Book Review: Into the Beautiful North

Summary from GoodReads:

"Nineteen-year-old Nayeli works at a taco shop in the remote Mexican village of Tres Camarones and dreams about her father, who left for America years ago. Recently, it has dawned on Nayeli that he isn't the only man who has abandoned Tres Camarones. In fact, there are almost no men remaining - they've all gone north. This has also been noticed by a group of particularly nasty drug dealers, who, seeing an easy opportunity, plan to take over the town." But at a showing of the movie The Magnificent Seven at the village's decrepit theater, Nayeli has a vision: she will go north and recruit a group of men to return to the village. She will bring back her own "Siete Magnificos" to protect - and repopulate - her home. She and her friends head out for America, gathering a wild group of allies for a journey into the strange and beautiful land of their dreams and fears, the mythical place into which their fathers vanished, Their destination: a small town in Illinois, where Nayeli hopes to discover her father, her warriors, and - if she's lucky - her destiny.

My Review: If you are looking for graphic sex and violence this is not your book. This book is written in a *warm* style with real feeling behind it. There's focus on the underlying issues rather than sex and violence. I have not read any of his other books, but this book did hold my attention even though the writing wasn't complex.

Some of the characters could have been brought out more, but for the most part, they seemed real. However, the plot was a bit unreal in several areas. He allowed the women of his book to have courage. He covers kindness, cruelty, determination, innocence, evil, life and love. { I loved Irma}

This book is a great read for a lazy afternoon by the pool. It definitely has me planning on picking up other books by Urrea.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥

Pages: 342

Hardcover

Review copy of this book provided by the author/publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. In no way did the provision of the book affect the outcome of my review.