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Adelita's Secret
Lost in a superficial world of materialism and social status—and ashamed of her Latino heritage—seventeen-year-old Adelita Noé is loved by two men, two men separated by a hundred years and vastly different stations in life. One man owns little more than the shirt on his back. The other, a poet at heart, is heir to a vast fortune. Their love for Adelita serves as the backdrop for the Latino girl’s quest to better understand herself and her Mexican roots.
- GenresYoung AdultRomance
436 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2014
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Cloud
5 books3 followersChristopher Cloud began writing fiction full time after a long career in journalism and public relations. Cloud graduated from the University of Missouri in 1967 with a degree in journalism. He has worked as a reporter, editor, and columnist at newspapers in Texas, California, and Missouri. He was employed by a major oil company as a public relations executive, and later operated his own public relations agency. Chris lives in Joplin, Missouri, and enjoys golf and hiking.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 30, 2015
Adelita’s Secret begins, like many other teen romances, with a high-school girl on the outside, watching the in-crowd. A requisite excluded friend and glorious boyfriend take their places at her side, and Adelita proves to be super-beautiful, super-intelligent, and just possibly super-popular. Then a very different, enticing and exciting story begins.
Adelita is Mexican. She has just moved to a school attended by rich white kids, and she passes convincingly, and insistently, for white. Despising the assumptions of her heritage, she just wants to be a success in life—something she believes will be hard to achieve if people call her a wetback. But things look a little different when the deported wetback is someone she knows. Soon history will prove Adelita’s ancestors have a rich enduring heritage of loyalty, bravery, love, and care for their neighbors. But will she learn from them?
Adelita’s Secret includes other secrets besides a young woman’s heritage. It includes other questions besides those of identity. And it includes some nicely nuanced touches of freedom, tolerance, power and politics in the modern world. While the first few chapters are eminently everyday, from frat house to coffee shop and beyond, the story sings once Adelita’s “long journey to freedom” begins with a trip to the past. Well-researched and fascinating historical details fill out her dual and dueling romances, a hundred years apart, and the final result is a novel that soars with much more than teen affectation.
For thinking teens, for those who want to do more than fit in (but still like romance), and for any teens or adults with an interest in Mexican history, this novel is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
Adelita is Mexican. She has just moved to a school attended by rich white kids, and she passes convincingly, and insistently, for white. Despising the assumptions of her heritage, she just wants to be a success in life—something she believes will be hard to achieve if people call her a wetback. But things look a little different when the deported wetback is someone she knows. Soon history will prove Adelita’s ancestors have a rich enduring heritage of loyalty, bravery, love, and care for their neighbors. But will she learn from them?
Adelita’s Secret includes other secrets besides a young woman’s heritage. It includes other questions besides those of identity. And it includes some nicely nuanced touches of freedom, tolerance, power and politics in the modern world. While the first few chapters are eminently everyday, from frat house to coffee shop and beyond, the story sings once Adelita’s “long journey to freedom” begins with a trip to the past. Well-researched and fascinating historical details fill out her dual and dueling romances, a hundred years apart, and the final result is a novel that soars with much more than teen affectation.
For thinking teens, for those who want to do more than fit in (but still like romance), and for any teens or adults with an interest in Mexican history, this novel is highly recommended.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy and I offer my honest review.
April 1, 2015
I wasn't sure about Adelita's Secret at the beginning, but I have to say that by the end Adelita's Secret won me over.
Things I liked about this book:
I really liked the way Adelita grew throughout the book. During the beginning I wasn't sure if I really could connect to her, but as she evolved I really started to like her. By the end I really wanted to find out what was going to happen to her.
The way she learned about her heritage as she grew was great. The author found ways to integrate Mexico's history into the story without making it feel like a history lesson. I can say I definitely learned some interesting facts without feeling like I was reading a textbook.
I have to say the story, overall, drew me in. Based on the cover and the Amazon summery I was really expecting more of a romantic element to the book. But, even though this wasn't a romance novel, it definitely was a great read. Yes, there are romantic elements to the book, but they are secondary to the story of Adelita herself. Also, while she is the center of the story, it doesn't revolve completely around her. I have to say I became attached to quite a few of the supporting characters. I really appreciated the fact that by the end of the story the author did tie up the lose strings regarding them. It made the story that much more complete.
Things I was a bit unsure of:
Well the first thing I was unsure of was the fact that the story was way less romantic than I thought it would be. The story itself was good, but, based on the cover and the summery, I was really expecting more romance. Fortunately because of the story itself I really didn't miss the lack thereof. However if I had purchased the book expecting romance I would have been disappointed.
The second was Adelita at the beginning of the story. I understand that the author was building the character to be ignorant of her own culture, but there were some things that I really think based on her back story she should have known. One particular item, in the beginning Adelita is recently transferred from an underprivileged school. The author really goes into detail about how bad the school is. While I can still understand her not knowing Spanish or anything about her cultural heritage, there are certain words that she should have been exposed to already. But a few steps into the book she has no idea what they are, one word in particular. I'm not saying that anyone that doesn't live in the region where Adelita does would know the word, but from where she comes from she should be familiar with it. (The word itself is rather derogatory, so I'm not putting it here. In the book it works, it's not gratuitous use of a negative word, but this isn't the book. )
My opinion of the book overall?
The beginning was a bit slow, but I really liked it by the end. I definitely would recommend it. I would make a note to tell whoever I recommended it to that it isn't really a romance novel and to push through the first few chapters to give themselves a chance to get to know Adelita
.
I'm giving this one 4 outta 5 stars. Mainly because by the end it had done that good a job of pulling the entire story together and really getting me to care about the characters.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review to be included as part of the Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge on my blog. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Things I liked about this book:
I really liked the way Adelita grew throughout the book. During the beginning I wasn't sure if I really could connect to her, but as she evolved I really started to like her. By the end I really wanted to find out what was going to happen to her.
The way she learned about her heritage as she grew was great. The author found ways to integrate Mexico's history into the story without making it feel like a history lesson. I can say I definitely learned some interesting facts without feeling like I was reading a textbook.
I have to say the story, overall, drew me in. Based on the cover and the Amazon summery I was really expecting more of a romantic element to the book. But, even though this wasn't a romance novel, it definitely was a great read. Yes, there are romantic elements to the book, but they are secondary to the story of Adelita herself. Also, while she is the center of the story, it doesn't revolve completely around her. I have to say I became attached to quite a few of the supporting characters. I really appreciated the fact that by the end of the story the author did tie up the lose strings regarding them. It made the story that much more complete.
Things I was a bit unsure of:
Well the first thing I was unsure of was the fact that the story was way less romantic than I thought it would be. The story itself was good, but, based on the cover and the summery, I was really expecting more romance. Fortunately because of the story itself I really didn't miss the lack thereof. However if I had purchased the book expecting romance I would have been disappointed.
The second was Adelita at the beginning of the story. I understand that the author was building the character to be ignorant of her own culture, but there were some things that I really think based on her back story she should have known. One particular item, in the beginning Adelita is recently transferred from an underprivileged school. The author really goes into detail about how bad the school is. While I can still understand her not knowing Spanish or anything about her cultural heritage, there are certain words that she should have been exposed to already. But a few steps into the book she has no idea what they are, one word in particular. I'm not saying that anyone that doesn't live in the region where Adelita does would know the word, but from where she comes from she should be familiar with it. (The word itself is rather derogatory, so I'm not putting it here. In the book it works, it's not gratuitous use of a negative word, but this isn't the book. )
My opinion of the book overall?
The beginning was a bit slow, but I really liked it by the end. I definitely would recommend it. I would make a note to tell whoever I recommended it to that it isn't really a romance novel and to push through the first few chapters to give themselves a chance to get to know Adelita
.
I'm giving this one 4 outta 5 stars. Mainly because by the end it had done that good a job of pulling the entire story together and really getting me to care about the characters.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review to be included as part of the Blogging from A to Z April (2015) Challenge on my blog. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 27, 2014
Adelita’s Secret is the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who is ashamed of being Mexican (even though she is technically a Mexican descendant because I’m sure she was born in the USA). The new girl at school is trying to fit in and being part of a community where appearance is everything. But suddenly the past comes to show her that she should be proud of her name and her roots.
The book has not a steady rhythm. Up to the 30 percent of the book, the story was slow, Adelita was really annoying and I was thinking about giving up. However, the book has a huge breaking point, Coronela. Her apparition makes the book take an unexpected turn. She is a great, powerful woman who brings places and scenarios which changed the book. She is the reason I ended up enjoying it so much. I don’t want to give much up but Coronela takes Adelita to a place that will give her a new perspective. She will witness evil in its cruelest form. Death, suffering and love will show Adelita that the world is bigger than she knows.
The descriptions of the event are very detail and it’s easy to imagine the tension and even the calm. The dialogues are good; especially I think the teenagers’ words sound natural and real.
Like I said, at first I didn't like Adelita but once the story moves on, she starts to grow in so many levels that I ended up waiting the best for her. There are other relevant and special characters as her BFF (a funny and loving girl).
As the blurb says, there are two boys that love Adelita. Each one of them is unique, handsome and smart. Is up to you to choose your favorite.
There are only two more things I would like to mention:
One: the author deserves a round of applauses for bringing to the table a subject so fascinating. The Mexican revolution and the Soldaderas are a topic worth studying.
Two: Adelita’s Secret is one of those books whose cover doesn’t do justice to the story. I still don’t like the cover for this book. Trust me it has nothing to do with the story.
Overall, a great YA romance with elements of paranormal in it. If you can read past the first chapters you will find an educational, inspirational, emotional story about a girl discovering who she is.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
The book has not a steady rhythm. Up to the 30 percent of the book, the story was slow, Adelita was really annoying and I was thinking about giving up. However, the book has a huge breaking point, Coronela. Her apparition makes the book take an unexpected turn. She is a great, powerful woman who brings places and scenarios which changed the book. She is the reason I ended up enjoying it so much. I don’t want to give much up but Coronela takes Adelita to a place that will give her a new perspective. She will witness evil in its cruelest form. Death, suffering and love will show Adelita that the world is bigger than she knows.
The descriptions of the event are very detail and it’s easy to imagine the tension and even the calm. The dialogues are good; especially I think the teenagers’ words sound natural and real.
Like I said, at first I didn't like Adelita but once the story moves on, she starts to grow in so many levels that I ended up waiting the best for her. There are other relevant and special characters as her BFF (a funny and loving girl).
As the blurb says, there are two boys that love Adelita. Each one of them is unique, handsome and smart. Is up to you to choose your favorite.
There are only two more things I would like to mention:
One: the author deserves a round of applauses for bringing to the table a subject so fascinating. The Mexican revolution and the Soldaderas are a topic worth studying.
Two: Adelita’s Secret is one of those books whose cover doesn’t do justice to the story. I still don’t like the cover for this book. Trust me it has nothing to do with the story.
Overall, a great YA romance with elements of paranormal in it. If you can read past the first chapters you will find an educational, inspirational, emotional story about a girl discovering who she is.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
January 6, 2015
As a Latino, this book touched me deeply, as I could feel Adelita's pain trying to be accepted by her colleagues without prejudice. It is not easy, mainly for a young lady. And the author was able to capture all her anguish in this beautiful and touching story.
As life is never easy, Adelita is caught in a situation that makes her learn and reflect on the suffering of Mexican people at the beginning of the 20th century. I almost can say that the past comes to haunt her (literally). Involved with two loves separated by a hundred years (with the help of her great-great-grand mother, Adelita travels between two realms), Adelita learns the true meaning of sacrifice, friendship, rejection, care for others, responsibilities, and all the sentiments that help building a valuable character.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader who enjoys a very well written novel, with all ingredients to be a success, mainly among young adults, like romance, paranormal activities, time travelling and discussions about hot topics. They will not be disappointed.
I received this book from the author for reviewing, but I was not requested for a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.
As life is never easy, Adelita is caught in a situation that makes her learn and reflect on the suffering of Mexican people at the beginning of the 20th century. I almost can say that the past comes to haunt her (literally). Involved with two loves separated by a hundred years (with the help of her great-great-grand mother, Adelita travels between two realms), Adelita learns the true meaning of sacrifice, friendship, rejection, care for others, responsibilities, and all the sentiments that help building a valuable character.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader who enjoys a very well written novel, with all ingredients to be a success, mainly among young adults, like romance, paranormal activities, time travelling and discussions about hot topics. They will not be disappointed.
I received this book from the author for reviewing, but I was not requested for a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.
December 6, 2014
As a teacher of teenagers the first thing I must say is how authentic the events and dialogue are. Another thing I must say is that overall I don’t care for romance stories. However, if you throw something else in, such as paranormal elements, then it becomes very enjoyable. The message is very appropriate to teens today. They need to take pride in who they are and where they come from. Adelita has to learn this. I also enjoyed the history sprinkled in. All of the elements make it a book I would definitely recommend to teens and adults.
I received a copy to facilitate my review.
I received a copy to facilitate my review.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews