Playing for the Devil's Fire

by Phillippe Diederich

Thirteen-year-old Boli and his friends are deep in the middle of a game of marbles. An older boy named Mosca has won the prized Devil's Fire marble. His pals are jealous and want to win it away from him. This is Izayoc, the place of tears, a small pueblo in a tiny valley west of Mexico City where nothing much happens. It's a typical hot Sunday morning except that on the way to church someone discovers the severed head of Enrique Quintanilla propped on the ledge of one of the cement planters in the plaza and everything changes. Not apocalyptic changes, like phalanxes of men riding on horses with stingers for tails, but subtle ones: poor neighbors turning up with brand-new SUVs, pimpled teens with fancy girls hanging off them. Boli's parents leave for Toluca and don't arrive at their destination. No one will talk about it. A washed out masked wrestler turns up one day, a man only interested in finding his next meal. Boli hopes to inspire the luchador to set out with him to find his parents. Phillippe Diederich was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Mexico City and Miami. His parents were forced out of Haiti by the dictatorship of Papa Doc Duvalier in 1963. As a photojournalist, Diederich has traveled extensively through Mexico and witnessed the terrible tragedies of the Drug Wars.    

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, High School

232 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2016

About the author

Phillippe Diederich is the author of the Young Adult novel "Playing for the Devil's Fire," Cinco Puntos Press, 2016, and "Sofrito," Cinco Puntos Press, 2015. He is also experimenting with the serial thriller "Cutlass Supreme" which is available for Kindle.

Reviews

[Amy Formanski Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most depressing books I've ever read. I know that's something a dramatic teen would say, but it's so disturbing. When drug dealers invade Boli's small town in Mexico his peaceful life ends abruptly. Anyone who speaks out against them or defies their orders ends up dead, including {SPOILERS!} his parents, best friend, dog...I lost count.

Although Boli and his friends are only 13 or so, this definitely is not a middle grade book. The opening scene involves a decapitated head found in the town plaza. A lot of people (and the dog) get hacked into pieces and others are hung from the highway overpass. There's a lot of foul language, a lot of it in Spanish. So it confused me that Boli is in many ways still a kid whose main interests are playing marbles with his friends and going to wrestling matches. This made me wonder: who is the intended audience? Mature junior high kids? High schoolers who have watched Narcos and Sicario? Not sure. But it's well written and the author, having grown up in Mexico City, wanted to "put a face to the 80,000-plus deaths in the so-called war on drugs and to address the corruption and the senseless narco violence that is tearing the country apart." It's a noble effort, and a timely book. I'm sure teens will want to read it.

Although the author includes a glossary of Spanish words and phrases, there were some that I didn't find. So non-Spanish speakers have a bit of trouble with the dialogue. Mid-novel, Boli strikes up a friendship with a wrestler that he finds outside a bar getting beaten by some thugs. I worried that plot had taken a really cheesy turn, but Chicano helps Boli find out what happened to his parents and becomes a stand-in father figure for awhile. Boli's relationship with his grandmother is also touching. She fades in and out of touch with reality, spending half her time talking as if she's back in VeraCruz with her late husband. Clearly she suffers from dementia. But when Boli really needs her, she protects him.

I need to think on this one for awhile, but overall it's powerful and timely. I'm just not sure what age group librarians should hand it to???

[Rich in Color is now on StoryGraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy: Final copy via publisher

A severed head and another dead body with missing fingers are the two most obvious clues that things are changing in the small town of Izayoc. The name Izayoc is Nahuatl and means the place of tears which rapidly becomes a more and more accurate description. There are multiple grisly scenes and many heart-breaking moments throughout the book. Boli’s story is haunting and difficult to read, but is well worth the time and potential tears.

My heart ached for Boli as he watched his world crumble. The horrifying deaths are bad enough, but the shattering of trust is also devastating. Law enforcement is no help when his family goes missing and it’s hard to know where the loyalties of neighbors and strangers may lie on any given day. Boli is a pretty trusting kid initially. He is slow to believe the evidence staring at him. He hangs out with some kids who curse and fantasizes about an older girl, but he is a pretty innocent child as the story begins to unfold. He idolized luchadores and wants to be a hero like them – not a superhero, but a real person who is responsible for fighting crime and also happens to get the girl in the end. Unfortunately, Boli and his town become witness to plenty of crime to fight, but it’s not like in the movies or lucha libre. The crime and violence is all too real and can be downright gruesome.

Boli mainly places his trust in his family and his faith. He does have questions though. Father Gregorio teaches that one shouldn’t question God’s motives for what happens to people. Boli ponders the idea that life is a journey of living, suffering and dying. This type of thinking seems to keep people trapped in their situations though. His friend Mosca tells him that Catholicism is “all a fairy tale made up by the priests. All they wanted was to enslave the Indians and steal the gold of the Aztecs.”

Diederich does several things very well. He is able to dig a little into theology and religion without becoming preachy and dry. He also paints the scenes thoroughly. This book has a movie-like quality. This is where Diederich’s experience as a photographer may have been a big benefit. The dead bodies, trash heaps, marble games and lucha libre matches along with so many other situations are vividly described. One could say that sometimes maybe they’re even almost too vivid for comfort. Diederich also created memorable characters who wormed their way into my heart. Boli is facing enormous challenges but meets them with resilience for the most part. His sister Gaby also persists in spite of fear and heartache. Their abuela is experiencing dementia, but is also a strong force in their lives. I love the relationship Boli has with her. He appreciates her ability to laugh and hold onto whatever joke is bringing her joy. And then there is the washed up wrestler who stumbles into their lives and provides hope for Boli.

The story is set in Mexico and there are Spanish words and phrases present, but the author does provide a glossary. Like many of the events in the book, the words can be harsh, but they fit the situations and the characters and enrich the story.

Recommendation: Buy it now. This is a book that takes a hard look at the devastation that can come along with the drug business and the heavy toll it can take on individuals. This is a book that will stay in my memory for a long time to come.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am left speechless at the end of this book. There is a battle between good and evil, and Boli is caught in the middle of it. After losing his parents, there can't be much worse than having your dog, and two best friends murdered, but through all of this, Boli still manages to survive and find the unlikeliest of friends. This book showed how tough friendship can be, and how friendship and love endure even through the most evilest of times. Phillippe Diederich's character development is wonderful. He makes his good characters likable and relatable. Even when Chicano confesses to making some terrible mistakes, you can't help but feel sorry for him when he meets Boli, and tells Boli how much of a messy person he is. This is a must-read in order to understand the Mexican drug wars, and to feel the touch of a friendship that is inseparable; even into death.

[Rita Ciresi · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this painfully moving coming of age story, a group of boys are messing around with marbles, each hoping to win the treasure called the Devil's Fire. Their youth and innocence, however, is about to be stolen from them. A decapitated head is found on the town square, new money pops up everywhere, and the protagonist's parents mysteriously disappear. Readers of all ages will learn much about the plight of Mexican youth and the perils of getting involved in the narcotics trade from this well-written novel about Boli, his relationship with a failed luchador, and their quest to discover the truth about his parents' disappearance. High school teachers and librarians who wish to inspire their students to learn more about Mexico would do well to begin with this novel.

[Joan Baslow-Temple · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to what common people experience when drug cartels take over small towns in Mexico. Disturbing, intense, powerful.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing for the Devil’s Fire by Phillippe Diederich contains a heart wrenching story of helplessness and inability. While reading this story, readers stay locked in through every turn and every mystery resolved. Even when there is not answer spoken for the riddle, the reader gets the idea which allows for emotional draw. The emotional draw is circled over a young boy named Liberio living in a small town called Izayoc in Mexico. When the town finds a severed head in the park center and stangers turning up on every corner, they know danger is coming. Following the young boy through this tragic story of searching for his parents and finding out what is happening to his town sends shivers, and the characters he meets give the reader more emotional attatchment to his family begging the reader to read more and find the truth to the madness. Just like Huckleberry and Fin, Liberio and Chicano take on Izayoc. While they are two separate people, Chicano is what Liberio looks up to and liberio is what Chicano needs, completing the relationship and giving them something to depend on. The enemy and boss of the destruction in Izayoc is that of a figure head the henchman all work for out of fear. When Liberio and Chicano continue to search, they find trouble. Girls, action, and mystery sum up the feelings and emotion expressed by each character through Liberio’s point of view and finish the story with the reader clenching their seat. The overall book of Playing for the Devil’s fire is a mystery that cannot be overlooked and will leave the reader wanting to end the crime that is left untouched by officials in Mexico.

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this at the ALAN 2016 conference. 


This is the second book to make me cry in an airport. Diederich's coming-of-age story, while slow at times, reveals the hardships and heartaches of Mexico's war on drugs. I found myself invested in the characters and what happened to them. The fact that people experience the conflicts Liberia faced is heart-wrenching. As a non-Spanish speaker, I found the occasional Spanish words distracting, even though most of them were translated in the back of the book. Some, unfortunately, were not, and I found myself concerned I was mistranslating certain passages. I wonder if footnotes at the bottom of the page would be a better choice.  My only other complaint is the cursing, as I'm not one who speaks that way or really enjoys reading it; however, it's inclusion surely is realistic and not for shock value as some YA authors are wont to do. I look forward to sharing this with some of my students to hear their reactions.  When that day comes, I will likely add to my review. 

[Andrea Mullarkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boli lives in a beautiful pueblo in a scenic valley outside of Mexico City. Izayoc is an idyllic place where the kids play marbles and businesses, like the bakery owned by Boli’s family, are family-run. But lately things are not quite right in Izayoc. Shiny black SUVs are rolling through town regularly, the most popular girls are hanging around with new boys, and bodies (or parts of bodies) are being found around town. Then, when Boli’s parents head to the capital city to tell government officials what they have seen and never return, things take a decidedly dark turn. 13-year-old Boli takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of what is messing up his home. He enlists the assistance of a sad-sack, B-list luchador along the way and the two set out to become the heroes of their own small corner of the world.

The plot of this book whirls around gangs, drugs, violence, and corruption. And yet it is fundamentally a coming of age story with a sincerely heartfelt protagonist. That Boli loses his innocence seems inevitable given how grim this book is. The realism of the violence and emotional trauma is intense. It is targeted at 12-16 year olds, but the absence of cursing means it could fit in middle school libraries. And yet the darkness of the subject matter and the sophistication of the treatment means it will also appeal to older teens. Liberal inclusion of Spanish vocabulary and a glossary at the end are things not often enough seen, though certainly not unexpected from a Mexican author writing for Cinco Puntos Press. Very few people in this book get a happy ending and readers looking for a lighthearted read should choose something else. But for those interested in understanding the effect of the drug wars in Mexico, this book will be a compelling and enlightening read.

This is the best teen book I’ve read in the last 12 months and it’s had some real competition!

[BAYA Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boli lives in a beautiful pueblo in a scenic valley outside of Mexico City. Izayoc is an idyllic place where the kids play marbles and businesses are family-run, like the bakery owned by Boli’s family. But lately things are not quite right in Izayoc. Shiny black SUVs are rolling through town regularly, the most popular girls are hanging around with new boys, and bodies (or parts of bodies) are being found around town. When Boli’s parents head to the capital city to tell government officials what they have seen and never return, things take a decidedly dark turn. 13-year-old Boli takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of what is messing up his hometown. He enlists the assistance of a sad-sack, B-list luchador along the way and the two set out to become the heroes of their own small corner of the world.

The plot of this book whirls around gangs, drugs, violence, and corruption. And yet it is fundamentally a coming of age story with a sincerely heartfelt protagonist. That Boli loses his innocence seems inevitable given how grim this book is. The realism of the violence and emotional trauma is intense. It is targeted at 12-16 year olds, but the absence of cursing means it could fit in many middle school libraries. Still, the darkness of the subject matter and the sophistication of the treatment means it will also appeal to older teens. Liberal inclusion of Spanish language vocabulary and a glossary at the end are things not often enough seen, though certainly not unexpected from a Mexican author writing for Cinco Puntos Press. Very few people in this book get a happy ending and readers looking for a lighthearted read should choose something else. But for those interested in understanding the effect of the drug wars in Mexico, this book will be a compelling and enlightening read.

[Austin Barfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillippe Diederich’s, Playing for the Devil’s Fire, is a heartbreaking book with a theme that I believe to be on how different people cope with the loss of a loved one. Never the less, this book engages with the reader throughout the entirety of the reading. To give a brief overview of the novel, the main character, Boli, lives with his family in Izayoc, Mexico. The town starts out seeming to be, well normal. This changes quickly with a pair of mysterious murders taking place, and soon after when Boli’s parents go out of town and never return. While everything appears to be turning against Boli and everybody starts to think that his parents are dead, Boli never gives up hope. He eventually pairs up with Chicano, a pro wrestler, and they go on their way in attempt to find Boli’s parents. Dead or alive. I recently had the honor of seeing the author speak on his book and his motives for writing this book. Playing for the Devil’s Fire sheds light on a very troubling issue in Mexico. Though the book never specifically mentions a drug cartel raiding the city, this is widely assumed when reading the novel. Listening to Diederich speak, he explained that he wanted to write this book to educate and bring awareness to the crime with drug cartels and lacking authority with the justice system in Mexico. He said that Mexico will always hold a place in his heart, but he saw with his own eyes the rapid change take place and knows that he very well may never be able to visit Mexico again because of it. As someone that really doesn’t particularly enjoy reading, I did however enjoy reading this novel. Knowing the motives for why Diederich decided to base his book on this troubling issue only made me enjoy the reading even more. It may not be one for the ages, but I definitely believe that most people that enjoy reading fiction and/or non-fiction books will enjoy this novel.

[Reece Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally found this novel refreshing to say the least. The hyperrealism of Boli’s desperate, and eventually worthless, journey is perfectly described by Diedrich not just through his use us of literary imagery, but also his use of ambiguity from the narrator’s point of view. This tragic story keeps hope alive in the heart of Boli and therefore the reader. This little flicker of ignorant hope is just fueled enough yet just weak enough to truly depict the desperation of a young child in a corrupt and murderous overtaking of his hometown. Diedrich seamlessly portrays Boli’s conflicting adolescent emotions as he transforms from an innocent child to a scarred and worn young man. Boli’s relationship with Chicano represents the constant yearning for a hero and human compassion that I believe embodies the pure side of the Human spirit. However, the numerous examples of greed, fear, and power, that over take the minds of the gang members and inhabitants of Izayoc sheds light on Diedrich’s true vision of human nature and how rooted in animalistic desires it really is. This conflicting duality is nothing new to the world of literature or fiction, but Diedrich’s dirty and real interpretation of this duality, and its tragic submissive end, represents a style of writing that few author’s are willing to express. All in all this novel is not only enlightening to the effects of organized crime in a place like Mexico, it depicts its scope and reach into the lives of every single person who is involved in it. After finishing this story the reader can pan out from the terror of Izayoc and watch the infection of the Cartel spread throughout the country, creating stories just like Boli’s happen in every single town across the nation.

[Nicholas Puzder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philippe Diederich's novel, "Playing For the Devil's Fire" is a clear cut example of the struggles of childhood, and the eventual loss of not only innocence, but hope. The novel also represents the coming of a new age and the dangers the new age can inflict on a society built on the past. Throughout the novel, the reader is introduced to the hardships and dangerous experiences in the eyes of a young boy named Boli, who lives in the historic town of Izayoc and shines shoes on the street, as well as work in his family's restaurant. Things seem to be going well for Boli, especially since he and a friend named Mosca, who holds a prized marble named 'The Devil's Fire', were saving money from their shoe shining work for a wrestling match that featured a certain wrestler that Boli had cherished throughout his childhood. However, things take a turn for a worst when Boli's parents mysteriously vanish, and waves of new, shadowy people make their way into Izayoc. Believing his parents are still alive, Boli embarks on his own journey to find them, making new friends, as well as enemies, along the way, while also trying to keep his own dismantled family together. Overall, Diederich's novel is a good read, and quite an enjoyable experience. The reader is put into Boli's mind, hearing every detail of his thoughts, and experiencing every tragedy and triumph in his journey. Diederich also keeps the reader attached to the different characters in the novel by giving these characters their own unique traits and positions in the story, meaning that every character serves their own purpose. Philippe Diederich's novel, "Playing For the Devil's Fire". Is an enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it to young and mature adults alike.

[Abby Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing for the Devils Fire is a novel that is set in a small town in Mexico told through the perspective of the main Character Boli. In the story new people start showing up into town once the new highway is put in however once these new people showed up residents in town have been going missing and body parts and dead bodies have been showing up all around. The plot thickens when Bolis parents turn into some of those missing people and are nowhere to be found. Boli their young son tries to do everything in his power to find them and the reader is taken along on every single suspenseful and heartbreaking adventure.

Overall, I thought this book was pretty good, it was not to hard to read, always was kept interesting, and constantly kept me at the edge of my seat because it was very suspenseful. But if you are looking for a happy book or at least one with a happy ending this is probably not the best pick. The reader can’t help but feel bad for Boli because he is constantly being let down and everything he knows and loves either disappears or changes. The author writes very realistically which means he thoroughly describes the details of the dead people that show up and the feeling that Boli and those around him experience every single time. The also means he does his best to show the true nature and ruthlessness of the cartel which may result in characters or animals you come to like dying and maybe even showing up dead and chopped up. However, the book is still very interesting and keeps you entertained because you never know what will come next. The author wrote this in a way that really makes you invested in it and feel like you are right there with Boli. It is definitely worth the read.

[Ramya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The novel, “Playing for the Devil’s Fire,” is a well-written and truly necessary story for today's society. It does not hide any of the gory details and truly exposes its reader to a reality that is often hidden in media, literature, and television. The novel is about the people who are getting caught in a crossfire between two drug cartels just outside of Mexico. These two cartels are fighting over control of a small town to better their drug trade. The story is told from the point of view of a child, which instills a little bit of innocence to the story and maintains some censorship. However, the novel does not shy from portraying the gruesome horrors that happen between different cartels. Bodies are decapitated, people are strung up, official authorities are corrupted, and many more actual societal problems that occur in towns like this are depicted. I would compare it to the tv series, "13 reasons why," because depicting and portraying such taboo topics such as suicide, is like what the author, Phillipe Diederich, did in portraying the violent effects of drug cartels. While this was not a story that ended with a happy ending, several audience favorite characters are killed off in the novel and the main character never solves the main problem of the story, it was a story that needed to be told to shine a light on a topic that is not really covered to illustrate that real life does not always have a happy ending. Personally, however, I do not enjoy books where the author kills off a lot of developed characters. Therefore, while I found the book moving, I was not pleased with how many people died, but this is the only distaste I had for the novel.

[Matt]

Playing for the Devil’s Fire by Phillippe Diederich is a suspenseful story about the challenges that arise in the life of a boy named Boli living in Izayoc, a small town in Mexico. His parents disappear. New and mysterious people come to his town and appear to be behind the deaths of many of the town’s citizens, and many of his friends begin to work for this new group. The story is written from the perspective of Boli, who is a young and innocent boy. Therefore, Boli, and initially the reader, are unable to put the pieces of the town’s events together and realize who is behind the tragedies in Izayoc. The novel explores Boli’s loss of innocence through the death’s he faces, the realization that there are many bad people in the world, and the possibility that even his father was not as good of a man as Boli had once thought. Nevertheless, throughout the whole novel, Boli tries to fix his problems such as finding his parents. He also recruits the help of an unpopular wrestler named Chicano to stand up against the new, bad people in the town and aid him in his investigation of his parent’s disappearance. The two are unable to find many answers or bring about any change in Izayoc other than cause themselves trouble thus exploring the theme of powerlessness that causes a disappearance of hope. Diederich also does a masterful job of enforcing his themes by forcing the reader to experience Boli’s feelings of powerlessness by leaving many of the novel’s burning questions that the reader wants answered unanswered. The novel is a great read that engagingly brings to life unique themes.

[Alli Stickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this novel was very well put together in many ways regarding the plot. It was fictional, but at the same time had a lot of real life issues that are going on in the world today, such as, the drug cartels in Mexico. The characters in this story were very put together, and many I was drawn to feel sympathy towards. The main character Boli, seemed very weak at the beginning of the book, because he did not do a lot to search for his missing parents, but that was because of his purity and innocence. Throughout the novel he becomes less innocent through all of the horror and terror of dead bodies he has to witness. One thing I did not necessarily like was the fact that we never find out what happens to Boli's parents. It would've brought some good closure if we could've found that out. However, it is very realistic to the real world, since missing people in Mexico seem to never be found anyway. I also thought it was very cool how the main villain in the story, Duende was never shown, but yet he was so powerful getting away with all this murder. It really shows the amount of power this villain had over the whole town. I liked the irony in this story as well, it takes place in a small town called Izayoc. This town is supposed to be a great town where nothing bad happens, but yet all these murders arise and people are left with fear and confusion. Come to find out, the town is just corrupt with money and criminals running it. All in all, I thought this book was very well written and put together and I highly think it is worth the read.

[Garrett Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing For the Devil’s Fire tells the tragic tale of the protagonist, Boli, as he struggles to make peace as his town succumbs to the iron fist of a powerful drug cartel. Boli lives in the peaceful town of Izayoc, Mexico, with his mother, father, grandmother, and sister. He enjoys a simple life, playing marbles with his friends after school, and assisting at the family bakery when need be. It is the ideal town; however, troubling changes begin to come about this peaceful town. The first signs of change arise when a well known professor turns up dead alongside an ominous note stating “he talked too much”. Soon after this professor’s death, another body is found, a grim warning of things to come.

Diederich does a fantastic job in portraying the horrific events which transpire within the town without outright stating it is being captured by a drug cartel. From bodies hanging from bridges, to cars riddled with bullet holes, the reader is never left guessing at what is happening to the town. Though Boli is but a young child in the book, the audience is certainly not intended to be his same age. Boli’s tragic loss of innocence story is filled with lots of vulgar language and an excess of death not suitable for someone of his own age.

Overall, this is a tragic, but powerful story about the loss of innocence brought on by the drug business. Diederich takes a close look at what occurs in a small town after it is taken over by a cartel and spares no detail in conveying it to the reader. It is a phenomenally well written book and I highly recommend it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts out with a 13 year old boy Boli playing marbles with a couple of his friends. When a head and missing fingers are found this indicates that things are changing in the little town Izayoc. There are multiple shocking and mournful moments through out the book. Boli's story is sad and hard to read since there are some words that are in Spanish but it is worth the time to read it. I felt for Boli while i watched his world collapse. The death was enough for Boli but losing trust with people was overwhelming. The law enforcement in the book was no help to Boli when he was trying to find his missing parents. As the story begins Boli is a innocent kid but hangouts with kids that cuss and talk about women. He wants to be a luchador who fights crime and initially gets the girl at the end. Boli places his trust on his faith and family. Boli is a kid who has questions but Father Gregorio teaches that one shouldn't questions God's motives for what happens to people. The dead bodies, marble games and lucha libre matches along with so many other situations are vividly described. Diederich also had characters that made me like them even more then i did in the beginning. There was a washed up wrestler who shows up in the story that gives Boli hope. We learn that he isn't perfect and is a bad guy but then he transform into a better person because Boli had hope in him. I believe the purpose for this book was to send us a message about what a drug cartel can do to a family and a town. In this case that is what Boli is experiencing he's losing people around him because they get involved with the bad people. It was either to be involved with the bad people or keep your mouth shut or you will die. I loved the book and connected with it i would definitely recommend you to read it.

[Elena Feliciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not my favorite book that I have read. First I thought there was too many Spanish words made it harder to read and understand the book. But once I looked up the words I now know how to cures in Spanish. Thought this was a very sad story. Before everything went to shit all the little boys, just wanted to play this marble game and win this treasure called the devils fire.But then people started losing heads and fingers. When it came to all the deaths in this story I just wanted to stop reading. It was horrible how they would chop of peoples head. I wished they were not so descriptive when it came to that. Or just said they died instead of letting the reader know that they got hanged ect. At a point I got a little use to everyone dying but when it came to the dog... Like come one why did the author have to mention the dog that really made me not like this book. But I think I understand were the reader is coming from with all this horrible things happening. I assume he wanted the reader to really see how he lived, how his town survived. Parts of this book seemed like a horror story which is kinda like a wake up call for the reader to open up their eye, to realize that all this append in real life. Overall this book was not that bad for older age readers. I think a lot of my class mates seemed to like this book especially if they did not mind death. It was defiantly interesting to see if the parents would come out alive some how. That is one of the reasons I kept on reading.

[Lauren Romfo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Playing for the Devil’s Fire is an easy to moderate level read. It provides creative, detailed descriptions to enhance the plot which then sparks a connection between the story and the reader. The author, Phillippe Diederich, uses narration in an engaging way to keep the reader attentive throughout the story. It is narrated by the main character, a young boy, who faces extreme difficulties while living in his quaint Mexican town. As the plot line unfolds, the reader becomes more aware of the circumstances that the characters are living in, and with that they then become emotionally involved with the story. This novel does an incredible job enacting every human emotion and making the reader feel as if they are a part of the story. These emotions range from pure happiness to extreme sorrow, but the author makes sure that the story leaves the reader with a full heart, in a way. Not only is Playing for the Devil’s Fire an enjoyable read, it also sheds some light on important issues concerning Mexican towns and some events that have been previously prominent in Mexico. The town that this story is set in deals with foreign newcomers that stir up some unwanted trouble and mess up the flow of the small town. This fictional story shows the true emotions of how drug cartels affect towns, especially small towns, and how they bring unwanted misery to peoples’ lives. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a heartfelt story that displays factual events because once you start reading it you won’t want to put it down.

[Taylor Childers · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Playing for the Devil's Fire" is a suspenseful read about a young boy caught in the middle of a drug cartel. This boy, Boli, and his family are some of the earliest victims in the novel. His parents go missing and their hometown is quickly becoming unrecognizable. It begins with the severed head found in town that once belonged to a teacher. Throughout, bodies and body parts are found around town as the new highway is being completed. New people are occupying the places Boli once enjoyed and made memories at. The low-key city of Izayoc has now become a highly desired place of the arrogant drug business so Boli's whole world has been turned around. He is not given answers and is even lied to. Lucky for him, Boli ends up finding his last "saving grace," a luchador named Chicano that he had watched wrestle at the local fair. Boli finds him getting beat up in the streets and chooses to fight off the bad guys in hopes that Chicano will return a favor. Chicano agrees to help Boli, as he is much stronger than him, and they end up growing very close. With Boli's sister caught up with her new boyfriend and her internet café business, along with his grandma losing her mind, he puts his faith in Chicano to help him find his parents. The ending is disconsolate and somewhat heartbreaking, but overall it is a great book that raises awareness about the problems that these victims of the drug cartel in Mexico struggle with daily. I definitely enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery. It was hard for me to put the book down.

[Matthew Kichler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing for the Devil’s Fire was an enjoyable read, but I have marked it at four stars for two reasons. When I had completed the book, I was left with several questions about the title of the novel and some parts of its narrative. This review will be a bit vague as I do not want to spoil the novel by giving too much detailed information. The author used many different literary techniques in this novel, and the one that bothered me was the symbolism behind the title of the text. There is no definite indication I can find as to why Phillippe Diederich named the novel, “Playing for the Devil’s Fire.” I prefer not to speculate as to the reason. The other problem I had was the unanswered questions towards the end of the text. The ending felt rushed to me, and I feel the book lacked closure. The author does not always describe what is going on, and this leaves the reader feeling lost as the story progresses towards the end. Overall, the story was enjoyable, but I wish the author could have added a more detailed ending.

Despite my negative thoughts, the novel does plenty positive things that make up for its shortcomings. The story was very easy to read. The frequent Spanish text made the story more authentic. The book also includes a glossary in case one needs help with a phrase. The characters were fleshed out and felt like they had their own unique personality. Playing for the Devil’s Fire by Phillippe Diederich is a roller coaster of emotions with riveting storytelling and unique characters. I would recommend reading this novel.

[Gage Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start off, Playing for the Devil’s Fire by Phillippe Diedrich is a relatively easy read. Its coherent, and while there are very few Spanish words, they are not essential, and you can use context to figure out what they are. Overall, this novel is very interesting to say the least. This is not your typical “boy saves the world” story. Our main character, Liberero or “Boli”, honestly has a very little effect on the events surrounding him. He is utterly helpless and is forced to run from his problems. But, this is what I love about this book. It is very realistic as it should be. It is supposed to enlighten the readers on the toll narco-violence takes on a town. It the real world, stories like Boli’s are far too common and I think Diedrich wanted to show that. Another benefit of Diedrich’s realistic style is that it helps you relate to Boli on a deeper level than other novels. Because Boli is not a hero, but just an ordinary boy, he makes it easier to understand him, and relate to him. Throughout the novel, you realize that your thoughts become similar to Boli’s, and you share the same emotions. You can easily put yourself in Boli’s shoes. This novel was a very fun read. I only have one gripe about it, which the end. I understand why Diedrich did what he did, but it just leaves you saddened and disappointed. I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a novel about more obscure current day events. It is an emotional rollercoaster, but its interesting the whole way through, and just makes want to keep reading.

[Gavin English]

I usually do not like reading, but this novel actually made me want to keep reading. It is full of suspense and keeps you coming back for more and looking for answers. At first, I did not really understand it because it seemed like the main focus was mostly on the game marbles, but then it took an abrupt turn. I like how it showed the way things can change and how quickly they come. The town of Izayoc seemed like such a good town at the beginning. It was filled will small family owned businesses and people that all seemed to know each other, but that all changed when the new comers arrived. They brought crime, blood, and money with them and anyone who did not agree with them faced the consequences. When it comes to actually reading it, it is a pretty easy read, but Diederich did throw in some Spanish words every so often because it is set in Mexico. Even without being able to speak or understand Spanish, it did not make it any worse to read because most of the words were either simple or in context where they were easy to figure out. This actually made it better for me because it adds that Mexican vibe and slang they use which allows you to understand the situation better. Many people also were controversial about the ending, but I still found it to be satisfying. It was not what I was expecting, but I find that to be a good trait when you do not know what is going to happen next. Playing for the Devil's Fire

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Playing with the Devils Fire" is an easy read that flows smoothly throughout most of the book. The author uses suspenseful technique throughout the book to keep the reader engaged and active with the text. In the beginning Diederich uses the first murder to set a tone for the rest of the murders. Putting a note in the dead man’s mouth which reads "he talked too much." This letter in his mouth is a good way to help make sense of why the following deaths are what they are. I really enjoyed the way the author uses Chicano to fuel Boli's hope and make him stand up for the town of Izayoc. When Boli's father leaves and is presumed dead, Boli and Chicano become close and Chicano is turned into a father figure which really drawls in the reader. It’s hard to go against the narrators views on other people in the book. Diederich did a good job turning Chicano from a deadbeat, in my eyes, to probably the most important person in the book. Over all the author uses the readers emotions to keep them attached to the boy Boli. The friends maturing in the book is another selling point the author uses. The growth of Boli’s best friend, Masco, was something which Boli’s uses as a reason to leave the town. He had Masco’s support until the drug cartel gets him on the payroll. Once Boli’s friends start working for Duende Boli is left with only Chicano on his side to care. Once Chicano is killed Boli understands what is really happening in his town and how corrupt everything and everyone is.

[Gustavo Ribeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great book to read, I personally am not a fan of reading but I really enjoyed reading the story that was told in this book. I feel like Phellipe Diederich did a really good job on telling the story from Boli’s perspective and always making sure that the reader could understand what was really going on with Boli’s life and town from a readers different point of view. The book has a dramatic and suspenseful tone to it and Boli’s everyday life after his parents went missing is what shows how dramatic and suspenseful the story was, everyday a different person would die and their body would be put in places where the whole city could see,those events would make Boli really scared that it could have been his parents but it never really was his parents. As a 13 year old boy Boli’s innocent self can't really put 2 and 2 together and realize that whatever is going on in his city has something to do with the drug cartel, Phellipe Diederich does a really good job on making it easy for the reader to understand that the drug cartel is taking over Izayoc even though he never mentions that in the reading he uses examples such as the cars with plates from the state of Sinaloa in mexico ( where the cartel controls everything), the name of the dog being “Chapo” (reference to El Chapo), the overnight killings, and just how everything in the story unfold Phellipe Diederich makes it easy for the reader to connect the dots and understand everything. Overall “Playing For The Devil’s Fire” is definitely one of the best books i've ever read and i highly recommend it for people who likes suspenseful and dramatic stories and also to people who does not enjoy reading like me, all the suspense that Boli goes through day by day makes you want to keep reading it until the end, so make sure you check this book out.

[Shelby Wilder]

This was the first book that I was genuinely captivated by in years. I did not even feel compelled to google search the summary or read spark notes (even though there aren’t any). I was very intrigued and curious as to what would happen next. As a reader we sense danger however, the character Boli is oblivious to it. This created a suspense and led me to continue asking questions throughout the book. Quite honestly I am still asking questions even after reading the book. Don’t get me wrong; I do love to use my imagination but it would have been nice for Diederich to expose the tragedies and reasoning behind the mysterious deaths. An extra bit of more blood and gore would have been the cherry on top to this book.


Overall, this is a great and fairly easier book to read. In this novel there is violence and crime that exposes some of the real tragedies and horrors that author, Phillippe Diederch witnessed himself while living in New Mexico and photographing through Mexico. The novel is a great way of expressing how easily a child’s innocence can be thrown away.

The novel is also told through the perspective of a young adolescent boy named, Boli. Because the story is told through Boli’s eyes we see how he was very hopeful and positive. However, as a reader you begin to recognize the uncertain changes in the town of Izayoc and realize that Boli isn’t even quite fully aware of the horrors occurring around him. This is a great coming of age book and I recommend it to anyone between the ages of 13+ (only because some of the vocabulary can be difficult.) Playing for the Devil's Fire

[Jacob Juneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing for the Devil's Fire is a quite suspenseful read that leaves you not wanting to put the book down, especially once you delve deep into the plot. Diederich focuses on Boli, an innocent 13-year-old boy who is unfortunately placed right in the middle of Mexico's war on drugs. Playing for the Devil's Fire focuses on violence, crime, and corruption, but the main character is a young and hopeful boy. While violent crimes are being committed left and right, Boli is forced to take on a lot of responsibility and mature faster than any 13-year-old should have to. His family is taken out from under his wings, and what's left is his family's business and his mentally ill grandmother, who he is forced to take care of, all while he is trying to find his parents.

The Devil's Fire is a gem that the kids compete for through games of marbles, but what it represents is much more. When Boli and his friends gain possession of the Devil's Fire, they slowly lose their innocence. At the end of the story, however, Boli emerges as a much more mature and ambitious character, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his idol, a luchador named Chicano. In the final scene, he grips the Devil's Fire and in an empowering manner, says, "I'm going to become a luchador. The best ever."

Despite Playing for the Devil's Fire being such a sad read, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a book that has a feel-good underlying theme that keeps you coming back for more.

[Matthew Talbot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Playing for the Devil’s Fire by Phillipe Diederich is a very interesting book that for the most part is good, however, there were some parts that I did not enjoy. The book was a very entertaining read and kept me turning the page. The character development between El Chicano Estrada and Boli was done very nicely and really got me to care about the two of them. One reason I disliked the book, however, is because how open Diederich left the book for interpretation. He left a lot of things open for the reader to interpret. Some people may enjoy when authors do this, but for me it left me with more questions than answers.One way that Diederich allowed the reader to interpret the novel was by using a lot of symbolism instead of telling the reader what something is. In fact, because Diederich uses so much symbolism within the text I do not think that I fully understand the novel.This is why I do not understand why Diederich named the book Playing for the Devil’s Fire when the marble rarely appeared in the book at all. It was not until the very end that I got super upset about the novel. In fact the ending is the main reason why I gave the book 3 stars.The ending just felt super abrupt and made me feel that author got tired of writing the book and decided to end it. But, if you enjoy a good book with an ending that makes you throw your book across the room then I recommend this book for you

[E W · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fairly enjoyable, but I am not great at this sort of thing so we will start with a pros and cons, (Also spoilers [sort of]).

Pros: Very gripping, it had me turning pages almost faster than I could read them.
The perspective of Boli is very well written, there was never a point where I was told a thing that he would not have known, (even if I figured some of it out for myself.)
The symbolism behind the devil’s fire marble was handled very well and helped signify how the power in the town shifted.

Cons: Chicano, his relationship to Boli had me scratching my head at what he was doing some of this stuff for.
The ending was unsatisfying. It didn’t answer enough of my questions to really give me a sense of closure.
(spoiler alert)
Chapo died

Honestly this book is very enjoyable, especially for a long weekend where you can read it all in one sitting. If you find yourself considering getting this book do yourself the favor and do it, but don’t get too attached to characters because this is like Game of Thrones no one is safe, (not even the innocent children.) It can make you ask interesting questions about the perspective that it is written in, or if you read it like I did then it starts as a happy story about kids playing marbles, and then takes a steep nose dive on the happy-fluffy scale into the “Oh god where did this puddle of tears come from I’m dehydrated,” range of storytelling.

9/10 would mop the floor with my tears again.