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Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez
Seventeen-year-old Camila Hassan lives a double life in Rosario, Argentina. At home, she's the dutiful daughter living within her family's narrow expectations, but on the field, she's La Furia, a soccer player with incredible skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila finally gets the chance to see how far her talent can take her; hopefully she'll get an athletic scholarship to a North American university. But her parents don't know about her soccer playing and she needs their permission to compete in the tournament. And Diego, the boy she's been in love with for years, is back in town on a break from playing with Juventus. As Camila is forced to confront her secrets, she struggles with her feelings for Diego and the harsh life that girls face in Rosario.
Review from School Library Journal:
Seventeen-year-old Camila "Furia" Hassan navigates a world of lies in Rosario, Argentina. At home she plays the respectful and innocent daughter who is dedicated to learning English and attending medical school. Obedient to her abusive father, loyal to her rising-soccer-star brother and dedicated to her overwhelmed mother, Camila does not show her true colors. The headstrong Latina has dreams of her own: To earn a scholarship to a university and play soccer in the United States, to stick up for women's rights in her beloved hometown, and to pursue her own relationship with Rosario's local soccer hero and international heartthrob Diego "El Titan" Ferrari. Through Camila's first-person narrative, readers learn about her conflicting feelings as a daughter, athlete, and friend, while she struggles to define her priorities. With a mix of Spanish words, vivid dialogue, and rich description, Mendez paints a realistic image of a young woman battling to become herself against the odds. Instances of abuse and child death are described in a sensitive manner for mature readers. This inspirational story is an important read for young adults everywhere to witness the dynamics and pressures for a young Argentinian.
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