Plot Summary

Playing for the Devil's Fire

Phillippe Diederich
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Playing for the Devil's Fire

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

Book Brief

Phillippe Diederich

Playing for the Devil's Fire

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016
Book Details
Pages

232

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mexico • Contemporary

Publication Year

2016

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

HL540L

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Super Short Summary

In Playing for the Devil's Fire by Phillippe Diederich, thirteen-year-old Boli from the small Mexican town of Izayoc, notices unsettling changes in his community while his parents vanish on a trip. As local violence escalates, Boli befriends a washed-up luchador, El Hijo del Santo, hoping they can find his parents and combat the threats engulfing their town. Violence and severed human body parts are included in the story.

Dark

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Emotional

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.1

194 ratings

71%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Phillippe Diederich's Playing for the Devil's Fire is lauded for its gripping portrayal of a young boy's life in a cartel-dominated Mexican town. Reviewers commend its authenticity, poignant storytelling, and emotional depth. However, some feel the narrative pace can occasionally lag. Overall, it's praised for its raw, compelling depiction of societal struggles and resilience.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Playing for the Devil's Fire?

A reader who appreciates Playing for the Devil's Fire by Phillippe Diederich enjoys compelling narratives set in Mexico with themes of social justice and resilience. Fans of The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros or Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario will find this book engaging and poignant.

4.1

194 ratings

71%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

232

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mexico • Contemporary

Publication Year

2016

Audience

YA

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

HL540L

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