Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez

Saied Mendez, Yamile. Furia. Algonquin Young Readers, 2020. ISBN 9781616209919

 Plot

Camila, 17, lives in Rosario, Argentina, with a father who has control issues, and a mother who is very self conscious. She also has a brother who is a soccer star. She keeps a pretty big secret from her family, telling them she is studying medical school, but is actually playing in a girl's soccer team. Her family does not approve of her in the sport, but her dreams are exactly that, being a star, and in a team in the US. She is given the nickname Furia, for her talent in the sport. Diego comes in the picture, a childhood friend now professional soccer player in Italy, and Camila must choose what to do. She choose futbol, after a series of events with family, Diego, and a family violent incident. She is offered to try out for a team in Utah, and she has a chance to make her dream come true.

Critical Evaluation 

The book follows the young woman Camila as she navigates the pressure of her family, and their expectations. She has Diego, as both an inspiration and distraction, as he is a professional soccer player, she is her childhood friend now turned romantic fling. Themes of machismo and feminism are juxtaposed and it is an empowering story.  There is poverty, kidnapping, political tension and one feels the realness of Camila's character.. Her wherewithal and commitment are  qualities that as a reader one develops strong empathy and is rooting for her despite her environment ridden with machismo and role models that she may deem not up to par with what she is hoping to become when she's older. 

Reader's Annotation 

Camila is a young woman in Argentina that is pursuing her dream of being a professional soccer player despite her family not supporting her and their dysfunction.

Author Information

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is a fútbol-obsessed Argentine-American Pura Belpré gold medal winning author. She lives in Utah with her Puerto Rican husband and their five kids, two adorable dogs, and one majestic cat. An inaugural Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she’s also a graduate of Voices of Our Nations (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing for Children’s and Young Adult program. She writes picture books, middle grade, young adult and adult romance fiction. Yamile is a founding member of Las Musas, the first collective of women and nonbinary Latinx MG and YA authors. She’s represented by Linda Camacho at Gallt & Zacker Literary.

Source: https://yamilesmendez.com/about

Genre

Contemporary - Romance 

BookTalking Ideas

Scene where Camila is soothing her mother, about Camila's father not leaving her despite there being problems, and Camila's mom having low self esteem. 

Reading Level/Age Interest

Age 14 +

Challenge Issues

Teen sex, familial abuse, religion and misogynistic behavior. I will defend it with the Library Bill of Rights. and the Los Angeles County Library Collection Policy and with a listening ear and supportive leadership.  

Why I Included This Book in Collections 

A young Latin American  woman into soccer and following her dreams.  In the communities I work and live in, most folks are of Latin American descent. Women's soccer, following your dreams despite those closest to you not rooting for you. 

An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez