I received this book for free from a goodreads giveaway.
This book was great! It had a lot of suspense filled moments and the story line was not completely predictable (which I really liked). Like I was genuinely surprised. There was not a moment during the book that I was bored or felt like glossing over it. Also, I really liked where this story was set (which was Peru if I remember correctly).
I like the way the chapters were set up with the text messages at the top. That little extra detail is one of the reasons it was hard to put the book down. It's like you get to the end of a chapter, and then you see that on the next page. They've proven to be really telling in previous chapters, so you read it. Then you have to read that chapter after reading the texts just to see what they were talking about and what was going to happen now that you have this extra sometimes actually huge deal detail.
I feel like there was a tiny bit of insta-love between Angelica and Julio. It's like they glanced at each other a few times for a couple weeks and made small talk at lunch. Then one day he kissed her (because that's what his father would do to his mother when she was stressing out over something) and then she just was like "What was that for?" (not a direct quote) and kissed him back. After that they were pretty much in an unlabeled relationship. That same day that he kissed her, she invited him for dinner and she said she'd cook for him. That's all fine and dandy but in the middle of their meal as he's sharing a few of his mother's sayings with her, he chooses to share one about love. I was like..... oooooo...kay. After that it was super awkward and they didn't speak again until they finished eating and he complimented her cooking.
Although there was insta-love, I'm glad the story did not focus on their relationship. It was definitely more about Caritas, the center that provides the charity chip to poor street kids.
Additionally, I liked that Julio performed fire baton juggling as a way to earn money on the streets. He wasn't a drug pusher or a criminal (except for that one time he was desperate and tried to steal food from an old lady to feed him and his brother). When some people write books about slums or otherwise less fortunate populations, they tend to stereotype the characters. There wasn't much of that in this book. So that was appreciated.
One of the few negative remarks I have is that there were too many quotes from Julio and Raul's mother. I understand that she was their only parent for a few years after their father was killed and they remember a lot of the things she used to tell them, but this story was PACKED with her sayings. At some points it was kind of annoying.
I was also annoyed at the description of Carmen and the constant pointing out of her gap in her teeth. And the desk girl at Caritas and the constant pointing out of her clothing. Whenever they were mentioned, those things were usually mentioned as well.
Was Dr. Kozyar Russian? I feel like she was; I don't think they ever specified the nationalities of the foreigners.
I liked that all of the characters mentioned had an important role. Even the cop that picked up Julio in the beginning and the soccer fanatic criminal gang that Julio's brother Raul was associated with were significant. There was no fluff, everything had a purpose.
Also, just as a side comment, I must say that I feel like Julio was more than gracious and protective of Raul. I don't understand where his intense guilt comes from. I don't know that I would have tried as hard to save my twin sister (which, coincidentally, I do have one) if in those same situations. Like when Raul set him up... that would have been the end of my trust. I'd have been like "Nope... I tried, but you have gone to the dark side." Some people you have to love from a distance. Who chooses their friends over their brother? It's not like Julio was a horrible person and the gang was more family to Raul than Julio. *Shrugs* He was a frustrating character and regardless of his self sacrifice I still didn't care much for him in the end. That's just my little rant on Raul.
I am satisfied with the way the book ended.
I could see this book being turned into a movie. I would definitely go see it.
I highly recommend this book to others!