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Wanted
Sanctuary. A one-word text That's all Michal "Mike" Garcia needs to gather a crowd. Mike is a seventeen-year-old bookie, and Sanctuary is where she takes bets for anyone at Carson City High with enough cash. Her only Never participate, never place a bet for herself. Then Josh Ellison moves to town. He pushes Mike to live her life, to feel a rush of something—play the game, he urges, stop being a spectator. So Mike breaks her one rule. She places a bet, feels the rush. And loses. In an act of desperation, she and Josh—who has a sordid past of his own—concoct a The pair will steal from Carson City's elite to pay back Mike's debt. Then they'll give the rest of their haul to those who need it most. How can burglary be wrong if they are making things right? Wanted will thrust readers into the gritty underbelly of Carson City, where worth is determined by a score, power is derived from threat, and the greatest feat is surviving it all.
386 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
948 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Ayarbe
13 books96 followersI spent 23 years growing up and living in Nevada then have spent the last almost-17 living and traveling around the world with my Colombian husband. I've gone down Class IV Rapids (called THE FROG BLENDER) on my butt in Nepal, been thrown down by gusts of wind hiking in Torres del Paine, gone gator looking in the Amazon, and have climbed up a Mayan pyramid at midnight during a full moon. None of that compares to the joy, drama, and fatigue of motherhood.
Much of my time is spent thinking: What if? And then I spend the rest of my time with BIC (butt-in-chair) inspiration.
I have settled in Colombia, South America with my husband and two daughters. When I'm not thinking "what if", I spend my time wiping pureed food substances off my clothes and wondering, "What's that smell?"
Much of my time is spent thinking: What if? And then I spend the rest of my time with BIC (butt-in-chair) inspiration.
I have settled in Colombia, South America with my husband and two daughters. When I'm not thinking "what if", I spend my time wiping pureed food substances off my clothes and wondering, "What's that smell?"
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 30, 2012
Find more of my reviews at www.readingangel.com
I read somewhere on the publishers website that Wanted was like a modern day Robin Hood and Bonnie and Clyde. As soon as I saw that I knew I was going to have to read it as soon as I possibly could. Let me just say, they did not get it wrong. Michal (aka Mike) and Josh definitely form their own two-person Robin Hood team stealing from the rich and giving to the needy, and when that all goes bad it escalates in to one final ride that would make Bonnie and Clyde proud!
I absolutely adored Wanted. While the first 50 pages or so started a little slow, I still enjoyed them. Once Mike and Josh joined forces the book really took off and I was swept away into this story of two kids who were trying to make a difference and feel alive.
The love story was very endearing and sweet. It was all so new to Michal and she felt like she was never really deserving, but watching her take a chance had my own heart racing right along with hers. Josh was incredibly charming and funny and I just loved him!
Wanted is a whirlwind of gangs, bookies, violence, discrimination, love, loss, and redemption that kept me flipping the pages at lightning speed to see what would happen next. With an ending that left me slamming the book closed and shock all over my face, Wanted is a hard-hitting, emotional contemporary that you don't want to miss!
I read somewhere on the publishers website that Wanted was like a modern day Robin Hood and Bonnie and Clyde. As soon as I saw that I knew I was going to have to read it as soon as I possibly could. Let me just say, they did not get it wrong. Michal (aka Mike) and Josh definitely form their own two-person Robin Hood team stealing from the rich and giving to the needy, and when that all goes bad it escalates in to one final ride that would make Bonnie and Clyde proud!
I absolutely adored Wanted. While the first 50 pages or so started a little slow, I still enjoyed them. Once Mike and Josh joined forces the book really took off and I was swept away into this story of two kids who were trying to make a difference and feel alive.
The love story was very endearing and sweet. It was all so new to Michal and she felt like she was never really deserving, but watching her take a chance had my own heart racing right along with hers. Josh was incredibly charming and funny and I just loved him!
Wanted is a whirlwind of gangs, bookies, violence, discrimination, love, loss, and redemption that kept me flipping the pages at lightning speed to see what would happen next. With an ending that left me slamming the book closed and shock all over my face, Wanted is a hard-hitting, emotional contemporary that you don't want to miss!
April 10, 2012
What I loved most about this book is the great plot line. I have yet to read an interesting plot line about a teen who is a bookie and gambles. This alone is intriguing. Let me tell you that I don't know much about gambling. I mean, I don;t know much about running a book. You taking bets, collecting, etc. Ms. Ayarbe, made it is for the reader to fall in the plot really fast as well as understand it. The reader wasn't confused and instead I found myself really enjoying it.
The love interest in the book really felt good. You know, the type of good where you are crossing the line, the adrenaline rush of it? Michal was so used to doing everything in the book. Not getting involve in gambling, just playing the game on the sidelines. Once she gets into the game of gambling and looove, she is lost. I really love that she did take the chance.
What really excites me about the book is the rush of being wanted. To figure out how to get the money in time. I really loved stepping into the shoes of Michal and running for my life. The ending was amazing. I never expected that.
Wanted is a quick consuming plot line that drive the reader to keep reading. There is so much drama mixed with the rush of betting and winning. Winner Winner Chicken dinner! Wanted is excellent
The love interest in the book really felt good. You know, the type of good where you are crossing the line, the adrenaline rush of it? Michal was so used to doing everything in the book. Not getting involve in gambling, just playing the game on the sidelines. Once she gets into the game of gambling and looove, she is lost. I really love that she did take the chance.
What really excites me about the book is the rush of being wanted. To figure out how to get the money in time. I really loved stepping into the shoes of Michal and running for my life. The ending was amazing. I never expected that.
Wanted is a quick consuming plot line that drive the reader to keep reading. There is so much drama mixed with the rush of betting and winning. Winner Winner Chicken dinner! Wanted is excellent
May 28, 2012
Bonnie and Clyde meets Robinhood – the premise couldn’t have sound any more interesting and unique as that. Come to think of it, there have been books written within the parameters of either work but never both. Such an ambitious undertaking, if I may say so myself.
Seventeen year-old Michal is a bookie who had never known what it’s like to live the life of a person of her occupation. And although the temptation to gamble was severe, she’d never once given in…until Josh Ellison moved to town and dared her to step away from the sidelines. She’s always been careful – a bystander. But with Josh’s appearance in her life, she was suddenly craving for a thrilling life. She soon found the high of gambling addictive. But when she starts to lose, she felt little choice but to bet money she never had and on occasions, was never hers. As bad ideas go, Josh and Mike decided to steal to pay off her debts. It soon becomes a challenge, a mission. At first, the stealing was justified by giving them to those in need and stealing from the rich vindicated the act of thievery. Desperation sets in as authorities’ clue in on the Babylonia duo. Mike makes the biggest gamble of her life in an attempt to right all the wrongs. One bad decision led to another and at the end of it all, she would come to a delayed conclusion that it was all worth it.
This was my first Heidi Ayarbe work and I have a hunch that it won’t be the last. I’ve read some of the blurbs for her books and they just give you a hint that the themes veer toward social consciousness. The same could be said for Wanted. It was so much more than just bored, rich kids gambling their money away. Here, the topic of social and racial divide between Mexican-Americans and Americans was highlighted by the lack of respect between the two. Like it or not and whether you agree or disagree, this issue is still relevant.
Wanted is also about a girl finding herself in a world where she felt she didn’t belong and where her existence wasn’t wanted. But if you’re anticipating a girl who’d cry a river about her shortcomings, and, or whine about her social inadequacies, Mike isn’t that girl. I thought that she was TOO accepting of her place in the world that when she was speaking about her failures, physical or otherwise, it felt too matter-of-fact. I have a lot of admiration for this girl; she commands attention with a single word; she’s strong when she wants to be and weak when she can’t help it. In other words, she’s pretty freaking normal.
The romance was subtle through practically the entirety of the novel. Finding her challenger in Josh, the boy showed her all the things she’s been missing while she was busy watching life pass her by. The subtlety however, added to the culminating build-up when these two finally happened. It was sad, unfair and ultimately just…tragic.
VERDICT: Powerful, heart-wrenching, eye-opening novel. Wanted goes to the very heart of a girl who would learn who she is through some questionable decisions she would make in life. The Bonnie and Clyde part gives you an inkling of how this book ends; the Robinhood, gives you some insight on what our two main characters are about. But this book turned out to be so much more. Heidi Ayarbe’s writing is very real and compelling. She stripped away all the high school drama and replaced it with a very mature reality. I can’t wait to read the rest of her work.
Seventeen year-old Michal is a bookie who had never known what it’s like to live the life of a person of her occupation. And although the temptation to gamble was severe, she’d never once given in…until Josh Ellison moved to town and dared her to step away from the sidelines. She’s always been careful – a bystander. But with Josh’s appearance in her life, she was suddenly craving for a thrilling life. She soon found the high of gambling addictive. But when she starts to lose, she felt little choice but to bet money she never had and on occasions, was never hers. As bad ideas go, Josh and Mike decided to steal to pay off her debts. It soon becomes a challenge, a mission. At first, the stealing was justified by giving them to those in need and stealing from the rich vindicated the act of thievery. Desperation sets in as authorities’ clue in on the Babylonia duo. Mike makes the biggest gamble of her life in an attempt to right all the wrongs. One bad decision led to another and at the end of it all, she would come to a delayed conclusion that it was all worth it.
This was my first Heidi Ayarbe work and I have a hunch that it won’t be the last. I’ve read some of the blurbs for her books and they just give you a hint that the themes veer toward social consciousness. The same could be said for Wanted. It was so much more than just bored, rich kids gambling their money away. Here, the topic of social and racial divide between Mexican-Americans and Americans was highlighted by the lack of respect between the two. Like it or not and whether you agree or disagree, this issue is still relevant.
Wanted is also about a girl finding herself in a world where she felt she didn’t belong and where her existence wasn’t wanted. But if you’re anticipating a girl who’d cry a river about her shortcomings, and, or whine about her social inadequacies, Mike isn’t that girl. I thought that she was TOO accepting of her place in the world that when she was speaking about her failures, physical or otherwise, it felt too matter-of-fact. I have a lot of admiration for this girl; she commands attention with a single word; she’s strong when she wants to be and weak when she can’t help it. In other words, she’s pretty freaking normal.
The romance was subtle through practically the entirety of the novel. Finding her challenger in Josh, the boy showed her all the things she’s been missing while she was busy watching life pass her by. The subtlety however, added to the culminating build-up when these two finally happened. It was sad, unfair and ultimately just…tragic.
VERDICT: Powerful, heart-wrenching, eye-opening novel. Wanted goes to the very heart of a girl who would learn who she is through some questionable decisions she would make in life. The Bonnie and Clyde part gives you an inkling of how this book ends; the Robinhood, gives you some insight on what our two main characters are about. But this book turned out to be so much more. Heidi Ayarbe’s writing is very real and compelling. She stripped away all the high school drama and replaced it with a very mature reality. I can’t wait to read the rest of her work.
September 6, 2012
It would have been a 4.5, but THAT ENDING. Not a good first reaction to it. I need to formulate my thoughts on some things, but I loved the writing, the tone, the way it tackled the teen crime thing (as opposed to Pretty Crooked, which was more light fun to read but felt like it was a bit more unreal), and the way it showed the main character and her relationships. The discussion of race and being Mexican-American was well done, although it could have been related back to the MC more.
December 17, 2024
The main characters got kind of annoying and very, very dumb halfway though the novel. But there was a good message to it and the ending definately surprised me.
June 10, 2012
What I love about Heidi Ayarbe's writing is that she delves into the human psyche in her books. She poses a question to the readers and explores it. Wanted is a brilliantly crafted novel delving into the psyche of a girl who breaks the rules once and loses. If I were in Mike's position, I would want to stay on the sidelines. She lives in a bad neighborhood and wants to get out of there; she can't afford any major losses. Being a bookie with a close following, she makes a fair amount of safe money. She doesn't need to take any risks. But then a new guy comes to town, throwing off her game and setting into motion Mike's demise.
The tone of the novel is somber. Mike has no delusions about the world around she. She knows that she makes money off people who want to feel the rush of betting, that she creates winners and losers through her deals, and she doesn't baby the losers. She's aware of the dangers surrounding those that she loves, and much of her everyday life is spent worrying of them. She has known innocence, and she yearns for her childhood days when her friend Moch was close to her and not involved with gangs. Mike's world is bleak. It is important in setting up the context for the plot.
As the novel progresses, Ayarbe takes us furhter into Mike's psyche. Even as Josh pulls her deeper into the romance of a modern-day Bonnie-Clyde romance with a Robin Hood twist (that was supposed to make stealing from the rich okay), tragedy strikes and the world moves on. The immensity of Mike's situation is not enough for events to force Mike to question the morality of her actions. There's more to the story. Scattered over the course of the novel are six word phrases from Mike's Creative Writing assignments that describe what's going on in her life at the moment. Many reflect the bleakness of her life.
I was seriously about to cry when I finished this novel. Mike has always been a fairly good girl with a promising future. The only illicit dealing she has done before meeting Josh is playing bookie and encouraging her peers to gamble. Her situation is the perfect example of how one mistake can cost you everything. I admire Mike's self sacrifice for those she cares about. While she makes mistakes, she puts her all into fixing them and making life better for those she cares about. I recommend this for readers looking for a real, gritty contemporary read with a modern Bonnie-Clyde-Robin Hood twist.
Review at Imaginary Reads
The tone of the novel is somber. Mike has no delusions about the world around she. She knows that she makes money off people who want to feel the rush of betting, that she creates winners and losers through her deals, and she doesn't baby the losers. She's aware of the dangers surrounding those that she loves, and much of her everyday life is spent worrying of them. She has known innocence, and she yearns for her childhood days when her friend Moch was close to her and not involved with gangs. Mike's world is bleak. It is important in setting up the context for the plot.
As the novel progresses, Ayarbe takes us furhter into Mike's psyche. Even as Josh pulls her deeper into the romance of a modern-day Bonnie-Clyde romance with a Robin Hood twist (that was supposed to make stealing from the rich okay), tragedy strikes and the world moves on. The immensity of Mike's situation is not enough for events to force Mike to question the morality of her actions. There's more to the story. Scattered over the course of the novel are six word phrases from Mike's Creative Writing assignments that describe what's going on in her life at the moment. Many reflect the bleakness of her life.
I was seriously about to cry when I finished this novel. Mike has always been a fairly good girl with a promising future. The only illicit dealing she has done before meeting Josh is playing bookie and encouraging her peers to gamble. Her situation is the perfect example of how one mistake can cost you everything. I admire Mike's self sacrifice for those she cares about. While she makes mistakes, she puts her all into fixing them and making life better for those she cares about. I recommend this for readers looking for a real, gritty contemporary read with a modern Bonnie-Clyde-Robin Hood twist.
Review at Imaginary Reads
August 25, 2012
One thing I loved about the previous book I read by Heidi Ayarbe is how real the whole thing feels. While you are reading, you think that this could happen to anyone and anywhere. I was curious how a female teenage bookie might fit into this theory.
From beginning to end I just had a hard time wrapping my mind around the bookie part of the story. I guess I just don't see it in the high school setting. Is this something new? Is it common? I guess maybe it's a new kind of rush for teenagers, but it just seemed weird. It wasn't even the fact that a female ran it. It was literally just the bookie part. And that it was right under everybody's noses. How the hell did nobody pick up on that fact? No one thought "Hey...isn't it a little weird that this group of kids is all together when none of them normally hang out?" I would have thought that.
Aside from all that, I really like Michal. She's interesting to me because she honestly thinks she nobody. When obviously she's chosen to facilitate an activity that more than just gets her noticed. It really causes her unwanted attention. I think she thinks that because she's a spectator, that it makes her less than those who participate. Which is interesting when Josh shows up. Josh is bound and determined to make her feel something. I think he wants her to see herself a little more like those around her see her.
I also really enjoyed the portrayal of the gangs in the area. I really felt the intensity of the situation. It was threatening and realistic. I also liked how Michal and Josh push the envelope. I don't agree with the way the went about their escapades. After all, two wrongs never make a right. But, I really agreed with the overall message.
The ending floored me. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. I closed the book with unanswered questions. I also drew some similarities with a high profile case in Florida at the moment. I wondered though, if it was just timing. Overall and interesting read that I had a little bit of hard time filtering out. It won't stop me from reading her next book though!
From beginning to end I just had a hard time wrapping my mind around the bookie part of the story. I guess I just don't see it in the high school setting. Is this something new? Is it common? I guess maybe it's a new kind of rush for teenagers, but it just seemed weird. It wasn't even the fact that a female ran it. It was literally just the bookie part. And that it was right under everybody's noses. How the hell did nobody pick up on that fact? No one thought "Hey...isn't it a little weird that this group of kids is all together when none of them normally hang out?" I would have thought that.
Aside from all that, I really like Michal. She's interesting to me because she honestly thinks she nobody. When obviously she's chosen to facilitate an activity that more than just gets her noticed. It really causes her unwanted attention. I think she thinks that because she's a spectator, that it makes her less than those who participate. Which is interesting when Josh shows up. Josh is bound and determined to make her feel something. I think he wants her to see herself a little more like those around her see her.
I also really enjoyed the portrayal of the gangs in the area. I really felt the intensity of the situation. It was threatening and realistic. I also liked how Michal and Josh push the envelope. I don't agree with the way the went about their escapades. After all, two wrongs never make a right. But, I really agreed with the overall message.
The ending floored me. It wasn't at all what I was expecting. I closed the book with unanswered questions. I also drew some similarities with a high profile case in Florida at the moment. I wondered though, if it was just timing. Overall and interesting read that I had a little bit of hard time filtering out. It won't stop me from reading her next book though!
August 27, 2012
4.5 stars.
I was so excited to read Wanted once I heard about its release. Heidi Ayarbe is one of my favorite writers and she really impressed me with her previous books, Freeze Frame and Compromised. This one didn't fail to impress me, either. Her writing is superb and filled with honest realism. It isn't a happy feel good story because unfortunately, life isn't always upbeat and positive.
There are a lot of things I admire about this novel and one of them is the topic of illegal immigration. So far, I haven't read another YA novel that deals with this very important issue. It's an issue that I'm very close to because my family is an immigrant family, too. I was born here but my parents came from Chile. I feel like Heidi really focuses on the tensions from both sides of the problem: the privileged, mostly white, rich citizens of Carson City and the undocumented, poor, Hispanic people that live there.
While there is a romantic connection between Michal and Josh, it does not overtake the plot of the story. Their relationship is important to the plot but it doesn't become the main focus of the book. At least that's the way I see it. In my eyes, that's a good thing because I feel like a lot of YA books have a good plot but are overshadowed by the romance aspect.
I won't give any major plot points away, but I have to say that I was surprised by the end of the novel when certain characters change. Some characters don't really change but our perception of them is certainly altered. In any great book, there is always some sort of conflict, and there is plenty of that in Wanted. I think Michal has an inner conflict with herself as well. It's clear that her consciousness eventually wakes up inside of her, and the meaning of right and wrong is lost along the way.
Wanted is unlike any of the other young adult books out there, and that's a good thing. It does not have a happy ending, but I was not expecting that from this novel. It explores themes and topics that might be controversial to some but which are very important and thought provoking. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a compelling story.
I was so excited to read Wanted once I heard about its release. Heidi Ayarbe is one of my favorite writers and she really impressed me with her previous books, Freeze Frame and Compromised. This one didn't fail to impress me, either. Her writing is superb and filled with honest realism. It isn't a happy feel good story because unfortunately, life isn't always upbeat and positive.
There are a lot of things I admire about this novel and one of them is the topic of illegal immigration. So far, I haven't read another YA novel that deals with this very important issue. It's an issue that I'm very close to because my family is an immigrant family, too. I was born here but my parents came from Chile. I feel like Heidi really focuses on the tensions from both sides of the problem: the privileged, mostly white, rich citizens of Carson City and the undocumented, poor, Hispanic people that live there.
While there is a romantic connection between Michal and Josh, it does not overtake the plot of the story. Their relationship is important to the plot but it doesn't become the main focus of the book. At least that's the way I see it. In my eyes, that's a good thing because I feel like a lot of YA books have a good plot but are overshadowed by the romance aspect.
I won't give any major plot points away, but I have to say that I was surprised by the end of the novel when certain characters change. Some characters don't really change but our perception of them is certainly altered. In any great book, there is always some sort of conflict, and there is plenty of that in Wanted. I think Michal has an inner conflict with herself as well. It's clear that her consciousness eventually wakes up inside of her, and the meaning of right and wrong is lost along the way.
Wanted is unlike any of the other young adult books out there, and that's a good thing. It does not have a happy ending, but I was not expecting that from this novel. It explores themes and topics that might be controversial to some but which are very important and thought provoking. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a compelling story.
April 24, 2012
Let me start by saying that Wanted turned out to be so different from everything else that I've read this year, that I was simply blown away from the start. As soon as I was introduced to Michal, a young girl turned bookie, there was no turning back. I'm not very familiar with the betting world, but Ayarbe makes it easy to understand the life that Michal has placed herself in. Her honest voice sucked me in, and her inability to see how important she was kept me coming back for more. I was rooting for her.
I'll admit that I personally connected with Michal instantly. For me, it was based on the fact that both she and I are stuck in the middle of two very different worlds. For Michal, her Mexican heritage is something that was stripped away from her long ago. I won't spoil anything, but this makes things very interesting for her during her high school life. Ayarbe tackles some ideas in this book that will be sure to make some readers squirm a bit. Illegal immigrants, unfair health care, gang violence and so much more are all addressed in black and white.
However there is so much more in Wanted than just messages about equality and humanity. At its core, this is a story about looking for the purpose in your life. Michal, Josh, all the students at the high school, are just trapped in the roles that society has set out for them. Stereotypes and labels hold them in one spot, unable to find their true potential. There are characters in this story that you just can't help cheering for. Despite how messed up they might seem, or the choices they make, you know there is some good under that tough exterior.
Wanted has a last chapter that tore my heart out. I'll warn you now. However the ending was so perfect that it is still hard for me to wrap my mind around. I guarantee you'll be thinking about this book well past finishing it. If you are a fan of Heidi Ayarbe's books, this is one you won't want to miss. If you're just entering her world of fantastic writing, welcome. Wanted is great place to start.
I'll admit that I personally connected with Michal instantly. For me, it was based on the fact that both she and I are stuck in the middle of two very different worlds. For Michal, her Mexican heritage is something that was stripped away from her long ago. I won't spoil anything, but this makes things very interesting for her during her high school life. Ayarbe tackles some ideas in this book that will be sure to make some readers squirm a bit. Illegal immigrants, unfair health care, gang violence and so much more are all addressed in black and white.
However there is so much more in Wanted than just messages about equality and humanity. At its core, this is a story about looking for the purpose in your life. Michal, Josh, all the students at the high school, are just trapped in the roles that society has set out for them. Stereotypes and labels hold them in one spot, unable to find their true potential. There are characters in this story that you just can't help cheering for. Despite how messed up they might seem, or the choices they make, you know there is some good under that tough exterior.
Wanted has a last chapter that tore my heart out. I'll warn you now. However the ending was so perfect that it is still hard for me to wrap my mind around. I guarantee you'll be thinking about this book well past finishing it. If you are a fan of Heidi Ayarbe's books, this is one you won't want to miss. If you're just entering her world of fantastic writing, welcome. Wanted is great place to start.
February 9, 2015
Personally, I think this is Ayarbe’s best novel. I enjoyed Freeze Frame more, but this is superior in character depth and development, writing, and everything else. This was a really, really good book. I didn’t even enjoy it that much, but it was still really good.
Ayarbe tackles some great issues in this book: identity and right vs. wrong are the two main ones that I noticed. She also portrays the addiction to gambling really well. Really, there are just fantastic things going on with this book. There’s the whole Robin Hood principle going on: stealing from the rich to give to the poor or to those who need it, but Michal constantly wonders if they’re doing the right thing when more and more people seem to be getting hurt by it. Ayarbe also brings up illegal immigration, which is a more controversial topic, but is handled decently well. However, I’m not sure if I like the way she handled/resolved some of these issues. Actually, I’m not sure if she even resolved anything. She just left it up in the air.
Almost every chapter ends with a six-word memoir, an on-going assignment for Michal’s Creative Writing class. If I ever become a Creative Writing teacher, I want to use this. It’s a great idea. It teaches someone to be concise, but also to have some sort of depth and meaningful content.
The ending was killer. In more ways than one. I don’t know whether I liked it or not. It was definitely impactful, and maybe even necessary and/or inevitable. It was…shocking. But also not shocking.
I applaud you, Heidi Ayarbe!
Overall, Wanted is, in my opinion, Ayarbe’s best novel. While I didn’t particularly enjoy it, I thought there was great character development and important issues being addressed, and the ending was definitely something that you will remember because not a lot of authors end their books this way. Also: double meaning title for the win!
Ayarbe tackles some great issues in this book: identity and right vs. wrong are the two main ones that I noticed. She also portrays the addiction to gambling really well. Really, there are just fantastic things going on with this book. There’s the whole Robin Hood principle going on: stealing from the rich to give to the poor or to those who need it, but Michal constantly wonders if they’re doing the right thing when more and more people seem to be getting hurt by it. Ayarbe also brings up illegal immigration, which is a more controversial topic, but is handled decently well. However, I’m not sure if I like the way she handled/resolved some of these issues. Actually, I’m not sure if she even resolved anything. She just left it up in the air.
Almost every chapter ends with a six-word memoir, an on-going assignment for Michal’s Creative Writing class. If I ever become a Creative Writing teacher, I want to use this. It’s a great idea. It teaches someone to be concise, but also to have some sort of depth and meaningful content.
The ending was killer. In more ways than one. I don’t know whether I liked it or not. It was definitely impactful, and maybe even necessary and/or inevitable. It was…shocking. But also not shocking.
I applaud you, Heidi Ayarbe!
Overall, Wanted is, in my opinion, Ayarbe’s best novel. While I didn’t particularly enjoy it, I thought there was great character development and important issues being addressed, and the ending was definitely something that you will remember because not a lot of authors end their books this way. Also: double meaning title for the win!
March 10, 2012
Ayarbe calls this an "unconventional western" in her acknowledgments and I think that's a great description. This is a little bit like Robin Hood meets Bonnie and Clyde.
Michal's a bookie, and she's a tough girl because of it. It's how she makes her money and earns her reputation. Her own rule is never to play the game herself. Always be the one watching, not betting. But then Josh moves to town and he convinces her to try her hand at the game and when things don't go well, they really don't go well.
I found this kind of a slow starting book, but the pace picks up quite a bit in the middle, then through to the end. Ayarbe writes some rough teens in a rough world and she does a good job of it. There's a lot of social class stuff playing into this one, too, and it's handled well. And this one does a good job of giving a setting that helps elevate the story.
That said, the writing itself left a lot to be desired for me. It tried almost too hard to be pretty when I didn't necessarily read Michal that way at all. Some of the things she said or observed or the way she described what was going on just didn't sound like her voice at all.
This book also had two things going on I really don't like: Michal gives up her toughness, her independence, for a boy (even in the end or maybe especially in the end when it looked like she was finally facing her demons head on by herself) and the book begins with a flash-forward to the ending of the story.
Putting this book in the same category I've put Ashley Hope Perez's: not for me, but they reach a certain readership that will eat them up. Ayarbe's writing reminds me a lot of Ellen Hopkins's, too, especially with how gritty she is.
Michal's a bookie, and she's a tough girl because of it. It's how she makes her money and earns her reputation. Her own rule is never to play the game herself. Always be the one watching, not betting. But then Josh moves to town and he convinces her to try her hand at the game and when things don't go well, they really don't go well.
I found this kind of a slow starting book, but the pace picks up quite a bit in the middle, then through to the end. Ayarbe writes some rough teens in a rough world and she does a good job of it. There's a lot of social class stuff playing into this one, too, and it's handled well. And this one does a good job of giving a setting that helps elevate the story.
That said, the writing itself left a lot to be desired for me. It tried almost too hard to be pretty when I didn't necessarily read Michal that way at all. Some of the things she said or observed or the way she described what was going on just didn't sound like her voice at all.
This book also had two things going on I really don't like: Michal gives up her toughness, her independence, for a boy (even in the end or maybe especially in the end when it looked like she was finally facing her demons head on by herself) and the book begins with a flash-forward to the ending of the story.
Putting this book in the same category I've put Ashley Hope Perez's: not for me, but they reach a certain readership that will eat them up. Ayarbe's writing reminds me a lot of Ellen Hopkins's, too, especially with how gritty she is.
June 22, 2013
Hmmm... what went wrong with this book? I really, really wanted to like Wanted, but in the end, this was just not the book for me.
Whenever I marked this book as currently-reading on my Goodreads shelf, I look at the reviews and saw nothing but glowing reviews of 4 and 5 stars. I was super pumped to read Wanted, especially with all the good reviews surrounding it. I will give Wanted the prologue - that was pretty epic. Unfortunately, I found that to be the only thing epic about this book. Way too slow! This novel could have been so much more fast-paced than what it was - the concept is so unique, but it dealt more with Michal's (Mike's) personal issues instead of getting out of the sticky situation. I just wasn't a fan of that.
And I caught myself drifting off away from the book, wanting to set it down. Whenever we reach page 250 of a book and no plot points or key twists are pushing it forward, there's a problem there. Honestly, after prologue, I don't a single thing truly happened. Just bets, more bets, sticky situation, personal issues, bets. That's Wanted in a nutshell. And so many cool things could have happened! So many! In the matter of the first 100 pages! I was just so, so, so disappointed by this read.
Also, where was all the "bookie" scenes? I guess I was just expecting more of Mike getting into her tough situation by betting and having to get out of it. Wanted was very deceptive - the first 50 pages were good, but my love for this book began to go downhill after I realized that it was too slow for my likings. So sad by this.
Overall, Wanted was a disappointment. I wanted a fast-paced, thriller, on-the-edge-of-your-seat read, and unfortunately, I didn't get any of that.
Whenever I marked this book as currently-reading on my Goodreads shelf, I look at the reviews and saw nothing but glowing reviews of 4 and 5 stars. I was super pumped to read Wanted, especially with all the good reviews surrounding it. I will give Wanted the prologue - that was pretty epic. Unfortunately, I found that to be the only thing epic about this book. Way too slow! This novel could have been so much more fast-paced than what it was - the concept is so unique, but it dealt more with Michal's (Mike's) personal issues instead of getting out of the sticky situation. I just wasn't a fan of that.
And I caught myself drifting off away from the book, wanting to set it down. Whenever we reach page 250 of a book and no plot points or key twists are pushing it forward, there's a problem there. Honestly, after prologue, I don't a single thing truly happened. Just bets, more bets, sticky situation, personal issues, bets. That's Wanted in a nutshell. And so many cool things could have happened! So many! In the matter of the first 100 pages! I was just so, so, so disappointed by this read.
Also, where was all the "bookie" scenes? I guess I was just expecting more of Mike getting into her tough situation by betting and having to get out of it. Wanted was very deceptive - the first 50 pages were good, but my love for this book began to go downhill after I realized that it was too slow for my likings. So sad by this.
Overall, Wanted was a disappointment. I wanted a fast-paced, thriller, on-the-edge-of-your-seat read, and unfortunately, I didn't get any of that.
Read
August 15, 2013DNF.
I didn't stat rate this book because it wasn't awful. I stopped reading because I have a horrible headache and I need something to take my mind off it and this book failed at that.
It was already a bit of a stretch, in terms of being the type of book I like, but I decided to give it a chance. The problem I had
was it didn't contain enough initial emotion for me. About 70 pages in based on Kobo's number system and I wasn't into the writing which was a little bit too descriptive for me.
The concept at that point didn't draw me in. The biggest issue I had was that I didn't feel any connection to the characters and I didn't feel like that would change. For example Josh was meant to be a character I liked and admired, but I didn't like a lot of the pranks. The characters were meant to be outsiders and their oppressors, from what I read, were stereotypes.
That meant Michal had this condescending tone whenever she spoke of them, like me, I am enlightened while everyone else my age is an idiot. Maybe this does happen but I've never experienced it and I honestly can't deal with protagonists that think this way.
I can fully admit that I probably didn't give this book the chance it deserves, but reading isn't charity. It takes so much of my time and so when I'm looking for entertainment, I need to be entertained. I no longer have the energy to keep going with something I don't have a good feeling about.
This isn't a permanent rating. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow and not have a migraine and decide that I should give this book another chance. And maybe I'm giving up on one of the best books I'll ever read. Either way, a slow contemporary with romance as a primary storyline doesn't interest me.
I didn't stat rate this book because it wasn't awful. I stopped reading because I have a horrible headache and I need something to take my mind off it and this book failed at that.
It was already a bit of a stretch, in terms of being the type of book I like, but I decided to give it a chance. The problem I had
was it didn't contain enough initial emotion for me. About 70 pages in based on Kobo's number system and I wasn't into the writing which was a little bit too descriptive for me.
The concept at that point didn't draw me in. The biggest issue I had was that I didn't feel any connection to the characters and I didn't feel like that would change. For example Josh was meant to be a character I liked and admired, but I didn't like a lot of the pranks. The characters were meant to be outsiders and their oppressors, from what I read, were stereotypes.
That meant Michal had this condescending tone whenever she spoke of them, like me, I am enlightened while everyone else my age is an idiot. Maybe this does happen but I've never experienced it and I honestly can't deal with protagonists that think this way.
I can fully admit that I probably didn't give this book the chance it deserves, but reading isn't charity. It takes so much of my time and so when I'm looking for entertainment, I need to be entertained. I no longer have the energy to keep going with something I don't have a good feeling about.
This isn't a permanent rating. Maybe I'll come back tomorrow and not have a migraine and decide that I should give this book another chance. And maybe I'm giving up on one of the best books I'll ever read. Either way, a slow contemporary with romance as a primary storyline doesn't interest me.
April 17, 2012
In typical Heidi Ayarbe style, she takes a subject I know little about and makes me feel like I should be the voice for all the people who can’t or won’t speak up. I feel love for the characters whether you agree with their actions or not. I want to adopt every character in her books and cook them a home cooked meal (does picking up Boston Market or Chick-Fil-A count?). Ayarbe makes me feel for a character even when, as I generalize about that group, and in this case, bookies, I tend to disregard them and wish they would all go to jail.
Oh, not so with my dear protagonist Mike that Ayarbe melts my heart with. In a book where you think you know the ending, in a book where you think you are conservative, and in a book where you lean to the left, you'll only think about the kids and how you can help them at the end of Wanted or any of Ayarbe’s books for that matter. They aren't preachy. It’s just a story told. A story that probably comes closer to the truth than anything I imagine. Next time you hear about incidents in the news, maybe, just maybe you'll think about the person and the circumstances that got them there. And maybe just maybe our world will change bit by bit.
Love, StackGirl Shannan who still ranks Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe as one of my most favorite books
Oh, not so with my dear protagonist Mike that Ayarbe melts my heart with. In a book where you think you know the ending, in a book where you think you are conservative, and in a book where you lean to the left, you'll only think about the kids and how you can help them at the end of Wanted or any of Ayarbe’s books for that matter. They aren't preachy. It’s just a story told. A story that probably comes closer to the truth than anything I imagine. Next time you hear about incidents in the news, maybe, just maybe you'll think about the person and the circumstances that got them there. And maybe just maybe our world will change bit by bit.
Love, StackGirl Shannan who still ranks Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe as one of my most favorite books
March 16, 2013
Looking forward to reading this book. It sounds great!
Update: just got my autographed copy in the mail today, so excited to finish it. Didn't have time to read much but I finished the first chapter.
Ok. So the book starts out with Michal (pronounced mee-kal) and Josh locked down, maybe in a store or something. But cops are surrounding the building and she feels she may be dead soon.
Then the first chapter describes how she takes bets and how she works her system. She meets Josh and takes his bet. As well as Nims who happens to be a habitual gambler who owes her over seven hundred dollars.
So far the book is very easy to read, clear and the characters are described well. I'd recommend reading the book. Seems to be very well written. And I can't wait to read the rest.
I'm barely on chapter 8, what can I say, life gets in the way. its so easy to get lost in this book given peace and quiet. I feel as if I personally know the characters. hope I can read it quicker than I have been. Nims character angers me. I feel like she should deal with him harsher than she does. he's just incredibly unlikeable. mocho I like, but he's not in the story much yet. Josh is likeable. I feel for Michal because she feels like she is caught between worlds, Mexico/USA and being seen and unknown. great book so far.
Update: just got my autographed copy in the mail today, so excited to finish it. Didn't have time to read much but I finished the first chapter.
Ok. So the book starts out with Michal (pronounced mee-kal) and Josh locked down, maybe in a store or something. But cops are surrounding the building and she feels she may be dead soon.
Then the first chapter describes how she takes bets and how she works her system. She meets Josh and takes his bet. As well as Nims who happens to be a habitual gambler who owes her over seven hundred dollars.
So far the book is very easy to read, clear and the characters are described well. I'd recommend reading the book. Seems to be very well written. And I can't wait to read the rest.
I'm barely on chapter 8, what can I say, life gets in the way. its so easy to get lost in this book given peace and quiet. I feel as if I personally know the characters. hope I can read it quicker than I have been. Nims character angers me. I feel like she should deal with him harsher than she does. he's just incredibly unlikeable. mocho I like, but he's not in the story much yet. Josh is likeable. I feel for Michal because she feels like she is caught between worlds, Mexico/USA and being seen and unknown. great book so far.
July 15, 2016
I LOVE Heidi's books and this one was no exception. With each book, I'm completely thrown back and immersed in the awkwardness of teen years. 'Wanted' was intense, dramatic and nail-bitingly gripping, but it was also filled with familiar experiences, yummy Mexican food, friendships and fun.
I ended the book (as usual) so thankful for my childhood and to not have grown up in one of Heidi's books!
Saying that, Wanted is definitely worth reading.
Here's my 6 word memoir:
Incredibly crafted, heart-wrenching, gripping tale.
I ended the book (as usual) so thankful for my childhood and to not have grown up in one of Heidi's books!
Saying that, Wanted is definitely worth reading.
Here's my 6 word memoir:
Incredibly crafted, heart-wrenching, gripping tale.
March 9, 2013
I applaud you, Heidi Ayarbe. You have guts.
This was a very interesting book from the beginning. High school "book" club. This modern day Robin Hood has its own twist.
Mike(dear God, I love that) is a strong, likeable character. She bet, she lost, but dear Gandhi she was awesome.
And the ENDING!
I lost my mind. The prologue was the last page?!?!?!
And she died?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
My mind has exploded.
This was a very interesting book from the beginning. High school "book" club. This modern day Robin Hood has its own twist.
Mike(dear God, I love that) is a strong, likeable character. She bet, she lost, but dear Gandhi she was awesome.
And the ENDING!
I lost my mind. The prologue was the last page?!?!?!
And she died?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
My mind has exploded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2012
4.5 stars
Heidi Ayarbe has done it again! A wonderful, dark contemporary read.
Heidi Ayarbe has done it again! A wonderful, dark contemporary read.
April 13, 2012
Read our review here:
http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com...
http://readforyourfuture.blogspot.com...
April 23, 2012
Amazing read.
YA Books Central Review coming soon!
YA Books Central Review coming soon!
May 29, 2013
AMAZING
March 12, 2014
Loved the book. Has a bit of a bitter sweet ending. The characters are awesome.
May 14, 2015
I loved it the ending is so OMG i cant believe it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews