Friday, October 9, 2015

Prayers for the Stolen


From Goodreads:
Ladydi Garcia Martínez is fierce, funny and smart. She was born into a world where being a girl is a dangerous thing. In the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, women must fend for themselves, as their men have left to seek opportunities elsewhere. Here in the shadow of the drug war, bodies turn up on the outskirts of the village to be taken back to the earth by scorpions and snakes. School is held sporadically, when a volunteer can be coerced away from the big city for a semester. In Guerrero the drug lords are kings, and mothers disguise their daughters as sons, or when that fails they “make them ugly” – cropping their hair, blackening their teeth- anything to protect them from the rapacious grasp of the cartels. And when the black SUVs roll through town, Ladydi and her friends burrow into holes in their backyards like animals, tucked safely out of sight.
 
While her mother waits in vain for her husband’s return, Ladydi and her friends dream of a future that holds more promise than mere survival, finding humor, solidarity and fun in the face of so much tragedy. When Ladydi is offered work as a nanny for a wealthy family in Acapulco, she seizes the chance, and finds her first taste of love with a young caretaker there. But when a local murder tied to the cartel implicates a friend, Ladydi’s future takes a dark turn. Despite the odds against her, this spirited heroine’s resilience and resolve bring hope to otherwise heartbreaking conditions.
 
An illuminating and affecting portrait of women in rural Mexico, and a stunning exploration of the hidden consequences of an unjust war, PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN is an unforgettable story of friendship, family, and determination.



My review:  I really enjoyed this book. While I'll admit I partially wanted to read this because of my Mexican heritage and family, I was also really interested in finding out life in Ladydi's world of trying to hide from the drug wars and living her life in the jungle and dealing with bugs and deadly scorpions. Jennifer Clement's writing is very unique. It's all told from Ladydi herself but there are no quotation marks used and it's almost as if you are sitting down with Ladydi and she is telling you the story. I found it very easy to read and loved it! It's very interesting how Ladydi, her mother, her friends and everyone on the mountain get along without any men around. Ladydi also has a lot to deal with because of her mother. Ever since her father left, her mother does nothing but drink and obsesses over her father. As soon as it seems Ladydi is going to have a good life working as a nanny for a rich family, things all just fall apart. The end ends well and leaves you wondering what next. If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you entertained, I suggest reading Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement.





I received a copy of this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for my review.



 photo 54E95944B0DCE48D109E13FC846FDD80_zpsce90f934.png