Camila Hassan is a firecracker on the soccer field. She knows exactly when to jump into the air to scissor kick the ball right into the goal. She quickly becomes known as “Furia” as no one can keep up with her fury. However, at home, no one knows about her soccer success except for her famous soccer player brother, Pablo. Historically, her abusive father has shamed her for participating in a “men’s” sport and her mother has backed him up. Her ultimate dream is to attend university in the United States to enter the Women’s National Soccer League. She gets one step closer when her team qualifies for the South American tournament, though still struggling with her double life she won’t be able to maintain much longer.
Her life becomes even more complicated when the boy she once loved is back in town. Diego left to become an international soccer player and is only in Rosario, Argentina for a quick visit. He’s determined to mend things with Camila after his abrupt departure. However, this is another difficulty within her family as her father tries to convince Camila that her romance with him could be beneficial for their family.
Furia was an emotional read that captivated my attention from the first sentence all the way to the last. There was so much pain, so much love, hard work, determination, and tenacity. I especially loved how Yamile Saied Mendéz blended Spanish and Argentinian slang into the dialogue seamlessly. It was a great touch and, as a Spanish speaker, it brought extra comfort around certain characters, like Camila’s mom and Diego, while evoking contempt for other characters, such as her father. The use of Spanish in the book is also powerful where there are sayings that don’t translate well into English, like forms of endearment or comments full of hate.
Camila resonated with me as a character because she symbolizes feminine power as well as determination and resilience. She refused to be told to give up her dreams when it came from family expectations, or from a love interest. She always set herself up for the best and helped others along the way. Camila also consistently fought for her values beyond her dream as this book touched on the stress and dangers of being a woman modern-day. For example, there are mentions of missing girls and the blame society puts on these women for being careless. This leads to the wrongful consensus that these victims almost deserve to be victims because they don’t meet gender expectations. After a traumatic event with her friend, Camila leads a march in order to demand justice and accountability. This was a chilling moment as women’s safety continues to be a growing issue.
Additionally, her father repeatedly emotionally abuses Camila, her mother, and her brother. As the book progresses, it escalates to physical abuse. These chapters were so heartbreaking to read. It was affirming to see Camila step up to protect her family and how quickly they all began to protect each other afterward.
Overall, this was a fantastic and emotional read. I highly recommend Furia to anyone who is interested in women’s rights, especially in sports, but also interested in reading fiction exploring gender expectations and how they affect family dynamics.
Content warning: domestic violence, emotional and physical abuse, missing women, murder
Mariana Felix-Kim (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. with her lovely cat, Leo. When she is not working in the environmental science field, Mariana is constantly reading. Her favorite genres include non-fiction, thrillers, and contemporary romances. Mariana is half Mexican and half Korean. You can find her on Instagram: @mariana.reads.books
