I won Scratched in Early Reviewers. I genuinely liked Luis, and as I learned more about him, his life hurt more & more. I got depressed & had to make sure i didn’t read this before bed! This is not a light read.

Getting a look behind the flash & pomp of racing was interesting, much of the description reminded me of reading Dick Francis. The characters were interesting, though the depiction of fat characters was annoying & cliche. Right, fine, she’s overweight - so she’s messy & dirty & rude & eats like a pig & does nothing but watch tv?? Sigh. I wish there was more of a rounding up in the end, more growth & exploration of Luis. I wanted more story, more of the characters’ lives. Some characters who we didn’t learn more of, interested me more than the main ones.

Some errors in editing were noticeable, but not too bad. It definitely kept my attention, when it didn’t depress me so much i had to stop reading. The setting & characters were good, but somehow the whole “bully/mean guys” theme has been done too much, and I wish the storyline hadn’t needed that. Yes, show the downside, but not like a sitcom set up.

Overall, interesting but awkward book. ( )

This books was well written. The characters and story line seem real. I would have liked to see a little more development of the characters and plot. It could have been a little longer to accommodate this. It gave a gripping portrayal of life at a racetrack as well as insight into the lives of migrant workers. Great YA read that can be enjoyed by any age. ( )

"Scratched" by Julie Stielstra took me into worlds unknown that I would never experience otherwise. Her captivating "behind-the-scenes" look into these worlds left me with so much empathy for most of the characters and those that actually go through the horrors of such a life. I appreciated each characters' uniqueness. The ending is a real "cliff-hanger" and would lead nicely into a sequel, if Julie ever chooses to do so. Race to get and remember to follow the author! ( )

Stratched by Julie Stielstra is a moving story of the lives of undocumented families working behind the scenes in the horse racing industry. The protagonist is fifteen year old Luis Romero who lives behind the stables with his mother, sister and other workers. You get glimpses of the hard life they go through, as well as the animals, that are breed and cared for to make other people money.
I really got engaged in the story. Luis is a well written character. It’s hard not to sympathize with his plight. He a protagonist you want to really root for. It feels very realistically portrayed and well written. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time. It has almost a Steinbeck feel to it. ( )

Thank you Julie Stielstra and Librarything for an autographed arc of "Scratched". This is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Stielstra. In summary, the plot follows the life of 15 year old Luis Romero, his mother, and his sister. Luis' mother Blanca, is an undocumented worker who feeds, grooms, exercises, cares for, and cleans up after race horses on the circuit. They travel from place to place frequently, and live in less than stellar conditions at places located on the horse racing properties. Luis spends his days going to school and taking care of his younger sister. His dream is for a better life. Will this change after he starts working for a low-level trainer? Will his mother's relationship with one of the security guards end with a better life, or far worse?
The storyline was intriguing and the characters were believable, and for the most part likeable.
The only negative comment that I have, is that the novel made me want so much more. I would have loved to see a more detailed plot and development of the characters. In my opinion, this novel could have doubled in size and been a truly amazing read.
Would I recommend this novel? You bet!! Great YA read for intermediate to middle schoolers. Will give students a great insight to the lives of our migrant workers and their hardships. ( )