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Disappeared #1
Disappeared
Four months ago: Sara Zapata’s best friend disappeared, kidnapped by the web of criminals who terrorize Juàrez.
Four weeks ago: Her brother, Emiliano, fell in love with Perla Rubi, a girl whose family is as rich as her name.
Four hours ago: Sara received a death threat…and her first clue her friend’s location.
Four minutes ago: Emiliano was offered a way into Perla Rubi’s world—if he betrays his own.
In the next four days, Sara and Emiliano will each face impossible choices, between life and justice, friends and family, truth and love. But when the criminals come after Sara, only one path remains for both the siblings: the way across the desert to the United States.
Four weeks ago: Her brother, Emiliano, fell in love with Perla Rubi, a girl whose family is as rich as her name.
Four hours ago: Sara received a death threat…and her first clue her friend’s location.
Four minutes ago: Emiliano was offered a way into Perla Rubi’s world—if he betrays his own.
In the next four days, Sara and Emiliano will each face impossible choices, between life and justice, friends and family, truth and love. But when the criminals come after Sara, only one path remains for both the siblings: the way across the desert to the United States.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2017
109 people are currently reading
2491 people want to read
About the author
Francisco X. Stork
20 books55.5k followersFrancisco X. Stork was born in Mexico. He moved to El Paso Texas with his adoptive father and mother when he was nine. He attended Spring Hill College, Harvard University and Columbia Law School. He worked as an attorney for thirty-three years before retiring in 2015. He is married and has two grown children and four beautiful grandkids. He loves to discover new books and authors. His favorite books are those where the author's soul touches his. He does not read reviews to his books so you should feel free to write whatever you want. Also, he is genuinely interested in learning about books and life from his friends on this site. He would love it if you find his books worthy to be read, but that's not why he wants to be your friend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
September 16, 2024
Existence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico requires a combination of courage, vigilance and restraint. The typical work-day commute equals exposure to potential harassment and harm. Truly dangerous, totally unavoidable. Students don’t have the luxury of focusing on academics or sports. Families need financial support.
Emiliano attends his high school classes and participates on his soccer team, but he focuses on family and ‘his’ Jiparis. Intelligent, innovative and driven, Emiliano creates a small business of collecting hand-made folk art from his pseudo-Mexican-Boy Scouts, which he sells to small shops. The Jiparis’ families receive the bulk of proceeds, of course, but Emiliano’s cut helps at home and his business has been noticed.
A journalist with El Sol, Emiliano’s sister writes a weekly column about the city’s missing girls. Sara had shared her own story of loss, writing of the day her best friend was kidnapped. Friends and family members of other missing girls responded to her article, and Sara was assigned a weekly column. After reporting progress, Sara was stunned when she was ordered to drop the investigation and the article.
Emiliano becomes acquainted with several of the city’s successful businessmen and his views seem to shift. Hard work is nothing without the willingness to get “a little dirty”. A person can only truly move up, in this world, when illegal activity is going down. Clearly, everyone is doing it; but it takes Emiliano time to realize how closely it is all connected.
Mr. Stork deftly displays the complexities of life in Mexico, even as he highlights the hope, strength, determination and compassion in the people that call it home. Disappeared is a fictional story about Mexico’s missing girls, but the fact is, hundreds of Mexican women do disappear in this border city every year.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Emiliano attends his high school classes and participates on his soccer team, but he focuses on family and ‘his’ Jiparis. Intelligent, innovative and driven, Emiliano creates a small business of collecting hand-made folk art from his pseudo-Mexican-Boy Scouts, which he sells to small shops. The Jiparis’ families receive the bulk of proceeds, of course, but Emiliano’s cut helps at home and his business has been noticed.
A journalist with El Sol, Emiliano’s sister writes a weekly column about the city’s missing girls. Sara had shared her own story of loss, writing of the day her best friend was kidnapped. Friends and family members of other missing girls responded to her article, and Sara was assigned a weekly column. After reporting progress, Sara was stunned when she was ordered to drop the investigation and the article.
Emiliano becomes acquainted with several of the city’s successful businessmen and his views seem to shift. Hard work is nothing without the willingness to get “a little dirty”. A person can only truly move up, in this world, when illegal activity is going down. Clearly, everyone is doing it; but it takes Emiliano time to realize how closely it is all connected.
Mr. Stork deftly displays the complexities of life in Mexico, even as he highlights the hope, strength, determination and compassion in the people that call it home. Disappeared is a fictional story about Mexico’s missing girls, but the fact is, hundreds of Mexican women do disappear in this border city every year.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
August 25, 2017
“Getting dirty means doing what we have to do for our families and for those around us, given the realities of where we live, in this mess of a life that is good and bad.”
This is not a bad book, but it is my least favourite Stork book to date and I think that's at least partially because I feel like I've read this story a couple of times before and I liked those books better - I'm thinking of Saint Death and Signs Preceding the End of the World.
The book's main theme is a timely issue, especially for American readers who've spent recent years listening to negative portrayals of Mexican immigrants in mainstream politics. Both aforementioned books, and this one, offer insight into what it is really like for undocumented immigrants fleeing across the border, afraid for their lives and the lives of their families. These books dispel the harmful - and, frankly, abhorrent - myth that these immigrants are violent, lazy and looking to mooch off society.
I have never understood this deep animosity towards other human beings and Stork, Sedgwick and Herrera offer these Mexican teens what they have frequently been denied by the media and politicians in the U.S. - their humanity.
In Disappeared, Stork begins in Juarez with Sara, an aspiring journalist who hopes to shed light on the case of the young women who go missing in the city, never to be seen again. When an email arrives threatening Sara and her family, she finds herself pulled into a dangerous world where she must decide between doing the right thing and ensuring her own safety.
Sara's brother, Emiliano, is the book's other perspective. After their father left, he has to provide for his family and he feels the burden of their poverty every day. Then an opportunity arises for him to make money - more money than he could have ever imagined - but to do so would mean compromising his integrity. Is it worth becoming someone he doesn't recognize in order to make more money?
Eventually, events lead to Sara and Emiliano needing to escape Mexico and enter the United States - a long, perilous journey with dangers behind them, suspicion and hostility ahead, and the possibility of dehydration in the meantime.
I liked the book, but I thought Saint Death, Signs Preceding the End of the World and Stork's other novels were stronger. It also used a really big pet peeve of mine - sensing. By this I mean the plot being moved in a certain direction and clues being uncovered by the characters “sensing” or “just knowing” things. I think it’s lazy storytelling for a weird feeling to guide the plot in the direction the author wants it to go. For example, at one point, Sara googles churches and instinctively knows when she sees the one shown in the photograph she is investigating because she gets a feeling. And when she opens a drawer and decides she needs to look inside a cigar box because “It feels almost like a voice asking her to look inside.”
I thought the last chapter seemed a little weak, too. Books like this are one of those rare cases where an open ending works well - leaving the reader open to hoping the world gets better but not tying it up with a neat bow because this very real issue is anything but neat - but here the ending felt like something of a cop-out and an anticlimactic close to an emotional, high-stakes novel.
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December 14, 2017
**Originally posted on The Fandom**
2.25 stars. My original rating was a little more optimistic, but as I reviewed, I realized just how many issues I had with the book.
Conspiracies, criminal enterprises, and immigrant stories collide in Francisco X. Stork’s Disappeared, which follows a brother and sister from Juarez, Mexico as they discover their city’s criminal underbelly.
Sara Zapata’s best friend, Linda Fuentes, went missing four months ago. She’s one of the “only” 64 girls who went missing from the city that year, and the police aren’t willing to dig for answers. So, from her post as a reporter at El Sol, Sara relentlessly shares stories of the missing girls known as Desaparecidas, searching for connections along the way. She’s received death threats before, but the latest is more specific and threatens her family too. Just as Sara begins to question if she’s doing more harm than good, she also discovers the first true clue to Linda’s whereabouts. Can she save her best friend and many other Desaparecidas while keeping her loved ones safe?
Meanwhile, after a rough phase following his father leaving the family to emigrate to America, Emiliano Zapata is finding his place. He’s a star soccer player at his high school, part of an avid hiking club, and enterprising a local folk art business that sells to tourists at the border. But it’s not enough. Emiliano has also fallen in love with Perla Rubi Esmeralda, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer, and he’s definitely not on par with her family’s level of power and prestige. However, the wealthy upper echelon of Juarez has noticed Emiliano and taken a liking to him. It’s not long before he’s offered a relatively safe, profitable job– It’s less than legal, but taking the position would mean security for his mother and sister, as well as a real shot with Perla Rubi.
Soon, the siblings’ investigation and intentions spell out true danger for the family. They can save Linda, but it will mean escaping Juarez and joining their father in America by any means necessary, risking their lives along the way.
There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but it’s pretty easy to digest thanks to Stork’s very straightforward, no-frills writing style. The novel is written in the third person present tense, which made everything feel very on-the-nose. However, it was so straightforward that it lacks rich description and you don’t always have a chance to develop an emotional connection to the characters. Being told that Sara is desperate to find Linda and Emiliano aches to impress Perla Rubi is acceptable, but it’s espoused upon so little that I didn’t feel those emotions with them. The sense of urgency on their journey just wasn’t there, which you absolutely should feel when your protagonists are being hunted down by the dangerous and corrupt.
Plot-wise, I spent a lot of time waiting for Sara and Emiliano’s narratives to intersect. Sara was investigating criminals while Emiliano was getting caught up with them, so it feels like they’d naturally weave together to unlock a giant conspiracy. In reality, there’s very little connection between the two stories. Up until the third act, their journeys could have happened without the other sibling even existing. I question the necessity of Emiliano’s story on the whole, other than one plot device that helps ensure Sara’s survival, because we essentially drop out of his story completely in favor of Sara’s as the end of the book nears. Also, beware: Loose ends are very much a part of this story’s design.
Disappeared features some action, but it’s largely happening elsewhere and the characters hear about it secondhand. I find myself wondering if Linda Fuentes herself would have been a better narrator, as someone who experienced the kidnapping and struggle for survival firsthand, but I don’t think the author was willing to go there and really expose the awful things that happen to Desaparecidas– Linda’s terrors are vaguely hinted at but never specified. Despite the gritty scenario, Sara and Emiliano come off as a much more passive part of the story, so squeaky clean that it reads as if it’s written for the younger side of the YA audience. Things happen because of them, but rarely happen to them. It feels odd given that Emiliano is sixteen and Sara is college-aged.
It’s not all bad, however. Emiliano has a moral quandary that’s relatable to anyone from the lower or working class: The realization that hard work doesn’t always pay off for everyone and the urge to do something– anything— that will guarantee stability and acceptance. He’s much more complex than Sara because while you don’t always agree with him, you get a better understanding of how many young people wind up on the same path. Additionally, Sara and Emiliano’s final act is a compelling immigration story. The siblings don’t hate Mexico and they don’t want to leave, but there are some serious dangers around them. Juarez doesn’t have the same protections for people who expose crime. Through their story, it becomes easier to see why so many Mexicans seek asylum in the United States– for some, it’s the only way to find any security.
This character-driven novel has solid roots, but for me, it failed to grow into the gripping tale of desperation-meets-determination that it could have been.
2.25 stars. My original rating was a little more optimistic, but as I reviewed, I realized just how many issues I had with the book.
Conspiracies, criminal enterprises, and immigrant stories collide in Francisco X. Stork’s Disappeared, which follows a brother and sister from Juarez, Mexico as they discover their city’s criminal underbelly.
Sara Zapata’s best friend, Linda Fuentes, went missing four months ago. She’s one of the “only” 64 girls who went missing from the city that year, and the police aren’t willing to dig for answers. So, from her post as a reporter at El Sol, Sara relentlessly shares stories of the missing girls known as Desaparecidas, searching for connections along the way. She’s received death threats before, but the latest is more specific and threatens her family too. Just as Sara begins to question if she’s doing more harm than good, she also discovers the first true clue to Linda’s whereabouts. Can she save her best friend and many other Desaparecidas while keeping her loved ones safe?
Meanwhile, after a rough phase following his father leaving the family to emigrate to America, Emiliano Zapata is finding his place. He’s a star soccer player at his high school, part of an avid hiking club, and enterprising a local folk art business that sells to tourists at the border. But it’s not enough. Emiliano has also fallen in love with Perla Rubi Esmeralda, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer, and he’s definitely not on par with her family’s level of power and prestige. However, the wealthy upper echelon of Juarez has noticed Emiliano and taken a liking to him. It’s not long before he’s offered a relatively safe, profitable job– It’s less than legal, but taking the position would mean security for his mother and sister, as well as a real shot with Perla Rubi.
Soon, the siblings’ investigation and intentions spell out true danger for the family. They can save Linda, but it will mean escaping Juarez and joining their father in America by any means necessary, risking their lives along the way.
There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but it’s pretty easy to digest thanks to Stork’s very straightforward, no-frills writing style. The novel is written in the third person present tense, which made everything feel very on-the-nose. However, it was so straightforward that it lacks rich description and you don’t always have a chance to develop an emotional connection to the characters. Being told that Sara is desperate to find Linda and Emiliano aches to impress Perla Rubi is acceptable, but it’s espoused upon so little that I didn’t feel those emotions with them. The sense of urgency on their journey just wasn’t there, which you absolutely should feel when your protagonists are being hunted down by the dangerous and corrupt.
Plot-wise, I spent a lot of time waiting for Sara and Emiliano’s narratives to intersect. Sara was investigating criminals while Emiliano was getting caught up with them, so it feels like they’d naturally weave together to unlock a giant conspiracy. In reality, there’s very little connection between the two stories. Up until the third act, their journeys could have happened without the other sibling even existing. I question the necessity of Emiliano’s story on the whole, other than one plot device that helps ensure Sara’s survival, because we essentially drop out of his story completely in favor of Sara’s as the end of the book nears. Also, beware: Loose ends are very much a part of this story’s design.
Disappeared features some action, but it’s largely happening elsewhere and the characters hear about it secondhand. I find myself wondering if Linda Fuentes herself would have been a better narrator, as someone who experienced the kidnapping and struggle for survival firsthand, but I don’t think the author was willing to go there and really expose the awful things that happen to Desaparecidas– Linda’s terrors are vaguely hinted at but never specified. Despite the gritty scenario, Sara and Emiliano come off as a much more passive part of the story, so squeaky clean that it reads as if it’s written for the younger side of the YA audience. Things happen because of them, but rarely happen to them. It feels odd given that Emiliano is sixteen and Sara is college-aged.
It’s not all bad, however. Emiliano has a moral quandary that’s relatable to anyone from the lower or working class: The realization that hard work doesn’t always pay off for everyone and the urge to do something– anything— that will guarantee stability and acceptance. He’s much more complex than Sara because while you don’t always agree with him, you get a better understanding of how many young people wind up on the same path. Additionally, Sara and Emiliano’s final act is a compelling immigration story. The siblings don’t hate Mexico and they don’t want to leave, but there are some serious dangers around them. Juarez doesn’t have the same protections for people who expose crime. Through their story, it becomes easier to see why so many Mexicans seek asylum in the United States– for some, it’s the only way to find any security.
This character-driven novel has solid roots, but for me, it failed to grow into the gripping tale of desperation-meets-determination that it could have been.
June 28, 2018
3.75
When I picked up this novel from the library, I was really hopeful because I'd read Marcelo in the Real World a number of years ago and enjoyed it. AND the premise of this book sounded amazing: young Mexican journalist endangers her life by trying to find her missing best friend! That's what I wanted, but the book ended up being more about Sara's brother Emiliano when Sara's investigation results in their family having to flee Mexico. I was disappointed that I didn't get as much into Sara's head, that her decisions and why she made them were presented more through Emilio's perspective than her own.
My only other major critique is that the ending felt tied together kind of quickly in a way that didn't do the story justice. There was a LOT that was unresolved and I had questions! I needed a little more!
Despite my gripes, this was definitely a well-told and incredibly original story that exposes issues within the immigration system so I would recommend.
When I picked up this novel from the library, I was really hopeful because I'd read Marcelo in the Real World a number of years ago and enjoyed it. AND the premise of this book sounded amazing: young Mexican journalist endangers her life by trying to find her missing best friend! That's what I wanted, but the book ended up being more about Sara's brother Emiliano when Sara's investigation results in their family having to flee Mexico. I was disappointed that I didn't get as much into Sara's head, that her decisions and why she made them were presented more through Emilio's perspective than her own.
My only other major critique is that the ending felt tied together kind of quickly in a way that didn't do the story justice. There was a LOT that was unresolved and I had questions! I needed a little more!
Despite my gripes, this was definitely a well-told and incredibly original story that exposes issues within the immigration system so I would recommend.
May 29, 2020
It feels like such an abrupt end. The story was compelling and then off a cliff and its over.
May 5, 2019
This is a very timely, relevant story about some of the corruption in Mexico and reasons why people would try to illegally enter the United States (it even talks about trying to do it legally, too, and how hard it can be). I get the feeling that the author tried to make the situations accurate and did a lot of research to make things realistic, and not exaggerated. For example: the death threats, the danger, the widespread corruption, and the poverty of those who try to live honest lives.
This book dealt with a lot of big, difficult issues (in addition to immigration) and it was eye-opening without being preachy. The style is very distinct, and even though it reads a bit dry at times, Stork still manages to move the story along (especially the middle-to-end section) and create a good amount of suspense. Good characters and believable motivations.
This book dealt with a lot of big, difficult issues (in addition to immigration) and it was eye-opening without being preachy. The style is very distinct, and even though it reads a bit dry at times, Stork still manages to move the story along (especially the middle-to-end section) and create a good amount of suspense. Good characters and believable motivations.
June 5, 2019
I liked this book a lot because after every chapter, the book switches perspectives. I really enjoyed the mystery element of finding Sarah's friend. I think the book was very well planned. The characters were well developed and clearly changed since the beginning. It's interesting to see how hiding things from each other leads to different consequences and we know why it happens, but the main characters are hiding it from each other.
There were many characters and it was a bit hard to keep track of. I also didn't like that it ended without telling us what would happen to Linda and if Sarah ever made it to the USA. It could also improve by giving us a little more backstory about they're father, because I am still curious about what happened to him. I'm also curious about what happens between Perla Rubi and Emiliano.
But overall, it was an amazing book.
There were many characters and it was a bit hard to keep track of. I also didn't like that it ended without telling us what would happen to Linda and if Sarah ever made it to the USA. It could also improve by giving us a little more backstory about they're father, because I am still curious about what happened to him. I'm also curious about what happens between Perla Rubi and Emiliano.
But overall, it was an amazing book.
November 18, 2017
2.5 stars
The ending was a total cop-out. I liked The Last Summer of the Death Warriors’ open ending, but this one was unsatisfactory on so many levels, with many loose ends left.
Character-wise, it’s also the weakest out of all of Stork’s books. Sara needs to be fleshed out further and while Emiliano’s viewpoint was more compelling, his romance with Perla Rubi should’ve been better constructed.
The ending was a total cop-out. I liked The Last Summer of the Death Warriors’ open ending, but this one was unsatisfactory on so many levels, with many loose ends left.
Character-wise, it’s also the weakest out of all of Stork’s books. Sara needs to be fleshed out further and while Emiliano’s viewpoint was more compelling, his romance with Perla Rubi should’ve been better constructed.
June 29, 2018
A true disappointment, considering the beauty of Marcelo in the Real World - I wondered throughout whether this had originally been written in Spanish and had been [poorly] translated. From everything I can tell, that's not the case. This just had really poor writing - the descriptions are severely lacking and the word choice makes it feel like a middle grade read (or lower). This is a timely topic that has been far-better handled in other works.
March 10, 2018
Great family survival story. I love Stork's writing. He makes difficult subjects extremely readable and relate-able, and his characters are always great and memorable.
July 4, 2019
Subject-wise, a difficult book to read but one I am anxious to add to my We Need Diverse Seminar. Set in Ciudad Juarez, the story focuses on the girls who have disappeared over the last decade or so and the control that the cartels have on almost every part of life. Both Sara and her brother Emilio have to make difficult decisions when Sara's life is threatened and Emilio is asked to help transport drugs.
April 17, 2017
Francisco's brilliant writing meets THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO as Sara Zapata searches for her best friend, who was kidnapped by the Juarez mafia. It all unfolds over four days, and it's amazing.
April 16, 2018
A great peek into the Juarez drug cartels, human trafficking and all around malfeasance that is occurring. Readers are exposed to the corruption of the Mexican police and the struggle of those trying to make things better.
Read
June 12, 2017Oh, it's real good, yo. Read this.
May 5, 2018
I was recommended this book by a friend that had already read it. I am always open to new books and this book was definitely worth a try. "Disappeared" is about Sara and Emiliano who have to travel across the desert from Mexico to get to America. Sara is brother and sister with Emiliano. She is a reporter and writer for El Sol, but after her best friend Linda is kidnapped by the Desapericidas she starts to write mainly about the other missing girls and their family's. That causes her to her to get a death threat for her and her family and the fact that she wanted to keep writing about the missing girls really inspired me. She then discovers that Juana, a person who she is close to and works with is working with the Desapericidas and has deal with the betrayal of her close friend and coworker. Through all of this Sara is able to protect her family by getting them to safety from the Desapericidas and saving the missing girls lives. This inspired me to be more brave and help other people out when needed.
I also enjoyed how the author included Spanish dialogue and lots of imagery about the setting of Juarez and the desert. Francisco X. Stork wrote the chapters in different points of view, alternating between Sara and Emiliano and then near the end of the story joining both of them together. At first, when the chapters where in separated points of view I really enjoyed the book, but when they were joined together it was confusing of who was talking or moving.
Overall, this book taught me more about Mexican culture, and the struggles of family's lives when trying to escape persecution from people in Mexico to the United States.
I also enjoyed how the author included Spanish dialogue and lots of imagery about the setting of Juarez and the desert. Francisco X. Stork wrote the chapters in different points of view, alternating between Sara and Emiliano and then near the end of the story joining both of them together. At first, when the chapters where in separated points of view I really enjoyed the book, but when they were joined together it was confusing of who was talking or moving.
Overall, this book taught me more about Mexican culture, and the struggles of family's lives when trying to escape persecution from people in Mexico to the United States.
June 17, 2020
"One step at a time. When you're walking in the desert, the step in front of you is the only one that demands your attention."
Setting: March 2017, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico then Big Bend National Park, Texas
Characters:
Sara - early 20s young woman, reporter for El Sol, religious, courageous, naive, honest, determined, hopeful
Emiliano - Sara's younger brother, fifteen years old, angry, former thief, part of scout troop (The Jiparis), runs a folk-art business, wants success, angry with father, gets mixed up with drug business
Perla Rubi - Emiliano's rich girlfriend, father part of drug business, one-dimensional
Linda Fuentes - Sara's best friend, one of Las Desaparecidas (The Disappeared), taken for sex trafficking
Book type: Young Adult fiction - immigration story
Summary:
Sara and Emiliano live in Ciudad Juarez, a city known for its violence and corruption, but mostly... for the kidnappings of young women. While the kidnappings have lessened over the years, it's still common enough for girls to constantly check in with their families and bodies to be found often. They are known as Las Desaparecidas, the disappeared. Tragically, Sara's best friend becomes of the girls when she never returns home from work, but no body is ever found. Over a year later, Sara is sent a threatening email and slowly begins to unravel a conspiracy behind the disappearances - beautiful girls (tall and slim with dark hair) are kidnapped to become sex slaves to the wealthy in a hidden location. Unfortunately, there is a mole in her newspaper agency, El Sol, and the lives of Sara and her family are in danger.
Emiliano used to be a thief, driven by anger after his father abandoned them for a new family in the United States. However, he was "saved" and helped create the Jiparis, a scout troupe that focuses on desert survival and good deeds. However, he falls in love with a rich girl named Perla Rubi, and the only way he can be with her is if he begins to make more money... a lot more money. And the only way one can make this much money is by doing dirty deeds. He accepts an offer, but soon finds that he has to flee with his family.
The only way to safety is across the border to a land that does not want them: The United States.
Review:
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. So I will make a list of pros and cons.
Pros:
The story itself is amazing and needs to be read. The book deals with some very harsh realities: poverty, drugs, corruption, violence, and the abduction of young women. I remember reading about these abductions when I was in 8th grade, back when so many would go missing. It's still an ongoing issue today, and I genuinely feel that people need to read books that deal with this subject matter, especially to better understand why people are so desperate to leave Mexico. With all the political tensions we have now with a Trump presidency, this sort of book is needed now more than ever to create understanding and empathy. The book even touches on it when Emiliano's soccer team plays a what was meant to be a friendly match against an American team across the border. They are met with chants of "Nar-cos! Nar-cos!", touching on the racism that is prevalent in our society today that is made okay by a president that states, "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best... They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." The subject matter of this book is heavy, but it's a harsh truth we cannot hide from.
I also loved the internal conflicts experienced by Emiliano. He's definitely a dynamic character who goes through so many obstacles and is constantly challenged by the world he was born into. Emiliano wants to be successful so that he can provide for his family and be a worthy man for Perla Rubi. As a former thief, he tries to do it as honestly as possible but finds that Mexico will never allow him to go beyond what he already is. However, he does a little bit of bad, he can be successful. And if he's doing bad for the greater good, that's not so horrible... right?
In addition, the book talks about illegal immigration at length when it's obvious that it's the only option Sara and Emiliano have to survive. She considers asylum since she SHOULD be the perfect candidate, but the book does an amazing job describing the difficulties of getting asylum, which many Americans do not understand. This gives the readers a glimpse of it.
Cons:
The writing... oh the writing. I wanted so badly to fall madly in love with this book as the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a feminist. This is a story that needs to be shared, far and wide. We need to remember that just across the border women are being massacred or traded like cattle. However, the writing was very, very flat. As someone who has taught writing to elementary students before, I always have one basic rule: show, don't tell. Give details and paint a picture.
This book does not do that.
There is very little imagery, and even the dialogue feels wooden. At one point, Sara is talking to Linda over the phone and I have no idea that Linda is crying until Sara literally tells her not to cry. This entire time I assumed Linda was speaking in a monotone from shock.
There is a lot of exposition told to us instead of trusting the reader to figure it out through inferences and context.
In addition, I did not care much for Sara and I do not understand Emiliano's fascination with Perla Rubi. All I got was that she was smart, rich, and pretty. She had no redeeming qualities beyond that. Also, I did not care much for Emiliano until towards the last third of the book when we finally got a better glimpse of his internal struggles.
As for the ending... it was too neat. It was very deus ex machina - Emiliano is saved by a kindly older American gentleman who somehow knows the park ranger that saved Sara. Oh and the park ranger's father is an amazing lawyer who will get Sara asylum. I'm sorry, but that's too much of a happy ending. I did not mind Sara finding a park ranger, but Emiliano should have died. Make us care about those who die in the desert in a desperate attempt to get to the United States. Do not shy away from THAT reality because it is a reality. People die in the desert all the time. Give us a face for those victims because they ARE victims.
Give us the reality.
Setting: March 2017, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico then Big Bend National Park, Texas
Characters:
Sara - early 20s young woman, reporter for El Sol, religious, courageous, naive, honest, determined, hopeful
Emiliano - Sara's younger brother, fifteen years old, angry, former thief, part of scout troop (The Jiparis), runs a folk-art business, wants success, angry with father, gets mixed up with drug business
Perla Rubi - Emiliano's rich girlfriend, father part of drug business, one-dimensional
Linda Fuentes - Sara's best friend, one of Las Desaparecidas (The Disappeared), taken for sex trafficking
Book type: Young Adult fiction - immigration story
Summary:
Sara and Emiliano live in Ciudad Juarez, a city known for its violence and corruption, but mostly... for the kidnappings of young women. While the kidnappings have lessened over the years, it's still common enough for girls to constantly check in with their families and bodies to be found often. They are known as Las Desaparecidas, the disappeared. Tragically, Sara's best friend becomes of the girls when she never returns home from work, but no body is ever found. Over a year later, Sara is sent a threatening email and slowly begins to unravel a conspiracy behind the disappearances - beautiful girls (tall and slim with dark hair) are kidnapped to become sex slaves to the wealthy in a hidden location. Unfortunately, there is a mole in her newspaper agency, El Sol, and the lives of Sara and her family are in danger.
Emiliano used to be a thief, driven by anger after his father abandoned them for a new family in the United States. However, he was "saved" and helped create the Jiparis, a scout troupe that focuses on desert survival and good deeds. However, he falls in love with a rich girl named Perla Rubi, and the only way he can be with her is if he begins to make more money... a lot more money. And the only way one can make this much money is by doing dirty deeds. He accepts an offer, but soon finds that he has to flee with his family.
The only way to safety is across the border to a land that does not want them: The United States.
Review:
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. So I will make a list of pros and cons.
Pros:
The story itself is amazing and needs to be read. The book deals with some very harsh realities: poverty, drugs, corruption, violence, and the abduction of young women. I remember reading about these abductions when I was in 8th grade, back when so many would go missing. It's still an ongoing issue today, and I genuinely feel that people need to read books that deal with this subject matter, especially to better understand why people are so desperate to leave Mexico. With all the political tensions we have now with a Trump presidency, this sort of book is needed now more than ever to create understanding and empathy. The book even touches on it when Emiliano's soccer team plays a what was meant to be a friendly match against an American team across the border. They are met with chants of "Nar-cos! Nar-cos!", touching on the racism that is prevalent in our society today that is made okay by a president that states, "When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best... They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." The subject matter of this book is heavy, but it's a harsh truth we cannot hide from.
I also loved the internal conflicts experienced by Emiliano. He's definitely a dynamic character who goes through so many obstacles and is constantly challenged by the world he was born into. Emiliano wants to be successful so that he can provide for his family and be a worthy man for Perla Rubi. As a former thief, he tries to do it as honestly as possible but finds that Mexico will never allow him to go beyond what he already is. However, he does a little bit of bad, he can be successful. And if he's doing bad for the greater good, that's not so horrible... right?
In addition, the book talks about illegal immigration at length when it's obvious that it's the only option Sara and Emiliano have to survive. She considers asylum since she SHOULD be the perfect candidate, but the book does an amazing job describing the difficulties of getting asylum, which many Americans do not understand. This gives the readers a glimpse of it.
Cons:
The writing... oh the writing. I wanted so badly to fall madly in love with this book as the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a feminist. This is a story that needs to be shared, far and wide. We need to remember that just across the border women are being massacred or traded like cattle. However, the writing was very, very flat. As someone who has taught writing to elementary students before, I always have one basic rule: show, don't tell. Give details and paint a picture.
This book does not do that.
There is very little imagery, and even the dialogue feels wooden. At one point, Sara is talking to Linda over the phone and I have no idea that Linda is crying until Sara literally tells her not to cry. This entire time I assumed Linda was speaking in a monotone from shock.
There is a lot of exposition told to us instead of trusting the reader to figure it out through inferences and context.
In addition, I did not care much for Sara and I do not understand Emiliano's fascination with Perla Rubi. All I got was that she was smart, rich, and pretty. She had no redeeming qualities beyond that. Also, I did not care much for Emiliano until towards the last third of the book when we finally got a better glimpse of his internal struggles.
As for the ending... it was too neat. It was very deus ex machina - Emiliano is saved by a kindly older American gentleman who somehow knows the park ranger that saved Sara. Oh and the park ranger's father is an amazing lawyer who will get Sara asylum. I'm sorry, but that's too much of a happy ending. I did not mind Sara finding a park ranger, but Emiliano should have died. Make us care about those who die in the desert in a desperate attempt to get to the United States. Do not shy away from THAT reality because it is a reality. People die in the desert all the time. Give us a face for those victims because they ARE victims.
Give us the reality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
Francisco X. Stork's 2017 YA novel is a realistic portrayal of Sara and Emiliano, a sister and brother who live in Mexico. As a reporter for a local newspaper in Juarez, Sara has started investigating the disappearance of teenage girls. Her motivation comes from the kidnapping of her best friend. Sara's younger brother is still in high school and apart from being a superstar soccer player, is trying to start a small business selling crafts made by poor residents of the town. Alternating chapters move the plot along, slowly at first so that the reader can get to know the many characters. The slow start is worth the effort because once Sara's life and family are threatened, because of the newspaper stories she has written, one will not be able to put the book down. Issues of poverty, corruption, kidnapping, drugs, immigration, and illegal border crossing are all covered in this often raw yet very timely book. The decisions that Sara & Emiliano make determine if the family will survive. Appropriate for teens, ages 13+.
September 25, 2018
Sara's best friend becomes one of the 'disappeared,' girls from Jaurez who are abducted off the streets, never to be seen again. Sara isn't about to lose her friend this way, as a reporter she leaves no stone unturned in her quest to find Linda. Random clues about the disappearance, subtle and overt threats to Sara and her family, and her brother's struggle to decide whether to go down a path that leads to collusion with drug dealers make this a complex story. For me, this book was a revelation about the way life is for people in Mexico and why leaving that country is so necessary for their safety.
July 1, 2018
It’s been a while since a book made me almost miss a bus. I made the mistake of taking this one on vacation and could not put it down! I’m impressed by how much the story covers, and how quickly I became attached to the characters and worried about them. Four stars because the last chapter seemed a little deus ex machina, but I do love a happy(ish) ending.
April 10, 2018
sorry, this was boring. book club has disappointed me for the first time :( also put me in a reading slump soooo
April 18, 2018
This book was sensational! This story is about a brother and sister who live in Mexico. When they get threats that may affect their lives, they have to figure out a way to get out of it. This book connected to me because it almost had a secret message behind the book. The message I found was no matter what happens in life, there is always a way to push through it. This book really brought my emotions up and I really enjoyed it. The only thing that I didn't like about this book was that at some points I had to reread a couple of times, but other than that, it was amazing!
July 6, 2018
This looks so good. It is something I plan on reading. You can check it out at the Library.
December 11, 2020
Straightforward, and easy to read. Something was a bit lacking, tho.
October 2, 2019
I really liked this book. The details wanted me to read more and more each time I stoped. Francisco X. Stork did a great job, making this book really tense, each time I stoped I could stop reading until I got to the next page. From the beginning to the end, what just a roller coaster, I really enjoyed reading this book on my free time. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great stoping point, and even a turning point in the story.
October 31, 2017
Bringing to mind Saint Death by Marcus Sedgwick, this book by one of my favorite authors does an excellent job of dispelling many of the assumptions others hold about citizens of Mexico and about immigrants who leave their country to come to the United States. While the book does indeed explore the seedy side of Juarez, drug and human trafficking as well as corrupt police officials, it also portrays many individuals going about their lives in quiet heroism. The story is told from the point of view of two siblings--Sara and Emiliano Zapato. Haunted by the disappearance of her best friend Linda and other young women in the area, Sara is an investigative reporter for the local newspaper. Odd things begin to happen in her newspaper office, and she ends up with evidence that someone influential doesn't want her to have. Her younger brother, Emiliano, is walking the straight and narrow path after a brush with shoplifting. But his love for a wealthy girl, Perla Rubi, and his desire to prove himself worthy of her leaves him vulnerable to individuals who offer him a get-rich-quick-scheme involving the pinatas fashioned by a friend's family. Although Emiliano tries to convince himself that these are good men who are just using their connections in order to do good and to provide for their families, he also struggles with what to do since in his heart he knows what he's being asked to do is illegal and wrong as well as contributing to the stereotype that everyone from Juarez is connected to the narcotics trade. When Sara's life is threatened by what she knows and what she has, the family must flee for their lives. The plan is for their mother to stay with a relative and for the brother and sister to head north where their father lives. But Emiliano has no intention of staying in the United States; after all, his heart is in Mexico as is the girl he loves. What happens in the desert as Sara and Emiliano hike through Big Bend National Park will change both of their lives forever. Over and over, I was moved by Sara's courage and her compassion toward others. Emiliano's dilemma is very real and one that is faced by many teens and adults every day--to do the wrong thing for the right reasons or to remain morally steadfast and yet lose what seems to matter most of all. The story captivated me, even though there have been other stories like this one told, since the characters seemed so real, and everything moved quickly during this short time. Clearly, making the right choice does not come without losses and sacrifices, sometimes of the dreams we hold most dear.
October 9, 2017
I went back and forth on this one. To be fair, the following things influenced my rating and review:
1. This is not my favorite or typical genre to read and I've read quite a few of them lately, so maybe I'm getting burned out.
2. The content of this book centers on Juarez-abducted girls, drug trafficking, and the cartel. These are all HEAVY topics, and the thought that the promo items sent to me for a Middle School book fair dealt with them was a bit of a conundrum for me. In the same promo box I also got Swing it Sunny and in my opinion, the two books are VERY far apart in content and maturity levels. Yes, MG covers a wide range, but this seemed extreme.
3. The story was a slow start. It wasn't until about page 150 (or even 200) that I was REALLY interested. That's late to the game.
So, keep all that in mind.
Sara is a young reporter who is trying to find out what happened to her best friend Linda. Like so many other girls, Linda has been abducted. Sara has to believe she is still alive, if only because her body hasn't been dumped like the others. Sara uses her job as a reporter at a local newspaper to write stories on these missing girls, highlighting a different one each week. But now, the threats that were intermittent, focus on her specifically and her family. She is close to the truth, but what will it cost to find it?
Emiliano is Sara's brother. He is in love with Perla Rubi, a girl from his school who is way out of his league. Her family has more money that he could ever hope to have. But now, a random connection from his side jobs offers him a way in to her world and Emiliano doesn't know how he can pass it up. This chance will give him a way to get everything he has wanted. The only question is if he will still be able to live with himself if he does it.
This narrative follows these two siblings over the course of a week as they grapple with large moral questions and issues, while also trying to find Linda and survive the political situation in Juarez.
I would recommend this with caution to middle school collections. There isn't anything overtly graphic (there is one scene in the dessert that has some violence) but there is plenty hinted at: rape, killing, government officials working for the drug cartel, drug trafficking, addicted children, etc. This would be a solid purchase for HS or YA collections that have a strong circulation collection of adventure and thrillers.
1. This is not my favorite or typical genre to read and I've read quite a few of them lately, so maybe I'm getting burned out.
2. The content of this book centers on Juarez-abducted girls, drug trafficking, and the cartel. These are all HEAVY topics, and the thought that the promo items sent to me for a Middle School book fair dealt with them was a bit of a conundrum for me. In the same promo box I also got Swing it Sunny and in my opinion, the two books are VERY far apart in content and maturity levels. Yes, MG covers a wide range, but this seemed extreme.
3. The story was a slow start. It wasn't until about page 150 (or even 200) that I was REALLY interested. That's late to the game.
So, keep all that in mind.
Sara is a young reporter who is trying to find out what happened to her best friend Linda. Like so many other girls, Linda has been abducted. Sara has to believe she is still alive, if only because her body hasn't been dumped like the others. Sara uses her job as a reporter at a local newspaper to write stories on these missing girls, highlighting a different one each week. But now, the threats that were intermittent, focus on her specifically and her family. She is close to the truth, but what will it cost to find it?
Emiliano is Sara's brother. He is in love with Perla Rubi, a girl from his school who is way out of his league. Her family has more money that he could ever hope to have. But now, a random connection from his side jobs offers him a way in to her world and Emiliano doesn't know how he can pass it up. This chance will give him a way to get everything he has wanted. The only question is if he will still be able to live with himself if he does it.
This narrative follows these two siblings over the course of a week as they grapple with large moral questions and issues, while also trying to find Linda and survive the political situation in Juarez.
I would recommend this with caution to middle school collections. There isn't anything overtly graphic (there is one scene in the dessert that has some violence) but there is plenty hinted at: rape, killing, government officials working for the drug cartel, drug trafficking, addicted children, etc. This would be a solid purchase for HS or YA collections that have a strong circulation collection of adventure and thrillers.
January 18, 2018
Disappeared, by Francisco X. Stork, is a thrilling novel about a girl named Sara and her brother Emiliano in the Mexican city of Juarez. Each chapter alternates the perspectives of the two characters, as they work at their goals and dreams. Sara writes for a newspaper, and desperately wants to locate her kidnapped best friend, Linda Fuentes. Her articles about “lost girls” like Linda strike a chord, but with them comes death threats to her and those she loves.
On the other hand, Emiliano works selling crafts made by his explorer club, the Jiparis, to shop owners. Under the guidance of his mentor Brother Patricio, he changes from his bad ways of the past. He does this in hope of being rich enough to please the rich girl of his dreams, Perla Rubi. But eventually, he must make a choice. Either make more money by going back into the cartels and get Perla, or do the right thing and lose her forever. Will Sara find Linda, or become a “lost girl” herself? What will Emiliano choose, and at what cost? Read Disappeared to find out.
I really enjoyed this book for its strong main characters, even in the face of incredible adversity. Sara refused to give up on writing articles about the missing girls, despite the risks. When the organizations behind the death threats closed in on her, she still fought for herself and those she loved. This strength was amazing to read about.
I recommend this book for boys and girls aged 10 and up, because of the violence and criminal activity featured. Also, the story featured many other subtle themes that a younger reader might not perceive. For example, Emiliano’s daily mile long bike rides to collect crafts made by the Jiparis showed that those in poverty work extremely hard, contrary to some beliefs.
I rate this book four stars out of five because it was a powerful read, but had many slow points. The middle section especially was a little too slow for my tastes, but the drama-filled, action-packed high points were worth waiting for.
Anya A, 13, Metropolitan Washington Mensa
On the other hand, Emiliano works selling crafts made by his explorer club, the Jiparis, to shop owners. Under the guidance of his mentor Brother Patricio, he changes from his bad ways of the past. He does this in hope of being rich enough to please the rich girl of his dreams, Perla Rubi. But eventually, he must make a choice. Either make more money by going back into the cartels and get Perla, or do the right thing and lose her forever. Will Sara find Linda, or become a “lost girl” herself? What will Emiliano choose, and at what cost? Read Disappeared to find out.
I really enjoyed this book for its strong main characters, even in the face of incredible adversity. Sara refused to give up on writing articles about the missing girls, despite the risks. When the organizations behind the death threats closed in on her, she still fought for herself and those she loved. This strength was amazing to read about.
I recommend this book for boys and girls aged 10 and up, because of the violence and criminal activity featured. Also, the story featured many other subtle themes that a younger reader might not perceive. For example, Emiliano’s daily mile long bike rides to collect crafts made by the Jiparis showed that those in poverty work extremely hard, contrary to some beliefs.
I rate this book four stars out of five because it was a powerful read, but had many slow points. The middle section especially was a little too slow for my tastes, but the drama-filled, action-packed high points were worth waiting for.
Anya A, 13, Metropolitan Washington Mensa
October 31, 2017
I have read & loved all of Stork's compelling book, Disappeared has me wanting more-I hope Stork continues with the story of Sara and Emiliano. Juarez, Mexico really scared me; it was good to see the home of Sara & Emiliano from their viewpoint, but you would never find me living there and loving it. Sara is an investigative reporter for the newspaper, El Sol, but she has been following, researching, and broadcasting the disappearance of girls from their community, especially once her best friend, Linda vanishes. The injustice in the system of law seems overwhelming but when Sara and her family are targeted to stop looking into Linda's disappearance, they do find a few people they can trust-it is the strength of Sara's convictions, her family & friend support network that keep her continually investigating. The parallel story of her brother, Emiliano, breaks my heart because he is a good kid (star soccer player, part of a youth group that helps others, falling for a girl that is rich and too far out of his reach. I hated when Emiliano began to be drawn into the world of lies (because he cherishes truth so much) and easy money, and that is when he begins to have an inner war with himself. Paco his friend keeps telling him his choices will not get him what he wants, but Emiliano does not tell his friend anything while continuing to reach for the impossible. I really think Stork should continue this story, I want to follow Sara and Emiliano as they run for safety, into an unknown world.
November 13, 2017
Sara Zapata is a journalist in Juarez, Mexico and has written about the Desaparecidas, or girls who have disappeared. Her best friend Linda is one of those girls. But now Sara is receiving death threats if she continues to investigate and the criminals are also targeting her mother and younger brother, Emiliano..
Emiliano is a standout high school soccer player and has a small folk art business selling pinatas to tourists to earn money for his mom and sister. He's enticed by the criminal lifestyle because of his attraction to Perla Rubi Esmerada, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer who invites Emiliano to sell his pinatas in a more lucrative way that will benefit them all.
Now Emiliano has a moral decision to make because it involves his friend and his friend's family who make the pinatas and it also violates the code he has lived since joining the Jiparis Explorer Club started by a priest friend.
Once Sara receives the death threats, her mom decides it's best if Emiliano take Sara across the border since he has special desert survival training. Then, both of them can live with their father, who has made a life for himself in the United States. Sara can then apply for asylum.
All these choices happen in a four day period, which makes for a page turning read, especially when Sara and Emiliano are in the desert.
The story gave me an appreciation for those people who do not want to leave their countries, but must, because of threats to them and their families.
Emiliano is a standout high school soccer player and has a small folk art business selling pinatas to tourists to earn money for his mom and sister. He's enticed by the criminal lifestyle because of his attraction to Perla Rubi Esmerada, the daughter of a wealthy lawyer who invites Emiliano to sell his pinatas in a more lucrative way that will benefit them all.
Now Emiliano has a moral decision to make because it involves his friend and his friend's family who make the pinatas and it also violates the code he has lived since joining the Jiparis Explorer Club started by a priest friend.
Once Sara receives the death threats, her mom decides it's best if Emiliano take Sara across the border since he has special desert survival training. Then, both of them can live with their father, who has made a life for himself in the United States. Sara can then apply for asylum.
All these choices happen in a four day period, which makes for a page turning read, especially when Sara and Emiliano are in the desert.
The story gave me an appreciation for those people who do not want to leave their countries, but must, because of threats to them and their families.
March 23, 2018
The story: Sara and her brother Emiliano are both in over their heads. Sara, a young reporter, uncovers the truth behind a sex-trafficking ring in their hometown of Juarez, and now she's a target. Emiliano, wanting to be rich and in love with a girl who already is, is falling into the sparkling trap laid by drug dealers. Now they're both on the run, and their lives depend on people they've never even met. Can they make it over the border and start a new life in Chicago, or will the bad guys be able to track them no matter where they go?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13 (drug use implied but not described); Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (sex trafficking, drug cartels, government and police corruption) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Francisco X. Stork always delivers an absorbing read. Despite the PG-13 rating rating, this is probably better for high school readers. Not that MS kids wouldn't be able to understand it, but the social and ethical issues it raises are not of immediate interest for the average MS reader...although they should be. Consider purchasing to support a fine author, and hand-sell it to the more mature reader in the crowd.
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13 (drug use implied but not described); Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (sex trafficking, drug cartels, government and police corruption) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Francisco X. Stork always delivers an absorbing read. Despite the PG-13 rating rating, this is probably better for high school readers. Not that MS kids wouldn't be able to understand it, but the social and ethical issues it raises are not of immediate interest for the average MS reader...although they should be. Consider purchasing to support a fine author, and hand-sell it to the more mature reader in the crowd.
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