Victoria

by Silvana Goldemberg

Overview

After losing her parents, 14-year-old Victoria and her young twin brothers move in with their aunt. But soon after, Victoria is assaulted by her aunt's boyfriend. She runs away and has to survive life on the dangerous streets of Paraná, Argentina. Victoria crosses paths with murderous gangs and drug dealers, and even a dreaded drug lord called only The Captain. But with the help of newly found friends and her determination to survive, Victoria overcomes her difficulties and carves out a new life for herself and her little brothers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781926890616
Publisher:	Tradewind Books
Publication date:	06/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	409 KB
Age Range:	12 - 15 Years

About the Author

Silvana Goldemberg is an Argentine-Canadian author. Her books and magazines have been published in Spanish and English throughout the Americas. She teaches kindergarten and lives in Richmond, BC with her husband and two daughters.

Editorial Reviews

"Victoria’s persistence in overcoming her circumstances and her ability to maintain her own values and beliefs in the face of such adversity create an uplifting message. Goldemberg provides this message without being unrealistic with a 'rags to riches' type of story. In addition, readers will have a better understanding of the realities of the life of street kids."

CM Magazine

Goldemberg's ... hard-hitting plot moves quickly. There's no authorial moralizing; readers must find their own message.

Resource Links

2013-12-24
Brutality and poverty threaten the life of a young girl in Paraná, Argentina. At 14, Victoria Díaz has already lost both parents: one to domestic violence and the other to apathy. She and her younger, twin brothers live with an aunt and her boyfriend in Doña Norma's house until the boyfriend's sexual advances cause Victoria to run away. While she meets some well-meaning strangers, the streets of the city are rough, teeming with gang members, drug dealers and other unsavory characters. Victoria must navigate this chaotic world while trying to get back into school and reunite with her brothers. Native Argentine Goldemberg has an unending supply of obstacles to put in Victoria's path. The author dedicates the novel to "the children who suffer from violence and poverty," but she almost makes a mockery of their suffering through a combination of two-dimensional characters, hackneyed dialogue, unbelievable coincidences, poor transitions and a very tidy ending. Spanish and Italian words and South American slang provide some initial interest in the otherwise lackluster conversations, but they soon wear, especially when combined with the snippets of song lyrics scattered throughout the novel. Teen readers need realistic novels set in contemporary Latin America that capture culture while avoiding stereotypes, but Goldemberg's effort fails to engage. (glossary, song list) (Fiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews