Not a Chance

by Michelle Mulder

Dian has been coming to the Dominican Republic with her doctor parents for years. Now that she's thirteen, she had wanted to stay home in Canada, but instead she is helping her parents set up their clinic and looking forward to hanging out with her Dominican friend Aracely. When fourteen-year-old Aracely makes a shocking announcement--she is engaged to be married--Dian struggles to accept that Aracely has the right to choose her own destiny, even if it is very different from what Dian would choose for her.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Michelle Mulder is a Canadian children's author. She loves writing about kids who seize life's opportunities, and she tries to do the same in her own life. Some of her favourite adventures have included helping to dig a water pipeline in the Dominican Republic, backpacking through Argentina with her husband, and riding a hot air balloon through a Cappadocian valley in Turkey. She lives with her husband in Victoria, BC.

Reviews

[Jessica Rush · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every summer, Dian's political activist doctor parents drag her to the Dominican Republic to help them with their charity clinic. She hates it, but at least going there means she gets to see her best friend, Aracely. This year, though, 14-year-old Aracely has some startling news: she's engaged. Horrified, Dian determines to prevent the marriage by any means she can.

While I appreciated the message of this book, the novel as a whole was pretty lackluster. Although it's pretty short, it still feels like it drags. It could be a good book for younger readers, though.

CONTENT WARNINGS: not much. talks about sex as an accusation, but nothing remotely suggestive happens

[Arlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice look at how we can get along with people whose perspectives are different from ours. Explores how to keep true to our own convictions while allowing others to have theirs. Working within culture, Speaking up when necessary. Creating an identity apart from parents. Short, so makes it accessible for more readers, could be read by grade 5 and up.

[elgush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found the book in Norwegian in the Tallinn Airport while waiting for my flight that was delayed. Very easy reading when you've got almost two hours to spare.
I'm not the target audience, but still liked the story.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a librarian at a juvenile detention facility, and received this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.

This is a quick, overall pleasant read. There are bits of culture, language, advice to be gleaned, and topics that teenagers can relate to, but as a whole, it doesn't translate into a book that many of my students would show interest in. It's short, and contains explanations of the non-English words, but is not a hi-lo book. The plot pacing is a little slow, although the narrative contains some vivid details. I feel as though this book would function best as an assignment with classroom discussions around it.

[Hannah]

Hmmm. I mean, if you want to talk about white voluntourism, this is way, way better than anything else I've ever had the misfortune of listening to or reading. It still made me uncomfortable at times, and I have a problem with some of the ways Spanish is integrated (again - mostly good! less awkward than other books that use fake Spanglish and insta-translate) and don't really believe that Vincente is a name someone in the Dominican Republic when Vicente seems far more plausible, but overall, if you really want to read something of that ilk, this is a better choice than lots of other stuff.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pre reading for my daughter's tween summer book club. This is a great, quick book that will engage 10-13 year old readers. It has believable and relatable characters with strong voices. The story provides many points of discussion and the juxtaposition between cultures, economics and how each character views themselves and their future happiness are just a few central themes to contemplate.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that could have been read in a single afternoon but for some reason, once I started reading the book I found it hard to read more than a few pages at a time. I liked the main character but her parents were just awful. Overall, still a good read.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story gets a full 5 stars for being so wonderful once I picked it up I didn't want to put it down, It is a book that is a MUST Read

[Sjhart · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for younger readers for its short length. Good for examining life in the Dominican, might encourage good discussion about the differences in our societies.

[Angelika Kroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absoluter Durchschnitt, aber ganz okay.