The
following review is by guest reviewer Ruby Shivery, YA librarian,
Indian Ridge Middle School in El Paso, Texas. Follow her on Twitter
@rivette3
Disappeared
By Francisco
X. Stork
Arthur
A. Levine Books
2017
336
pages
ISBN:
978-0-545-94447
Available
September 26, 2017
Disappeared
unfolds through two alternating voices: Sara, a reporter for El Sol, a Juarez
newspaper and Emiliano, her younger brother, a high school student. Set on the Mexican
border where violence is often a part of life, Sara crusades against the
disappearances of a number of young girls. Her best friend disappears on her
way home from work. Many of the young women are sold into sex crimes and used
by the cartels. As Sara delves deeper into the story, her boss at the newspaper
becomes increasingly concerned for her and her family’s safety. It is dangerous
to publish stories about the violence.
Emiliano
is an All Star soccer player at school. He provides for his mother and
sister stepping into the role of man of the family, a role left vacant
after his father deserted them. As a Jipari (boys
scout) Emiliano has created a Folk Art Business by selling piñatas to be
sold
across the border and made by other Jipari friends. As corruption grows
in his neighborhood, Emiliano faces a tough decision regarding his
business. Will
he choose the right path for himself and those that he loves and cares
about or
will he risk it all for financial stability?
Highly
recommended grade 9 and up. This story hits very close to home for millions of
Texans who share the border with Mexico. The cartel violence is all too real.
The instances in this YA novel are cut from the headlines, and that makes this
novel all the more important.
FTC
Required Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher. Neither I
nor my guest reviewer received monetary compensation for this review.
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