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Fernando
After a year in county jail, a new life on the outside awaits! Nineteen-year-old Amari Davis is a rebellious transgender teen from Georgia with a desperate desire for a fresh start—but being packed off to Brazil to work with her father, a military vet now in the Peace Corps, isn’t exactly what she has in mind. Amari struggles to adjust to the new culture and fit in with the locals until she meets Gabriel, a handsome and endearing young man who works with her father. The two are drawn to each other, and as their friendship deepens, Amari’s newfound romance tests her resolution to live authentically. If she tells Gabriel the truth about herself, will it push him away forever? From award-winning author Chanel Hardy, 'Fernando' is a modern, unconventional love story set in the 90's that explores what it means to live as your authentic self, giving love a chance when all seems lost, and to be young and resilient in the face of adversity.
162 pages, Paperback
First published March 18, 2020
5 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Chanel Hardy
22 books20 followersYA/NA author and poet born and raised in the Washington D.C. area. In 2017 Chanel decided to take a leap of faith and follow her dreams of publishing her first book, 'My Colorblind Rainbow' which made the 'In The Margins Award Long List' for YA fiction in 2018. She launched Hardy Publications in September of 2017, working as a freelance writer and literary blogger. She's written for publications such as Women and Words, 25 Hottest Indie Authors Artists Advocates 2020, and CulEpi.
With certifications in persuasive writing and public speaking, TEFL(Teaching English as a Foreign Language) while overseas, Chanel uses her platform to raise awareness for different charities and non-profit organizations, volunteering both locally and internationally, and giving back to the community.
With certifications in persuasive writing and public speaking, TEFL(Teaching English as a Foreign Language) while overseas, Chanel uses her platform to raise awareness for different charities and non-profit organizations, volunteering both locally and internationally, and giving back to the community.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 6, 2020
First of all, let me start this review off by stating that this is not a ‘smut’ book. Although there are some graphic parts, none of them are sexual in nature, and all are done tastefully. Now, to the actual review.
Fernando is the story of Amari, a transgendered teen girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the body she wants. Unfortunately, she does something illegal that lands her in prison for one of the worst years of her life. Abused and tormented, she makes the best out of a bad situation and sometime after she’s released, Amari goes to see her father who is working in Brazil. There, she meets a boy who she soon falls in love with, but later comes to find has secrets of his own...
This book is a beautifully written love story that centers on the characters, not their sexualities. Amari is just another teenage girl, who just so happens to have a little extra. The struggles that trans youth face are spoken of candidly, without creating awkward moments for the reader or gaps in understanding. It details that Amari is self conscious about still having male genitals, and how she has to make the daily decision as to whether or not to tuck them with duck tape, depending on her outfit. The author also brings to light the atrocities that befall trans people when put in the correctional system, without scaring away the reader. We know that Amari has been abused in prison, but we don’t get the specifics of what happened until we reach the middle of the book, and even then, no strong details are given. That allowed me to get to know Amari as a person first, so that I didn’t associate her with her struggles, but instead took them as one more thing that made her who she was.
The love story was expertly handled, with the author masterfully weaving young love with youthful indecision. Amari has seen somethings in her young life, but she still comes across as unsure and learning. The story between her and Gabriel, her love, interest is as slow burning as a book of this length could manage and culminates in mostly ‘off-screen’ kissing. It’s refreshing to see a love story where two people are more interested in getting to know each other, rather than just bed one another.
Finally, this novel handles the topic of ‘dead naming’ in a tasteful way. It occurs three times in the book and each time, it is under vastly different circumstances. The first time is when she is being arrested and the police call her by her birth or dead name. The second is when her father is calling out to her and her dead name accidentally slips out from him. And, the third is when a person who was supposed to be her friend, outed her on purpose in a moment of malicious jealousy. I loved how even though each situation caused Amari hurt and embarrassment, she handled them all differently. There was nothing she could do about the police, she forgave her father, and she cut off her relationship with her false friend.
All in all, this book contains minimal but well placed adult language, zero raunch, a definitive plot, and a solid love story with a bittersweet ending. Recommended for MATURE teens and up.
Fernando is the story of Amari, a transgendered teen girl who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the body she wants. Unfortunately, she does something illegal that lands her in prison for one of the worst years of her life. Abused and tormented, she makes the best out of a bad situation and sometime after she’s released, Amari goes to see her father who is working in Brazil. There, she meets a boy who she soon falls in love with, but later comes to find has secrets of his own...
This book is a beautifully written love story that centers on the characters, not their sexualities. Amari is just another teenage girl, who just so happens to have a little extra. The struggles that trans youth face are spoken of candidly, without creating awkward moments for the reader or gaps in understanding. It details that Amari is self conscious about still having male genitals, and how she has to make the daily decision as to whether or not to tuck them with duck tape, depending on her outfit. The author also brings to light the atrocities that befall trans people when put in the correctional system, without scaring away the reader. We know that Amari has been abused in prison, but we don’t get the specifics of what happened until we reach the middle of the book, and even then, no strong details are given. That allowed me to get to know Amari as a person first, so that I didn’t associate her with her struggles, but instead took them as one more thing that made her who she was.
The love story was expertly handled, with the author masterfully weaving young love with youthful indecision. Amari has seen somethings in her young life, but she still comes across as unsure and learning. The story between her and Gabriel, her love, interest is as slow burning as a book of this length could manage and culminates in mostly ‘off-screen’ kissing. It’s refreshing to see a love story where two people are more interested in getting to know each other, rather than just bed one another.
Finally, this novel handles the topic of ‘dead naming’ in a tasteful way. It occurs three times in the book and each time, it is under vastly different circumstances. The first time is when she is being arrested and the police call her by her birth or dead name. The second is when her father is calling out to her and her dead name accidentally slips out from him. And, the third is when a person who was supposed to be her friend, outed her on purpose in a moment of malicious jealousy. I loved how even though each situation caused Amari hurt and embarrassment, she handled them all differently. There was nothing she could do about the police, she forgave her father, and she cut off her relationship with her false friend.
All in all, this book contains minimal but well placed adult language, zero raunch, a definitive plot, and a solid love story with a bittersweet ending. Recommended for MATURE teens and up.
November 20, 2021
*Spoiler alerts*
For future readers’ awareness: “Fernando” deals with characters who are living with hiv/aids, the effects of incarceration, sexual abuse, transphobia, racism, and other traumas.
“Fernando” is a YA read a romance centered on Amari and Gabriel set in Brazil whose romance goes from peace Corp enemies to teary eyed lovers.
I really enjoyed this story. Overall I loved the characters. Amari was endearing but also moody and introverted. She’s not afraid to make things awkward. To be awkward to openly refuse to make thing easier for others. But she could also be playful and rebellious. I really loved one scene where she doesn’t accept another character named Charlotte’s apology. We tend to push a narrative of forgiveness on women. To forgive and forget and move on. But Amari didn’t forgive her. And no one told her to forgive that other person either. They agreed yeah you have a right to be mad. I think that’s great. Anger is usually never portrayed as a good thing. It’s usually seen as destructive which it can be but in this scene it was handled so well. Out of every scene in the book this was my favorite.
Onto the romantic interest, Gabriel. I loved Gabriel. He’s so sincere and sweet but also not afraid to call Amari out for being a “typical rude American”. He’s also forward and has a fatalistic charm all wrapped up in a cute face and a tragic backstory. I won’t say more otherwise that’ll spoil some of the love scenes.
The beginning makes this review sound all doom and gloom but it’s not at all. It’s a happy story. There’s plenty of sweet family moments involving not only Amari’s mom and dad but Gabriel’s delightfully upbeat grandmother as well. There’s also a lot of touching father daughter scenes which you love to in YA novels given how many main characters’ parents are often killed or in LGBTQA- centric stories are often portrayed as villainous, bigoted or ignorant. Amari has loving parents who, while don’t always do or say the right thing, support and love their daughter unconditionally. There’s a real optimism to this story that can be summed up with one of it’s passages:
[Amari] I don’t believe in magical wishes and fairy tales.”
[Gabriel] “Maybe you should start.”
Not all stories are perfect and I do have one criticism. There was more than a few quotation errors throughout the story which I found disruptive because I would start a sentence thinking it was dialogue only to backtrack because it was actually the main character’s inner monologue.
Overall, money well spent on and another proficient tale by Chanel Hardy.
For future readers’ awareness: “Fernando” deals with characters who are living with hiv/aids, the effects of incarceration, sexual abuse, transphobia, racism, and other traumas.
“Fernando” is a YA read a romance centered on Amari and Gabriel set in Brazil whose romance goes from peace Corp enemies to teary eyed lovers.
I really enjoyed this story. Overall I loved the characters. Amari was endearing but also moody and introverted. She’s not afraid to make things awkward. To be awkward to openly refuse to make thing easier for others. But she could also be playful and rebellious. I really loved one scene where she doesn’t accept another character named Charlotte’s apology. We tend to push a narrative of forgiveness on women. To forgive and forget and move on. But Amari didn’t forgive her. And no one told her to forgive that other person either. They agreed yeah you have a right to be mad. I think that’s great. Anger is usually never portrayed as a good thing. It’s usually seen as destructive which it can be but in this scene it was handled so well. Out of every scene in the book this was my favorite.
Onto the romantic interest, Gabriel. I loved Gabriel. He’s so sincere and sweet but also not afraid to call Amari out for being a “typical rude American”. He’s also forward and has a fatalistic charm all wrapped up in a cute face and a tragic backstory. I won’t say more otherwise that’ll spoil some of the love scenes.
The beginning makes this review sound all doom and gloom but it’s not at all. It’s a happy story. There’s plenty of sweet family moments involving not only Amari’s mom and dad but Gabriel’s delightfully upbeat grandmother as well. There’s also a lot of touching father daughter scenes which you love to in YA novels given how many main characters’ parents are often killed or in LGBTQA- centric stories are often portrayed as villainous, bigoted or ignorant. Amari has loving parents who, while don’t always do or say the right thing, support and love their daughter unconditionally. There’s a real optimism to this story that can be summed up with one of it’s passages:
[Amari] I don’t believe in magical wishes and fairy tales.”
[Gabriel] “Maybe you should start.”
Not all stories are perfect and I do have one criticism. There was more than a few quotation errors throughout the story which I found disruptive because I would start a sentence thinking it was dialogue only to backtrack because it was actually the main character’s inner monologue.
Overall, money well spent on and another proficient tale by Chanel Hardy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2020
Boundless Love
This story is very nostalgic. I enjoyed reading about the summer love. Chanel writes in a way that makes me feel like I'm there. This is a coming-of-age story that needs to be told. I could relate to Amari, and I learned some new stuff about the LGBTQ community by reading this. I'm so glad I got this book.
This story is very nostalgic. I enjoyed reading about the summer love. Chanel writes in a way that makes me feel like I'm there. This is a coming-of-age story that needs to be told. I could relate to Amari, and I learned some new stuff about the LGBTQ community by reading this. I'm so glad I got this book.
August 5, 2020
Fernando is a YA romance! I would definitely recommend this to anyone ages 14 and up. This quick, “get to the point” read is about a transgender teen named Amari, who had gotten herself in trouble with the law and moved away with her father to get a fresh start. She meets a cute guy, Gabriel, and now, she grapples with how to reveal her true essence.
I just loved how Amari’s parents supported her, even through her trials and tribulations. Too many LGBTQ stories are out there that show neglectful, bigoted parents for the entire duration of the story, leaving our protagonists in shambles for just trying to be who they want to be. This was a huge UP for me and a model for how to be there for a child when they need them most. ❤️
Also! Gabriel and Amari were just so cute. I don’t want to spoil the romance aspect of the book, so I’ll leave it at that. I adored their relationship. 🥰
.
Amari is a strong girl. She was sure of herself (most of the time), knew what she wanted, and kept her eyes on the prize of how to make best of her situation and what her future held despite her mistakes and setbacks.
.
This book will help start important conversations about how to best support transgender teens from parents and friends alike, and this read gives an amazing window into that narrative, life, and reality. Books such as this are needed for teens to help provide perspective and empathy. And most of all? Watch what you say and how you say it. You never know how much that can hurt someone based on what they’ve been through (or are currently going through). If you need a good down time book that provides a different lens on romance, this is for you!! 🥰
I just loved how Amari’s parents supported her, even through her trials and tribulations. Too many LGBTQ stories are out there that show neglectful, bigoted parents for the entire duration of the story, leaving our protagonists in shambles for just trying to be who they want to be. This was a huge UP for me and a model for how to be there for a child when they need them most. ❤️
Also! Gabriel and Amari were just so cute. I don’t want to spoil the romance aspect of the book, so I’ll leave it at that. I adored their relationship. 🥰
.
Amari is a strong girl. She was sure of herself (most of the time), knew what she wanted, and kept her eyes on the prize of how to make best of her situation and what her future held despite her mistakes and setbacks.
.
This book will help start important conversations about how to best support transgender teens from parents and friends alike, and this read gives an amazing window into that narrative, life, and reality. Books such as this are needed for teens to help provide perspective and empathy. And most of all? Watch what you say and how you say it. You never know how much that can hurt someone based on what they’ve been through (or are currently going through). If you need a good down time book that provides a different lens on romance, this is for you!! 🥰
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews