Book Review: Becoming Beatriz by Tami Charles

Shelly's Book Corner received a review copy from Amazon Vine and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.

Beatriz dreams of a life spent dancing--until tragedy on the day of her quinceañera changes everything.

Up until her fifteenth birthday, the most important thing in the world to Beatriz Mendez was her dream of becoming a professional dancer and getting herself and her family far from the gang life that defined their days--that and meeting her dance idol Debbie Allen on the set of her favorite TV show, Fame. But after the latest battle in a constant turf war leaves her brother, Junito, dead and her mother grieving, Beatriz has a new set of priorities. How is she supposed to feel the rhythm when her brother's gang needs running, when her mami can't brush her own teeth, and when the last thing she can remember of her old self is dancing with her brother, followed by running and gunshots? When the class brainiac reminds Beatriz of her love of the dance floor, her banished dreams sneak back in. Now the only question is: will the gang let her go?

Set in New Jersey in 1984, Beatriz's story is a timeless one of a teenager's navigation of romance, her brother's choices, and her own family's difficult past. A companion novel to the much-lauded Like Vanessa.

Review

I’ve never read this author but the cover caught my attention and the blurb made me want to read. Beatriz has a lot on her plate and is pretty much at a crossroads in her life. Her brother was killed due to gang violence. Beatriz wants to be loyal to her gang but knows she has no future if she continues to live this lifestyle. But leaving won’t be easy at all. Blood in, blood out. This book was a heavy read at times and my heart went out to Beatriz as I read. I feel like more stories like these need to be written because this is a very important topic. I have to say this was such a real, raw, gritty, heartbreaking and heartwarming story that had me sucked in from beginning to end. I have never read Tami Charles before and I was very impressed with this book. I will be making it my business to check out her other books as well.