Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Plot
This book starts off quiet, for both the reader and the main character, Manu. There is a quietness to the way Manu lives her everyday life, due to her situation, that the reader can clearly see and feel. However, things soon pick up and take off like a rocket. While some may struggle to get past the seemingly non-magical opening chapters, I definitely encourage readers to push through, as the payout is exceptional. The story is filled with heart and plenty of twists and surprises.
Characters
Manu is an intriguing main character. She seems to stumble through most of her scenes and accidently find herself in the way of most of her obstacles, as well as the solutions. I appreciated such a down to earth protagonist. I also loved the supporting characters, who were all well developed and intriguing. Even the secondary characters stood out in my memory long after finishing the story.
Setting
The world the author created for this story is my favorite part of the book. She manages to weave together reality and fantasy in a way that even the reader begins to question how much of the story could actually happen. This book features a dual world in a way that isn’t quite a portal fantasy but also shows a definite duality to the world Manu knows.
My Recommendation
This book is a very appropriate modern-day take on the magical realism genre. The book takes a number of tropes and turns them on their head while incorporating real-world problems such as immigration and human rights. The author’s writing is absolutely beautiful as is the construction of her world and characters. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Young Adult Fantasy.
