Leonardo had been used to solving problems. As a Venezuelan engineer living in Florida, working for a U.S. petroleum company, he was so good at it that his company was throwing him an event in his honor. But the problems waiting for him at home were a different kind entirely.
Gustavo had been a doctor in Venezuela. Prominent, respected, living a good life — until the accident that took his wife and younger son. Unable to bear the loss, he left everything behind and started over in Florida with his teenage son Samuel. Sad, angry, and determined to numb the pain, he slowly pushed away the only family he had left.
Samuel lost half his family two years ago. He was still angry about it. But he had his guitar, his rock music, and the freedom that came with playing. He also had relationships that his grandparents fully accepted — but that put him on a direct collision course with his father.
Three men. Three generations. One family trying to survive itself.
This book doesn't play it safe. This book tackles: grief, addiction, immigration, LGBTQ+ identity, father-son conflict, and what happens when a family's love isn't quite enough to bridge its fractures
Pairs beautifully with: La vida es complicada — read that one first, then this one. Same story, same heart, different tense.
Note for teachers: this is the same story as La vida es complicada — retold in the past tense. Designed so that more advanced students can read a different version while the whole class discusses the same story together. No one gets left out. No one gets bored. That's the point.
Note: each character's chapters are written as a personal essay template. Built-in writing instruction, zero extra prep required.
Level: Novice Mid | Tense: Past | Language: Spanish
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La vida era complicada READER
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