Synopsis
Zakhi has known a tragedy in his life. A tragedy of the death of his mother. Her being killed in front his eyes for a reason he still does not understand.
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Balz has known tragedies of his own. But that never stopped him from being mean and insulting to Zakhi…that all changes though all of his hatred becomes something else. Something he’s afraid of exploring.
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Review
This book was written by a South African author.
I’m not sure what category to put this book in. It is YA, there is romance, there is an exploration of new feelings (M/M), some adventure, and definitely some fantasy/sci-fi bits.
The story starts off with a young boy’s mother being killed and he goes to live with his aunt and uncle. He doesn’t understand that his mother is dead and runs out into the road and ends up being hit by a car and dying. Or does he?
The book fast forwards about 10 years and Zakhi is in his senior year and just wants to finish and leave. We are led to believe that he might be this young boy that possibly died all those years ago, but it is never really fully explained. Zakhi has a girlfriend, Zinzi, who happens to be the sister of Zakhi’s bully, Balz.
What follows is a journey between Zakhi and Balz and their feelings for each other. Balz is probably the most confused but Zakhi seems to take everything in stride.
Now the fantasy/sci-part has to do with two other characters that don’t seem to be of this world. Both are guys and one of them is pregnant, but they are there to make sure that Zakhi and Balz get together.
There is a twist near the end I didn’t expect but it made sense considering the above about characters possibly from another world.
This is definitely an interesting book, not one I would have picked up on my own. Because the author is from another country, I noticed some errors in grammar compared to what I would use in the US. The story can be confusing at times and I think if the author expanded the story it would help round out the characters and the storyline.
For as long as she could remember, Kelly Brady Channick loved making up stories and leaving her listeners/readers on the edge of their seats.
Araceli comes from a blended, dysfunctional family held together by the love of a grandmother. Rubí is being raised by a single mother who works as a prostitute. Both young girls are affected not only by their mothers’ choices but also by the violence and culture of Juarez, Mexico.
Marion Surles was born in 1957 in Columbus, Mississippi. From a young age, she was interested in learning Spanish, due to a special offering of Spanish at her elementary school. She received a BA and MA in Spanish and social work from Mississippi State University and teaches Spanish and English as a Second Language to all levels of students. She also serves as a volunteer missionary at home and in many Spanish-speaking countries. Most recently, she has formed a mission in Juarez, Mexico called Love and Literacy, which encourages reading and staying in school. Every two months, Marion travels to Juarez to bring books and literacy activities to a poor neighborhood, partnering with a local family to serve as the library. Her books are a fictional account of the lives of her students. Her Facebook page, Love and Literacy, gives updates of her work in Juarez.
Richie Narvaez is author of the award-winning collection Roachkiller and Other Stories and the gentrification thriller Hipster Death Rattle. His latest novel is the historical YA mystery Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco.
About the Author
About the Author
Tracy wasn’t always a writer, but she was always a reader. Her favorite book growing up was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. In a weird way, her life reflects the book through odd synchronicities. She has a degree in Biology like Mrs. Murry and without realizing it she named her children Alex and Katie after Meg’s parents. (Really, it was not intentional, because that would be weird)!
