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If I Die in Juárez
From the red-light districts in Ciudad Juárez to remote villages hidden away in the mountains of Chihuahua comes a tale of one of the darkest crimes to be recorded in the history of humankind. If I Die in Juárez traces the lives of three young women—Evita, a street child; Petra, a maquiladora worker; and Mayela, a Tarahumara Indian girl—who together uncover Juárez’s forbidden the abduction and murder of young women. Bound together by blood, honor, an ancient chant, and a mysterious photo, the girls bring the murderous streets of Juárez to life.
Based on the author’s interviews with relatives of murdered women, If I Die in Juárez is brilliantly crafted to give readers the experience of walking in the shoes of women who daily risk being abducted and murdered in the “capital city of murdered women,” joining thousands of others who for more than a decade have disappeared from Juárez, las desaparecidas, brutally murdered by assassins who have gone unpunished. The agony of one of the darkest tales in human history brings to light a strange hope, illusive yet constant, resisting lies, betrayal, and the desert’s silent sentence of death.
Read an in-depth review of If I Die in Juárez
Based on the author’s interviews with relatives of murdered women, If I Die in Juárez is brilliantly crafted to give readers the experience of walking in the shoes of women who daily risk being abducted and murdered in the “capital city of murdered women,” joining thousands of others who for more than a decade have disappeared from Juárez, las desaparecidas, brutally murdered by assassins who have gone unpunished. The agony of one of the darkest tales in human history brings to light a strange hope, illusive yet constant, resisting lies, betrayal, and the desert’s silent sentence of death.
Read an in-depth review of If I Die in Juárez
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2008
7 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Stella Pope Duarte
11 books15 followersStella Pope Duarte began her literary career in 1995 after she had a dream in which her deceased father related to her that her destiny was to become a writer.
Her first collection of short stories, Fragile Night, (Bilingual Review Press, 1997) won a creative writing fellowship from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and was named a candidate for the prestigious, Pen West Fiction Award.
In 2001 Ms. Duarte was awarded a second creative writing fellowship for her current novel, Let Their Spirits Dance. (HarperCollins, 2002). Harper Collins has described Ms. Duarte as a major, new literary voice in America.
Ms. Duarte's work has won awards and honors nationwide, including a nomination for the Pushcart Prize in Literature. Let Their Spirits Dance is on the Book Sense List, and was awarded the AZ Highways Fiction Award for 2003, and nominated as a ONEBOOKAz in 2004. Ms. Duarte won the 2003 Excellence in Latino Arts & Culture Award, presented by Valle del Sol.
In 2004, she received the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Award for an excerpt from her current work, If I Die in Jurez, (2008 Spring release), and in 2005 she was honored with the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award by the American Association of Community Colleges. Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Ms. Duarte as a member of the Arizona Commission on the Arts in 2006, and her term will run for three years. Ms. Duarte is also on the Artists Roster for the Arizona Commission on the Arts, serving as a resident artist in creative writing for students in elementary through high school. She is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker for audiences of all ages, on topics related to her work, as well as on issues related to: women's rights, culture, diversity, leadership, education, literacy, Chicano/Latino history, writing, and storytelling. Ms. Duarte was born and raised in la Sonorita Barrio in South Phoenix."
Her first collection of short stories, Fragile Night, (Bilingual Review Press, 1997) won a creative writing fellowship from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and was named a candidate for the prestigious, Pen West Fiction Award.
In 2001 Ms. Duarte was awarded a second creative writing fellowship for her current novel, Let Their Spirits Dance. (HarperCollins, 2002). Harper Collins has described Ms. Duarte as a major, new literary voice in America.
Ms. Duarte's work has won awards and honors nationwide, including a nomination for the Pushcart Prize in Literature. Let Their Spirits Dance is on the Book Sense List, and was awarded the AZ Highways Fiction Award for 2003, and nominated as a ONEBOOKAz in 2004. Ms. Duarte won the 2003 Excellence in Latino Arts & Culture Award, presented by Valle del Sol.
In 2004, she received the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Award for an excerpt from her current work, If I Die in Jurez, (2008 Spring release), and in 2005 she was honored with the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award by the American Association of Community Colleges. Governor Janet Napolitano appointed Ms. Duarte as a member of the Arizona Commission on the Arts in 2006, and her term will run for three years. Ms. Duarte is also on the Artists Roster for the Arizona Commission on the Arts, serving as a resident artist in creative writing for students in elementary through high school. She is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker for audiences of all ages, on topics related to her work, as well as on issues related to: women's rights, culture, diversity, leadership, education, literacy, Chicano/Latino history, writing, and storytelling. Ms. Duarte was born and raised in la Sonorita Barrio in South Phoenix."
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June 16, 2025
I have a deep and morbid curiosity about the femicides in Juárez. Once labeled the Murder Capital of the World because of rampant drug and cartel violence, Juárez's darker reality often went unreported. The stories of countless missing and murdered girls and women in the city received far less attention. Since the early 1990s, the remains of hundreds of girls and women have been discovered, victims of rape and murder, often abandoned or buried in the desert. Many more are still missing and have yet to be located.
Femicide is not an issue unique to Mexico; it is a global problem that affects women in every nation and on every continent. Wealthy European nations and the United States frequently look down on less developed countries, preaching about women's rights while displaying a level of hypocrisy. As someone from Europe, I can attest that the sentences for rape and murder in many European countries are often shockingly brief. The United States faces a similar problem.
Repeat offenders who have committed multiple rapes are living freely as if their actions have no consequences. This situation stems from antiquated laws established long ago, which those in power seem unwilling to amend. Additionally, some activists and human rights organizations believe that rapists and murderers can be rehabilitated. While I support the rehabilitation of non-violent offenders, I firmly believe that rapists and murderers should not be granted freedom.
Another significant concern is the lack of media representation for non-Caucasian women compared to their Caucasian counterparts. If you're into true crime, you know that women with darker skin receive significantly less attention from major news outlets and true crime podcasts.
SPOILERS
If I Die in Juárez is inspired by and dedicated to the murdered girls and women of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, which is located right next to El Paso, Texas, USA. The story follows the lives of three girls: Evita, Petra, and Mayela.
The story begins with thirteen-year-old Evita, who endures a grim existence. She is a delicate and sensitive girl with limited opportunities ahead of her. Her family faces scorn from others, who view them as weird. Evita's family struggles financially. After their dad leaves their mom for another woman, the situation worsens. Their mom starts bringing different boyfriends into the house, and she begins drinking heavily. When she gets angry, she takes it out on Evita, often hitting her. Evita's older sister is married, but she is enduring severe domestic violence at the hands of her husband.
Evita's mother thinks that Evita slept with her boyfriend, which increases the tension between them. One day, when Evita comes back home, she discovers her mother waiting for her with her belongings all packed, and then her mother kicks her out of the house. Her mother believes that Evita will head to her sister's place, but that is not what happens. Evita seeks refuge with a woman she met once, who offered her a place to stay if she ever found herself homeless. Evita lives with her for a while, but eventually, she is spotted on the street by the police, who were sent by her mother to bring her home. During this encounter, one of the police officers attacks her and almost rapes her, which deepens Evita's distrust of the police and men in general.
Eighteen-year-old Petra, Evita's cousin, has led a sheltered life in a small village with her family. This changes when her father falls ill, and her mother insists they move to Juárez to stay with relatives. Her father refuses to go, fearing the dangers of the city, but reluctantly agrees after his wife urges him to do so. Petra's uncle visits with a man who claims there are many job opportunities for women in Juárez, especially at maquiladoras (factories). He gives Petra money, but she is distrustful and reluctant to accept it. Her mother finds nothing wrong with the man’s offer and is frustrated by Petra's behavior. There is a farewell party the night before their departure, and Petra's aunt arranges for her to meet the boy she loves in secret outside, where they declare their love for each other and share a tearful goodbye.
Twelve-year-old Mayela is a Tarahumara Indian from a village close to Petra's hometown. Her mother's sister has decided to go to Juárez in search of work and to escape her abusive husband, who tried to kill her. Her mother asks her sister to bring Mayela with her because she knows how smart Mayela is and wants her to attend school. They move in with a relative who lives in poor conditions. Within hours of their arrival in the city, Mayela's naive aunt attracts another manipulative and abusive man. She gives the man the money that Mayela's mother saved for her education.
Evita stays with an older woman named Isidora, who appears to help wayward girls but is involved in prostitution and drug smuggling. When Evita turns 14, she encounters her mom's ex-boyfriend, Ricardo, who grooms her, and they begin a sexual relationship. Evita, unaware of the wrongness of the situation, believes she loves him. After several meetings, Ricardo leaves her, revealing he has a pregnant wife, shocking Evita.
Evita is living at Isidora's house, where she helps with cleaning and cooking. There are also two other girls; one is a beautiful, mysterious dancer named Cristal, who sleeps with men for money. Initially, Cristal ignores Evita, but they eventually become friends. After an altercation with another girl, Cristal announces she is moving out and tells Evita that she will be taking her with her.
Mayela falls seriously ill and is diagnosed with meningitis after being rushed to the hospital. The doctor tells her aunt that Mayela cannot return to their impoverished neighborhood due to health risks, as her immune system is too weak. Mayela is sent to an institute where a female American doctor conducts research on children who have lived in the worst colonias in the city. Meanwhile, Mayela's mother is unaware that her sister has left her daughter at an institute for sickly orphaned children.
The doctor treats Mayela with kindness, gaining her trust and uncovering her extraordinary talent as a child prodigy in painting. Mayela starts to feel a sense of peace; however, when the doctor returns to the U.S. for the holidays, a staff member at the institute attempts to assault her.
Evita is re-traumatized as she attends a party for wealthy men, where Cristal has been contracted to dance. Petra gets a job at the maquiladora owned by a U.S. company and is soon promoted to work for the man who visited her home, someone she mistrusts. She senses something sinister lurking that she cannot prevent, but the pay is good, and she needs to support her family.
The book takes unexpected turns and later introduces two new male characters who will play significant roles in the lives of two of the girls. I've never read a book where the main villain was introduced so late, and it worked so well. The final chapters are particularly brutal, but the book's underlying message conveys hope and female resilience.
I listened to "Murder Song" by Aurora, "If I Be Wrong" by Wolf Larsen, "The Wisp Sings" by Winter Aid, "Ultraviolence" by Lana Del Rey, "Cinnamon Girl" by Lana Del Rey, "Daylight" by David Kushner, and "Another Love" by Tom Odell while reading. The songs not only complemented the book, but also helped me feel less traumatized by its content.
The murders of over 500 girls and women largely remain unsolved, and the police, who are very corrupt, won’t release accurate statistics or acknowledge the severity of the crimes. It is believed that various individuals, including cartels, opportunists, serial killers, and gang members, as well as husbands and boyfriends, are responsible for these crimes.
Juárez, which has been featured in popular shows and movies such as Breaking Bad, Narcos, and Sicario, feels like a real character in this book, as important as the girls who call it home. The city has an ominous presence, lurking and ready to consume its citizens at any moment.
Femicide is not an issue unique to Mexico; it is a global problem that affects women in every nation and on every continent. Wealthy European nations and the United States frequently look down on less developed countries, preaching about women's rights while displaying a level of hypocrisy. As someone from Europe, I can attest that the sentences for rape and murder in many European countries are often shockingly brief. The United States faces a similar problem.
Repeat offenders who have committed multiple rapes are living freely as if their actions have no consequences. This situation stems from antiquated laws established long ago, which those in power seem unwilling to amend. Additionally, some activists and human rights organizations believe that rapists and murderers can be rehabilitated. While I support the rehabilitation of non-violent offenders, I firmly believe that rapists and murderers should not be granted freedom.
Another significant concern is the lack of media representation for non-Caucasian women compared to their Caucasian counterparts. If you're into true crime, you know that women with darker skin receive significantly less attention from major news outlets and true crime podcasts.
SPOILERS
If I Die in Juárez is inspired by and dedicated to the murdered girls and women of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, which is located right next to El Paso, Texas, USA. The story follows the lives of three girls: Evita, Petra, and Mayela.
The story begins with thirteen-year-old Evita, who endures a grim existence. She is a delicate and sensitive girl with limited opportunities ahead of her. Her family faces scorn from others, who view them as weird. Evita's family struggles financially. After their dad leaves their mom for another woman, the situation worsens. Their mom starts bringing different boyfriends into the house, and she begins drinking heavily. When she gets angry, she takes it out on Evita, often hitting her. Evita's older sister is married, but she is enduring severe domestic violence at the hands of her husband.
Evita's mother thinks that Evita slept with her boyfriend, which increases the tension between them. One day, when Evita comes back home, she discovers her mother waiting for her with her belongings all packed, and then her mother kicks her out of the house. Her mother believes that Evita will head to her sister's place, but that is not what happens. Evita seeks refuge with a woman she met once, who offered her a place to stay if she ever found herself homeless. Evita lives with her for a while, but eventually, she is spotted on the street by the police, who were sent by her mother to bring her home. During this encounter, one of the police officers attacks her and almost rapes her, which deepens Evita's distrust of the police and men in general.
Eighteen-year-old Petra, Evita's cousin, has led a sheltered life in a small village with her family. This changes when her father falls ill, and her mother insists they move to Juárez to stay with relatives. Her father refuses to go, fearing the dangers of the city, but reluctantly agrees after his wife urges him to do so. Petra's uncle visits with a man who claims there are many job opportunities for women in Juárez, especially at maquiladoras (factories). He gives Petra money, but she is distrustful and reluctant to accept it. Her mother finds nothing wrong with the man’s offer and is frustrated by Petra's behavior. There is a farewell party the night before their departure, and Petra's aunt arranges for her to meet the boy she loves in secret outside, where they declare their love for each other and share a tearful goodbye.
Twelve-year-old Mayela is a Tarahumara Indian from a village close to Petra's hometown. Her mother's sister has decided to go to Juárez in search of work and to escape her abusive husband, who tried to kill her. Her mother asks her sister to bring Mayela with her because she knows how smart Mayela is and wants her to attend school. They move in with a relative who lives in poor conditions. Within hours of their arrival in the city, Mayela's naive aunt attracts another manipulative and abusive man. She gives the man the money that Mayela's mother saved for her education.
Evita stays with an older woman named Isidora, who appears to help wayward girls but is involved in prostitution and drug smuggling. When Evita turns 14, she encounters her mom's ex-boyfriend, Ricardo, who grooms her, and they begin a sexual relationship. Evita, unaware of the wrongness of the situation, believes she loves him. After several meetings, Ricardo leaves her, revealing he has a pregnant wife, shocking Evita.
Evita is living at Isidora's house, where she helps with cleaning and cooking. There are also two other girls; one is a beautiful, mysterious dancer named Cristal, who sleeps with men for money. Initially, Cristal ignores Evita, but they eventually become friends. After an altercation with another girl, Cristal announces she is moving out and tells Evita that she will be taking her with her.
Mayela falls seriously ill and is diagnosed with meningitis after being rushed to the hospital. The doctor tells her aunt that Mayela cannot return to their impoverished neighborhood due to health risks, as her immune system is too weak. Mayela is sent to an institute where a female American doctor conducts research on children who have lived in the worst colonias in the city. Meanwhile, Mayela's mother is unaware that her sister has left her daughter at an institute for sickly orphaned children.
The doctor treats Mayela with kindness, gaining her trust and uncovering her extraordinary talent as a child prodigy in painting. Mayela starts to feel a sense of peace; however, when the doctor returns to the U.S. for the holidays, a staff member at the institute attempts to assault her.
Evita is re-traumatized as she attends a party for wealthy men, where Cristal has been contracted to dance. Petra gets a job at the maquiladora owned by a U.S. company and is soon promoted to work for the man who visited her home, someone she mistrusts. She senses something sinister lurking that she cannot prevent, but the pay is good, and she needs to support her family.
The book takes unexpected turns and later introduces two new male characters who will play significant roles in the lives of two of the girls. I've never read a book where the main villain was introduced so late, and it worked so well. The final chapters are particularly brutal, but the book's underlying message conveys hope and female resilience.
I listened to "Murder Song" by Aurora, "If I Be Wrong" by Wolf Larsen, "The Wisp Sings" by Winter Aid, "Ultraviolence" by Lana Del Rey, "Cinnamon Girl" by Lana Del Rey, "Daylight" by David Kushner, and "Another Love" by Tom Odell while reading. The songs not only complemented the book, but also helped me feel less traumatized by its content.
The murders of over 500 girls and women largely remain unsolved, and the police, who are very corrupt, won’t release accurate statistics or acknowledge the severity of the crimes. It is believed that various individuals, including cartels, opportunists, serial killers, and gang members, as well as husbands and boyfriends, are responsible for these crimes.
Juárez, which has been featured in popular shows and movies such as Breaking Bad, Narcos, and Sicario, feels like a real character in this book, as important as the girls who call it home. The city has an ominous presence, lurking and ready to consume its citizens at any moment.
December 20, 2018
I meant to write this review hours ago but I got all caught up in my Great Book Project. I am sorting and culling volumes in my three bookcases, and of course I have gotten all obsessed about seeing what treasures are hidden away. And meanwhile I need to get this book back to the library tomorrow so I can't put off the review any longer!
Stella Pope Duarte wrote a novel based on true incidents. For years women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico have been disappearing. When their bodies are found at all, they have been raped, tortured and mutilated before being tossed in vacant areas around the city. No one has ever learned who is doing it, although there are of course theories. The police surely are involved perhaps even now in covering up the crimes. Here is the wiki link about this terrible subject https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_...
Duarte's novel tells the story of three young women and their lives in Juarez. Evita, Petra, and Mayela each have different backgrounds and life experiences, but they intersect in ways that slowly become apparent as we read. This is a violent, gritty, brutally honest look at a world run by machismo, poverty, and fear.
It can be disturbing and depressing so be warned. The last few chapters are especially gruesome. The tension will drive you crazy, and to be honest it all felt a bit rushed at the end, as if after a lengthy connecting of threads and tying of knots between our three young women and their world, the author needed to cut them loose, set them free one way or another.
Stella Pope Duarte wrote a novel based on true incidents. For years women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico have been disappearing. When their bodies are found at all, they have been raped, tortured and mutilated before being tossed in vacant areas around the city. No one has ever learned who is doing it, although there are of course theories. The police surely are involved perhaps even now in covering up the crimes. Here is the wiki link about this terrible subject https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_...
Duarte's novel tells the story of three young women and their lives in Juarez. Evita, Petra, and Mayela each have different backgrounds and life experiences, but they intersect in ways that slowly become apparent as we read. This is a violent, gritty, brutally honest look at a world run by machismo, poverty, and fear.
It can be disturbing and depressing so be warned. The last few chapters are especially gruesome. The tension will drive you crazy, and to be honest it all felt a bit rushed at the end, as if after a lengthy connecting of threads and tying of knots between our three young women and their world, the author needed to cut them loose, set them free one way or another.
July 19, 2015
I've had this on my reading list for quite a while now. Finally getting to it. Published in 2008 the narrative takes place in 1995/1996. The NAFTA trade agreement took effect in 1992. Factories quickly sprang up in Mexico along the border with the US. US owned factories assembling products for sale in the US using cheap Mexican labor. Young women were preferred for this work. They migrated to the border from all corners of the country. It wasn't long before young female factory workers began to disappear. Bodies were found in the desert and in vacant lots. Assaulted and brutally murdered then thrown away like so much refuse. The author uses extensive research including interviews with relatives to speak for these disappeared women. She follows the lives of three young women in Juarez over a two year period. Many books and movies have speculated about these crimes. This novel conveys the experience of living in that city at that dangerous time in a brilliantly realistic way. A powerful and passionate work.
June 8, 2018
Ms. Duarte's well written book tells the story of three young women that you can readily understand and relate to. Although these women are from a very different world than most of us in the USA their thoughts, insights, fears and hopes brought me back to my life as a young person. The book has three connected coming of age stories connected cleverly in the plot. The interconnected stories are fascinating; I didn't want to put the book down.
The book revolves around a very disturbing issue: the brutal murders of women in Juarez - femicide. It definitely makes you think about what women go through and how women are often viewed. I highly recommend this novel. It takes the reader into the minds and lives of three young women struggling for survival in the city of Juarez: a child living on the streets, a young woman from a rural community who finds work at an American factory, and an indigenous child who falls ill. These characters are aware of the dangers of being female and young in a city where hundreds of young women have been tortured and murdered, their bodies left to deteriorate in the sun. Their resilience is inspiring; their stories need to be told.
The book revolves around a very disturbing issue: the brutal murders of women in Juarez - femicide. It definitely makes you think about what women go through and how women are often viewed. I highly recommend this novel. It takes the reader into the minds and lives of three young women struggling for survival in the city of Juarez: a child living on the streets, a young woman from a rural community who finds work at an American factory, and an indigenous child who falls ill. These characters are aware of the dangers of being female and young in a city where hundreds of young women have been tortured and murdered, their bodies left to deteriorate in the sun. Their resilience is inspiring; their stories need to be told.
December 6, 2016
This was an amazing mystery, full of well researched background which carried the characters and plot forward. I quickly came to want the best for the three young girls whose lives were intertwined in very hostile environments. Each of them had strength and wisdom that eventually led to clues about the murders that had escaped resolution before. The fact that these numerous murders of young girls actually took place and this author was able to bring them to life through the stories of these three girls added to the depth and horror of the book. This book was full of dark and dangerous details, but in the end I was satisfied and captivated by the ability of this author to tell a compelling story. This was a book I couldn't put down!
December 4, 2014
I didn't think I'd like this book as much as I did. And woah did it look like we weren't getting a happy ending for a while there! I think this is an extremely necessary book to read, and yes it's hard to get through some parts, but there is evil out in the world and it's important to know what's going on in the world. The ending is very unrealistic, but after that wild ride I was happy that Duarte decided to stop stomping on my heart. This was just so well written and took me out of my comfort zone in a good way. I look up to the three characters for different reasons and see their different strengths. I just have a lot of feelings about this book and it's hard for me to express them all.
August 30, 2012
this book is amazing to read about globalization and the impact on women as well as immigration law.
March 11, 2018
Earlier in 2018, I read Femicide Machine, a political examination of the murders in Juárez, Mexico. It was a powerful, read and I could not put it down. If I Die in Juárez covers the same murders, but from a fictional point of view. And yet the fiction was so painful to read, it took me almost two months to finish this book.
There were times when I had to put the book down and simply step away. Duarte creates a fourteen year old girl, Evita, who is thrown under the bus in all ways imaginable. Her mother throws her out, ostensibly to live with a sister, all the while knowing she has put her child out on the street. The relatives see her with a known pimp, and gravitate to the conclusion that Evita has now become a whore. In fact, she's become a maid.
The mother's ex-boyfriend preys on Evita's need for love and protection, and he rapes her. All the other family members are willing to watch Evita possibly be dumped in a pile of trash because she is now tainted with the whiff of sexuality. In this world, the Evitas fall into the binary categories of good or bad. Evita, now bad, can be expected to die, and literally no one in her family cares that she could be exploited or murdered.
Many of us know this devaluation of young girls to be a truth. But, to read page after page of the ways in which families participate in this devaluation is really hard to do.
This review will have to be a work in progress. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with Antonio, Petra's fiancé. Does he leave Petra because she was raped? Does he leave Petra because he can't control her? Does he leave Petra because he's unwilling to compromise in a relationship and consider making a living in Juarez? His macho posturing makes me so uncomfortable, and I don't know how to write about him yet.
There were times when I had to put the book down and simply step away. Duarte creates a fourteen year old girl, Evita, who is thrown under the bus in all ways imaginable. Her mother throws her out, ostensibly to live with a sister, all the while knowing she has put her child out on the street. The relatives see her with a known pimp, and gravitate to the conclusion that Evita has now become a whore. In fact, she's become a maid.
The mother's ex-boyfriend preys on Evita's need for love and protection, and he rapes her. All the other family members are willing to watch Evita possibly be dumped in a pile of trash because she is now tainted with the whiff of sexuality. In this world, the Evitas fall into the binary categories of good or bad. Evita, now bad, can be expected to die, and literally no one in her family cares that she could be exploited or murdered.
Many of us know this devaluation of young girls to be a truth. But, to read page after page of the ways in which families participate in this devaluation is really hard to do.
This review will have to be a work in progress. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with Antonio, Petra's fiancé. Does he leave Petra because she was raped? Does he leave Petra because he can't control her? Does he leave Petra because he's unwilling to compromise in a relationship and consider making a living in Juarez? His macho posturing makes me so uncomfortable, and I don't know how to write about him yet.
June 23, 2013
My father let me borrow this book. I used to live in Juarez, I suppose this is why our family left that city. I always knew about the women killings growing up. I remember seeing the white crosses on the lots where hundreds of bodies were found. It was always an eerie feeling as I passed by, I know of people that have disappeared there, I've heard the stories of the worried families. As I read this book I would flashback to the different neighborhoods of the city, very vivid. I still call Cd. Juarez my home.
June 16, 2025
Extremely heartbreaking, but an extremely important read.
June 7, 2017
Well written, deeply involving and moving, this tale, based on real events, rattles along at a fair clip, and held my interest well throughout.
We are taken through the intertwining lives of three young Mexican women, who stumble across an horrific secret - murders, mutilations, and abuse of young women in Juárez, Mexico.
The penultimate chapter is difficult to read, as the details and nature of the crimes are starkly revealed, but the book ends in a typically cheesy way, with "everything working out"
Sadly however, the story is somewhat spoilt by the blatant misandry of the author - every Mexican male character is flawed, most of them deeply, they are portrayed variously as misogynists, sex-pests, control freaks, drug addicts, alchoholics, corrupt, gang members, or a varying combination of the aforementioned. (The only man that escapes this pattern is the all-American hero, who saves the day, by getting the US involved) The women, predictably, are all sympathetically described as angels, or the victims of male behaviour...
All this said, I can still heartily recommend it.
We are taken through the intertwining lives of three young Mexican women, who stumble across an horrific secret - murders, mutilations, and abuse of young women in Juárez, Mexico.
The penultimate chapter is difficult to read, as the details and nature of the crimes are starkly revealed, but the book ends in a typically cheesy way, with "everything working out"
Sadly however, the story is somewhat spoilt by the blatant misandry of the author - every Mexican male character is flawed, most of them deeply, they are portrayed variously as misogynists, sex-pests, control freaks, drug addicts, alchoholics, corrupt, gang members, or a varying combination of the aforementioned. (The only man that escapes this pattern is the all-American hero, who saves the day, by getting the US involved) The women, predictably, are all sympathetically described as angels, or the victims of male behaviour...
All this said, I can still heartily recommend it.
June 19, 2011
I admit I don't know much at all about the real murders this book is based on. Nevertheless, a book that makes one very thankful not to be a woman in Juarez. At the end, I found myself wishing we had had the same insights into the male characters and why they behave the way they do. (Definitely the subject for another book.) SPOILER ALERT: I liked that the worst of the worst men was a descendant of Spanish conquistadores. It was obvious (to me) that he was the (a) murderer once his character was introduced; I think the author wanted us to be queasy with that knowledge.
May 13, 2012
i found this book to be hideously depressing. in a conversation with a co-worker who is also reading the book (we'd seen ms. duarte speak) we agreed that it is appalling that we send troops half way across the world to stop governments from allowing this sort of treatment and yet we can SEE it from our border. no wonder people cross the 'wire' illegally. i would too, if i lived there! i had to read this book in pieces because it was so awful to read. hauntingly realistic and very scary, this book will stay with you.
books-of-interest
July 20, 2016I met this author at the Desert Nights, Rising Stars writers conference at ASU. Her stories about the research that went into this book, including interviewing mothers who had lost their daughters, were compelling and heartbreaking. While her writing style is not one to which I would typically be drawn, Duarte addressed a little-known, widespread tragedy by telling this story. It's an important story that needed to be told.
July 23, 2011
This is a gritty novel about Ciudad Jaurez a mexican whose existence depended on the american factories that were set up to take advantage of the cheap labor that could be drawn from the mountains of Chihuahua. Based on a true event ...The unsolved Maquiladora murders ... Stella Pope Duarte tells it as it is . A poignant and powerful story
April 14, 2015
A heart felt story of how young girls are lured into prostitution by older men and how many became those murdered and discarded like trash in the desert.
Although their is a lot of the Mexican language used in it which I sometimes found aggravating the author does a superb job of telling the story of what is happening in Juarez.
Although their is a lot of the Mexican language used in it which I sometimes found aggravating the author does a superb job of telling the story of what is happening in Juarez.
December 26, 2016
Devastating story of three young women in Juarez. Their stories were rich and colorful. Full of pain and hope. The ending felt a bit rushed as it wasn't as descriptive as the rest of the novel. I am actually glad for that based on the scenes. If the the epilogue wasn't so brief, I may have given it a five.
June 22, 2008
The level of violence against women around the world is ... horrifying. I wanted to think more about this topic and knew this book about the 'feminicides' in Juarez would get me thinking violent crimes men commit against women around the world.
August 31, 2008
Fascinating fictional account of several woman involved in the killings in Juarez. Dragged a bit in the first half, but after that I couldn't put it down. Based on real events. I would not recommend reading it by yourself at night however....
October 19, 2019
Duarte uses a riveting and repulsive fictional narrative to tear back the curtain and expose the darkness and despair prevalent on the US / Mexico border. Her story honestly shows the ways many parties contribute to the chaos and how a diversity of people can help make a difference.
March 25, 2009
This book was an eye opener to me. I really like how the author describes the city and life in Mexico.
August 17, 2008
This is a novel based on the actual situation of the femicides in Ciudad Juarez. It follows 3 different young women whose lives connect with each other and with the out-of-control violence against women which that city is now famous for.
It's great that more and more people are addressing the issue, not just with journalism and documentaries but with fiction. Unfortunately Duarte's book is not that skillfully done, her prose being something like what one would find in young adult fiction, full of over-explanation and unconvincing narrative voices (by which I mean that as the point-of-view switches around, no matter which character is currently the narrator or 'center'for the story, they all, sadly, seem to have roughly the same internal monologue, comparable in style to a 7th grade social studies teacher giving a lecture to her students).
I don't mean to sound too harsh. It's an acceptable, 3-star book. It's just that, if I didn't already care about the issue the book looks at, I would have never read it. And that's a bad thing in cases like this - if awareness of a social issue like the Juarez femicides is to spread much further, it will most probably be via works that appeal to their audiences on their own merits, as a skillfully crafted, perhaps even very skillfully crafted, piece of culture. Those who consume it despite its weaknesses probably already know the facts. In this way, the book fails perhaps in a similar way to how Jennifer Lopez's film "Bordertown" did - it was just poorly done, and no amount of star appeal or good intentions about the topic could make up for it.
I hope that novelists who are more talented start to attack the topic, and I look forward to reading Robert Bolaño's "2666," when it comes out in English this November, that features a fictional city modeled on Juarez called Santa Teresa. And Bolaño is a (posthumously) rising, trendy star, but just imagine if writers like Stephen King or Neal Stephenson or Pynchon started writing novels about Juarez?
It's great that more and more people are addressing the issue, not just with journalism and documentaries but with fiction. Unfortunately Duarte's book is not that skillfully done, her prose being something like what one would find in young adult fiction, full of over-explanation and unconvincing narrative voices (by which I mean that as the point-of-view switches around, no matter which character is currently the narrator or 'center'for the story, they all, sadly, seem to have roughly the same internal monologue, comparable in style to a 7th grade social studies teacher giving a lecture to her students).
I don't mean to sound too harsh. It's an acceptable, 3-star book. It's just that, if I didn't already care about the issue the book looks at, I would have never read it. And that's a bad thing in cases like this - if awareness of a social issue like the Juarez femicides is to spread much further, it will most probably be via works that appeal to their audiences on their own merits, as a skillfully crafted, perhaps even very skillfully crafted, piece of culture. Those who consume it despite its weaknesses probably already know the facts. In this way, the book fails perhaps in a similar way to how Jennifer Lopez's film "Bordertown" did - it was just poorly done, and no amount of star appeal or good intentions about the topic could make up for it.
I hope that novelists who are more talented start to attack the topic, and I look forward to reading Robert Bolaño's "2666," when it comes out in English this November, that features a fictional city modeled on Juarez called Santa Teresa. And Bolaño is a (posthumously) rising, trendy star, but just imagine if writers like Stephen King or Neal Stephenson or Pynchon started writing novels about Juarez?
August 3, 2019
This book was really good. I did not know what to expect kept me at the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down as hard and cruel as it was. I found myself in fear at night. the nightmares I had, it was that real. To think these stories could actually be true. It was easy to read but hard to take in. The treatment of women as possessions and to do with them as they please, It’s was all too real. Sadness. Well written.
September 5, 2008
Even though this was a novel the subject is based on the true femicides of women working in the factories in Juarez. This book encouraged me to do some research on the murders of these 400-500 women. I can't imagine how the goverment has not done more to get to the bottom of this siruation where women cannot feel safe to live in this border city to El Paso. Mass murder.
November 8, 2010
This novel is a true accomplishment, written by an author who knows her people. It is dedicated to the hundreds of young women who have disappeared (brutally murdered) in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. It is graphic, and thus disturbing, but gives great insight and feeling to the plight of the women and their families living in real poverty.
A timely topic, as well.
A timely topic, as well.
August 3, 2011
This book was sad and scandalous and inspiring at the same time. It was a little graphic at times but gave me such a new understanding of the crimes in Mexico that I hear about in the news. It was also very inspiring to watch these women's stories unravel and see their will to survive. They are truly heroines. Be prepared for graphic descriptions that will, at times, be tough to swallow.
October 13, 2008
I confess that I only made it to page 48. I realized by then that my work day is already filled with depressing thoughts of bad things happening around the world, so I really don't need to further fill my mind with these things in my spare time.
January 11, 2009
Wow. Hard to put down. I've seen a documentary on the murders in Juarez, so it wasn't an unfamiliar topic. This book goes into detail about the sad, poverty-ridden, tough life that women go through in this Mexican border city.
September 5, 2022
This book was very triggering for me as I too was assaulted as a child, but the actual story was so interesting that I couldn’t put down the book and towards the end I needed to know who was gonna die?! It wasn’t who I expected which made the plot even better.
February 12, 2009
An interesting and informative story about the current and escalating violence in Mexico. Although it's a novel, you feel like it represents a story that could easily be happening.
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