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I went into this expecting very little but hoping for a whole lot. That cover! That synopsis! I couldn't help but be intrigued by it all. And while I think this was a very well written story that deeply delves into life of an undocumented immigrant and all that entails, this sorely lacked in the fantasy department as a whole. It dragged a little for me and overall, I found myself wanting to skim pages to get to the action of the story. To find out all the mystery and intrigue and it just never q...
Ten Reasons Why You Should Read Lobizona by Romina Garber by Carolina (this blog post completely blew me away and made me so excited for this!) Blog | Instagram | Youtube | Ko-fi | Spotify | Twitch
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’ Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.DNF ~30%.My one-sentence review of this book would be: Lobizona is a four-star contemporary novel and a one-star fantasy novel. In other words, I have very mixed feelings about it. But let’s start with the positive.Lobizona stars Manu, an undocumented immigrant whose mother brought her to the United States from Argentina when she was very young. She is bilingual, she loves to read, and she
“If you’re undocumented, you’re unwritten. Embrace that.”“You’re saying if no one’s told my story before… I get to tell it the way I want?”“Exactly.” 8/4/2020: If you're a fan of Argentinian werewolves, elemental witches, and alternate dimensions... you're in LUCK bc this book just dropped today!!! 🌙⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 3.5 stars! Steeped in South American mythology, a defiant challenge of sexism and misogyny, exploring the struggles faced by undocumented immigrants... Lobizona is unlike ANY story I'v
✧ find this review & others on my blog ✧The beginning of “Lobizona” is nightmarish.Manuela Azul’s life is laden with eggshells, and she walked on tremulously, fraying a little more every time she had to put on her mirrored sunglasses to hide the unnatural bright yellow engulfing her eyes from the whites to the irises, the dread and fear rising through the cracks. The possibility of being snapped up by ICE, or of her father’s past catching up to her first, is always there, hovering in the air...
Although Lobizona was a mixed bag for me, it did give me a lot to think about, which I always appreciate in a story.Manuela Azul is an undocumented immigrant living in Miami with her mother and a surrogate grandmother. Manuela has learned to hide in plain sight, not simply because of her immigration status, but also because of her eyes, with their very distinctive pupils.When her grandmother has an accident that forces Manu to call emergency services for help, a series of events begin that will
7/21/2020 update:LOBIZONA IS ONLY 2 WEEKS AWAY!!!!If you have yet to see the sheer gorgeousness that is the hardcover, I recommend visiting my Twitter or IG pages to check it out. Wednesday Books absolutely SLAYED IT.If you'd like your copy PERSONALIZED, please place your PREORDER with my amazing local indie bookstore, Books & Books, & I will pick out a quote for you & make your copy extra special. <3 https://booksandbooks.com/event/virtu...4/11/2020 update:A bit of news: Lobizona’s pub date has...
4.5 starsLobizona is so damn satisfying. I read the last half of the book in a frenzy, taking turns between white-knuckling the book in my hand to having to set it down to squeal about it. It is both dramatic and poignant, seamlessly blending heavy topics with some serious entertainment. There is so much care, creativity, and uniqueness in here that I don't know that I'm able to unpack all of Garber's excellent excellent choices. The lush world of the Septimus is everything I could've hoped for
Trigger Warnings: menstruation, ICE arrest, discussions about immigration and fear of deportation, homophobia (called out by the characters)Lobizona is about Manuela Azul, an undocumented Argentinian immigrant living in Miami, whose discovery of a magical world turns her life upside down. When I saw this book, ownvoices Argentine rep, I was cautiously curious. I mean, internally, I was screaming with excitement, but I didn’t want to place my expectations too high. Oh, but friends, this book clim...
This released today, August 4th 2020! 4 1/2 stars and I keep waffling back between four and five, but please do know I'm absolutely obsessed. Lobizona follows Manu, an undocumented immigrant confined to her home both by ICE and by her starry eyes. When her life at home falls apart, she escapes to the magical world of Kerana, where she is still, regardless of appearances, wrong.Manu lives at first with her mother and family friend Perla. In Garber’s Argentinian mythology, seventh sons become were...
Argentinian lore, werewolves and witches, futbol, fighting gender roles, identity, belonging, Other, and the lives of the undocumented... this was so wonderful. Concept: ★★★★★First 50 pages: ★★Plot/Pacing: ★★★★Enjoyment: ★★★★★Manu is an undocumented Argentinian immigrant living in secret in Miami with her mother. Manu's life is a double-edged sword of secrets—on the one hand, Manu and her mother are in the USA and in hiding from the government, and on the other hand, Manu is also forced into hid...
Hearing that Lobizona was an Argentinian werewolf story was enough to convince me I’d love this book. Sadly, it turned out to be a weak contemporary and an even weaker fantasy.“Sometimes reality strays so far from what’s rational that we can only explain it through fantasy.” ~★~ What is this book about? ~★~ Manu and her mother are undocumented immigrants. Running from their father’s life of crime in Argentina led them to the confinement of a cramped apartment in Miami, Florida. Manu is unable
"Why settle for being a son of the system when you could mother a movement?"The half of my heart that is all South Miami is still in pieces.I need to own a physical copy of this book so I can hold it in my hands.
“But why settle for being a son of the system, when you can be the mother of a movement?”Rating: 4.5/5 starsDon’t mind me I’m just over here drooling over how good this was! I have yet to see a bad review about Lobizona and honestly after reading it I completely understand why. This was so freaking good and I devoured pretty much the entire book in one sitting. If you love stories with magic, lovable characters, beautiful writing, hard-hitting but important topics, impeccable world building, and...
It's clear from the previous ratings and reviews that I am the odd one out, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt. To begin with, I was really looking forward to this book. There are so few Argentinian-inspired fantasies, I'd have been a fool to not pick it up. And even though these kinds of #ownvoices stories were not written for me, I enjoy reading them because it's an opportunity to learn about a different culture from someone who regularly experiences it. So imagine my disappointme...
"The horrors Perla left behind when she came to this country darken her glassy gaze, and I realize she never got away. No matter how many borders we cross, we can't seem to outrun the fear of not feeling safe in our own house."I think it's fair to note that, while this is definitely YA fantasy, it reads more like contemporary fiction sprinkled with magical realism. Those looking for high fantasy involving werewolf folklore might be disappointed in this slow burning tale, because it feels as if
Manuela is not your ordinary teenager. She secretly lives in a small apartment with her mother and a stranger who she considers to be her grandmother. Her grandmother suddenly falls ill so Manuela must leave for her own safety. Manuela is illegal immigrant, but she’s also much more. While fleeing, Manuela comes across more people with her same set of powers and this is where the book turns into a magical story encompassing real life and fantasy.You can really pick up on the authors “Harry Potter...
If Lobizona is not yet on your radar, it absolutely should be! One of the best YA fantasy novels I've read this year, it combines magical realism, portal fantasy, Latinx werewolf mythology, and a decidedly progressive vision of the world into a smart, engrossing tale that you won't want to put down. Vivid imagery, a cool magic system, fantastic world-building, important themes, interesting characters, and unexpected twists all contribute to making this something truly special. I can't tell you t...
um excuse me why aren't more people screaming about this??also this is set in my home state so huzzah!!
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