thing that happened to her keep her hostage. She never fought back. And it left Elvira by herself. I just had problems with that because she was still a child.

The only thing I really didn’t like about it was the way it ended. I’m guessing that was where her journal entries stopped, and it showed. And instead of trying to make it more narrative like, it was just really abrupt. It was just like one day it was done. I still don’t know what happened to her coaches or if the people who got her mom actually were caught and convicted. I still have so many questions. And I know it’s because I’m hoping she finally is at rest and isn’t always looking over her shoulder. But from her note at the end and her Instagram, it looks like she found her footing (no pun intended) and she’s doing great. But I still want to comfort that little girl that was left behind.

This book was so much more than just a memoir. I remember reading the synopsis and my mouth dropping open. This book was so sad I had to read it in increments. But please, don’t let that stop you. Please, if you don’t read any other non-fiction book, make sure you at least try this one.