starfish912's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
texreader's review against another edition
challenging
informative
tense
medium-paced
4.5
This is a somewhat autobiographical story told from the POV of a 7-year-old girl in Bogotá, during drug lord Pablo Escobar’s committing domestic terrorism in Colombia. It’s a very believable rendition of how a young girl would process what’s happening in her world, believing so much rests on her small shoulders. We also see in countless ways how one man impacted nearly every person in the country, ruining and ravaging lives. A powerful read.
rachelita's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence
karijohnson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling coming of age tale with a tumultuous backdrop. Contreras' story provides a unique look at Colombia through the eyes of a child while the country was routinely terrorized by Pablo Escobar. Chula's innocent observations are interesting and often heartbreaking, as this period in Colombian history sounds like such a dangerous time when anything could happen. Petrona's point of view acts as an intriguing counterpoint to help explain her actions, but I wanted the perspectives to be more evenly distributed to fully understand both of these rich characters. It comes as no surprise that much of the book is based on Contreras' own experiences, as several story details are too vividly drawn to be fictional.
minty's review against another edition
3.0
This felt so much like Pachinko, only about a different stressful place to live. Definitely brought home how utterly terrifying it was to live during that time, how random the violence could be, and how no one felt safe. The main character's POV was charming enough to keep your attention.
Spoiler
But when she is convinced her father is not her father, it's absolutely heartwrenching, as it magnifies how much he was changed by the experience.jessikaw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kadecrash's review against another edition
5.0
This novel has left me in an emotional daze. To start off with, I picked this book up as a reccomended authentic voice as opposed to American Dirt. The novel has a steady pace with a nuanced voice from our main character, Chula. I truly believed in the young girl's narrative that I was hearing. This book broke my heart in a lot of different ways. I definitely reccomend reading it if you are looking for a story that does not exploit a culture for shock value, but tells a genuine experience and that is not overly embellished traumaporn.
sandras's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25