"Malas is an antidote for the hard-line essentialism that has made this world an intolerant, violent place. Fuentes humanizes seemingly insoluble conflicts, both generational and cultural, with imperfect characters who are just doing their best, even when they know they are screwing up. She gives them something that many of us nonfictional people living and messing up in the world could use, and give back - grace."
-The New York Times Book Review
"Malas is a machete: sharp, terrifying, and beautiful. Each character feels dynamic, familiar, and so utterly human in their glorious messiness. Fuentes has achieved something rare and indelible with this story of complex women."
-Erika L. Sanchez, New York Times bestseller author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom
Set in a border town on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, Fuentes's lively novel explores the intergenerational connection between two strong women. Lulu Munoz is trying to keep her punk rock band a secret from her substance-abusing father while avoiding thoughts of her garish upcoming quinceanera celebration. When the enigmatic Pilar makes a surprise appearance at a funeral, she and Lulu form a friendship that leads to unexpected discoveries.
-Washington Post
"Fuentes' propulsive plotting; rich and precise depiction of Tejano culture; complex characters; and thoughtful exploration of female anger, grief and intergenerational trauma combine to form a fully immersive reading experience that-for all its specificity-will be compelling and meaningful to readers of all backgrounds. Brimming with brio, Fuentes' deliciously defiant debut breathes new life into classic lore and heralds the arrival of a bold new literary powerhouse."
-BookPage Starred Review
"Fuentes seamlessly knits familiar history and urban legend with a heartfelt, modern, coming of age story to deliver a vivacious, page-turning novel of rebellion and rebirth. The truth, in the hands of Fuentes lively and beautiful prose, liberates these characters and the reader alike."
-Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming
"Fuentes is a seamless storyteller: the narrative is rich in Mexican culture and fully realized characterizations, especially the defiant Lulu and the overbearing Julio. Fans of Ana Castillo and Erika Sanchez will be thrilled."
-Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
"Malas ensnares you with its antic energy, vibrant secrets, and the wickedly smart, self-assured Lulu at the center of it all. An enviably electric debut from Marcela Fuentes, who knows in her bones that the bad girls living in family cuentos, in telenovelas, and in town gossip are also the ones that glow with the brightest fire inside."
-Manuel Munoz, author of The Consequences
"Fuentes builds a complex but loving portrait of a community shaken by loss but shaped by fortitude, with two strong-minded women at its heart."
-Star Tribune
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