Betrayal, Sacrifice, and Hope in the Port of Callao by Maria Marquez-Salane

Maria Marquez-Salane grew up in an area of Lima, Peru that even the police feared. The crime-ridden area of Fort Apache in the Callao neighborhood of Lima was filled with danger, fear, and the absence of loving parents. Thankfully, her grandmother stepped in the raise Marquez-Salane and her siblings, giving them some hope for the future.

Spoiler alert: it worked. Marquez-Salane went to college, moved to the United States, and became a fully functioning adult, having escaped the trials tribulations of her childhood. Of course, nothing is perfect, and the psychological scars of Fort Apache still linger. She discusses all of this and more in Betrayal, Sacrifice, and Hope in the Port of Callao.

My Thoughts on Betrayal, Sacrifice, and Hope in the Port of Callao

If you enjoyed reading Trevor Noah's Born a Crime as much as I did, then you'll like this book. Marquez-Salane describes the many things that she went through growing up, much like Trevor Noah did. Obviously, there's a big difference between South Africa and Peru, but the main ideas are the same. Life can be incredibly hard, but there are always good things to keep you going.

Overall, I really liked this book. Marquez-Salane's writing style is very straightforward and honest, and the story had an uplfting feel without delving too much into religiosity. I had a hard time putting it down, because I had to see how she got out of the Fort Apache neighborhood.

A powerful memoir that chronicles the true story of a child growing up with her grandmother and siblings in the most dangerous neighborhood in Lima-Peru. Despite the abandonment and neglect by her parents, the child's grandmother instilled in her a love of learning and provided her with unconditional love. The book explores the question of whether this love and support was enough to overcome the hostile environment and trauma of her childhood. The author's story is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

A gripping and heart-wrenching memoir that chronicles the true story of a child growing up with her paternal grandmother and siblings in the most dangerous neighborhood in Callao, Lima-Peru. Despite the abandonment and neglect by her parents, the child's grandmother instilled in her a love of learning and provided her with unconditional love. The book explores the question of whether this love and support was enough to overcome the hostile environment and trauma of her childhood. The author's story is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of love and the resilience of the human spirit.