Her journey accepting herself and making her own decisions about her body is so important, and I loved the way the author weaves these themes throughout the narrative. This is true in two different senses: she not only comes to accept her visible scars, but as she has also been made to feel ashamed for wanting to date, Verónica also gains confidence in herself as a woman. What I particularly enjoyed is the way Verónica slowly gains confidence in herself and in her body. It is clear that they only want the best for her, but Verónica struggles to live up to their expectations and to play an active role in discussions about her own health. Throughout the book, she experiences a lot of pressure from her parents in different ways. Verónica is such a complex character, and I enjoyed her voice. As the summer continues and secrets are revealed, Verónica must stay true to herself and assert her agency in her own life. As a teenager with hip dysplasia, Verónica is forbidden from pursuing this career as her parents don’t believe it would be safe, so she decides to take the job in secret. When an opportunity to make her dream a reality at a local theme park arises, she applies for the position, but several obstacles stand in her way. ❃īreathe and Count Back From Ten, Natalia SylvesterĪfter attending a mermaid show at a young age, Verónica has developed a passion for mermaids and a dream of someday becoming a professional mermaid herself. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Verónica, a Peruvian‑American teen, must deal with both her painful hip dysplasia and her overprotective immigrant parents, all while chasing her dream to become a professional mermaid in this gorgeously written, authentic novel about secrets and finding your wings (or tail).

Running by natalia sylvester