Families who loved Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your daughter is navigating the pressure of being a daughter, a student, and an athlete while trying to define her own worth outside of male-dominated expectations. It is a powerful choice for teens grappling with the tension between family loyalty and personal ambition, or those facing cultural barriers to their dreams. Set in Rosario, Argentina, the story follows Camila, who lives a double life: she is a quiet, dutiful daughter at home but a fierce soccer phenom known as La Furia on the pitch. As she navigates a toxic home life, a budding romance with an international soccer star, and the chance of a lifetime to play in the US, she must decide if the risk of being her true self is worth the cost. This is a gritty, realistic contemporary novel for older teens that tackles themes of gender inequality, domestic abuse, and the resilience required to break cycles of silence. Parents will appreciate the book's nuanced depiction of female empowerment and the courageous way it addresses social justice issues within a sports context.