maestrolatinx's review against another edition
3.0
Published in 2009, it’s a book that depicts queer Latinx teens from a small Southern California town. Gonzalez includes several storylines effortlessly but the book suffers from major YA tropes. The internalized homophobia that Maui experiences resonated with me. The depiction of several father-son relationships allowed for a varied representation and a hopeful one that is needed in the Latinx community. Maui as a protagonist is an interesting choice since he is the most shy and subtle of the Fearsome Foursome.
This book has plenty of shortcomings that brought the overall down. One note characters (Trini) with no arc, experimental use of pronouns, nonessential depiction of violence and a rushed ending that derails so much of what it has going for it.
This book has plenty of shortcomings that brought the overall down. One note characters (Trini) with no arc, experimental use of pronouns, nonessential depiction of violence and a rushed ending that derails so much of what it has going for it.
abetterbradley's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay book. I've read better but I've also read worse. The Mariposa Club reminded me of Rainbow High and Geography Club. The book is bittersweet but real when it addresses young teens that are forced to leave their homes and find ways to survive the street.
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