Thanks to the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards, I was able to find Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez. As you probably know, I am always on the lookout for new young adult fiction writers, so it was an easy decision to pick up this book, set in Argentina, and centered around a young girl who simply wants to be allowed to play fútbol.
The Situation: Seventeen year-old Camila Hassan has two big goals for her life, and that is to attend college in the United States, and play fútbol professionally. In her hometown of Rosario, Argentina, Camila is not the only one obsessed with the sport. In fact, her entire family revolves around it, following the sport both locally and internationally. Camila's brother, Pablo, already plays professionally for a team in Argentina, and her childhood friend, Diego, was recruited to play in Italy and has become a massive star. But while the boys were always encouraged in their pursuit of the sport, Camila has to hide her practice clothes and the uniform she wears when she plays for Eva María, a local girls team where she has earned the nickname of Furia. When she plays, she is unstoppable. In regular life, Camila is still hot-tempered and always ready for a fight, but her equally hot-tempered father keeps a watchful eye on her, while her mother encourages her to keep up with her schoolwork and stay away from boys, and neither of them understand just how badly Camila wants to follow her dreams.
The Problem: It is hard enough for Camila to hide her soccer jersey and practice clothes from her parents; leading a double life is not easy. But there is also Diego, the soccer star who has gained massive attention from his success in Italy, and who cannot help but be noticed when he comes home to visit Rosario. He and Camila had a brief moment before he left for Italy, and the two tried to stay in touch, only for the texts and messages to eventually fizzle out. Now he is back for a visit, and the two of them have picked up where they left off, which only makes everything more complicated for Camila. Now, he is another secret to keep, along with the upcoming fútbol tournament that Camila wants to play in. If she does well, she could get the attention of someone who could help her realize her dreams. Without her parents' permission however, and a good amount of money, it may not happen. And she cannot help but wonder if Diego believes in her dreams for herself as much as she does.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in modern day Argentina. At the center of the story is Camila, and the book is told in her voice. At the center of Camila's life is soccer, or fútbol, her family, her best friend Roxana, and Diego. Fútbol is the central life focus for many in Argentina, and while there are many talented females who wish to play, they are often not encouraged, while some are not even allowed. Camila has to sneak around, and constantly lie to her family about where she is and what she is doing. Meanwhile, her father focuses almost exclusively on managing her brother's career, living his own past glory through his son. Camila is determined to make her own way and focus on what she has always wanted, and while it is easy for her to exclude her father from the plan, there is also Diego, who has always been encouraging and supportive, but can also be a distraction. Throughout the novel, Camila will have to make choices that may benefit her, but also hurt someone she is close to. And even though she is talented, she has to fight hard to make her dream of playing soccer professionally a reality.
My Verdict: I like Camila a lot. She is a strong, fully realized character who knows what she wants and is willing to put in the work to make it happen. She does not wait for anyone to do anything for her, and knows that she has to stay focused and determined if her dreams are to come true. With that said, the overall plot of this novel is a little all over the place. And while it is never boring, it is almost too fast-paced. Things happen so quickly that I feel like crucial details are left behind, and some issues are solved too quickly. Basically, parts of the story feel rushed, while a few seem to go for a little too long. Probably what I enjoyed most are the descriptions of the actual soccer games, especially when Camila embraces La Furia fully and dominates the field. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am glad I read it, and will certainly look for more young adult books that are set in South America.
Favorite Moment: Any time Camila stepped on the field to play a game. Even when she was not playing her best, the soccer games were my favorite parts of the book.
Favorite Character: I don't often pick the main character of a book as a favorite, but this time I am. Camila has her faults - she is a teenager after all - but I like how determined she is, and it is not often she is distracted from the main goal.
Recommended Reading: I recommend On the Come Up by Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give.
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