Delia’s Crossing is the first book in a trilogy by V.C. Andrews (Andrew Neiderman). I have read almost every Andrew’s book there is and I have a love/hate relationship with them. These are my guilty pleasure reads. They’re not super intelligent storylines but I love the drama in them, haha. These are the type of books I read when I don’t feel like having to intensely focus on what I’m reading. As far as V.C. Andrew’s books, Delia’s Crossing is one of the best. I feel like the storyline is more unique than some of the others. I’ll get into more of my thoughts at the end after the synopsis. This review will have slight spoilers.

The Synopsis

Kidnapped by cruel fate…
Secuestrado por sino cruel

After her parents are killed in a truck accident, Delia Yebarra’s life is turned upside down. At fifteen, she leaves the rural Mexican village where she grew up and embarks on a new life in America. Coming to her wealthy aunt Isabella’s huge estate in Palm Springs, California, should be a dream come true for a simple country girl like Delia — so why does it feel like a nightmare?

A prisoner of destiny…
Un preso del destino

Her aunt refuses to acknowledge Delia’s heritage, relegating her to servants’ quarters with a licentious language tutor intent on exploiting a beautiful young foreigner. Her cousin Edward is kind, but cousin Sophia is cruel, manipulative, and resentful of Delia’s smoky Latina looks. And just when Delia tries to embrace the life of a real American girl, a heartbreaking chain of events sends her spiraling back to a Mexico she hardly recognizes…. Will Delia find a place to call home?

My Thoughts

What makes Delia’s Crossing unique is the fact that the main character is Mexican. Characters of color and different nationalities are SERIOUSLY lacking in Andrew/Neiderman’s stories. The main character is usually a young, white, American female. That’s fine but it’s so much more interesting to add in characters with different backgrounds, traditions, skin colors, etc. The only other series that I can think of that revolves around a woman of color is Rain; please let me know if I’m forgetting any. While I’m at it, I would also LOVE to see a male main character. Andrew/Neiderman’s books always include certain topics such as: rape, abuse, abandonment, being orphaned, being bullied, extreme poverty, extreme wealth, teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, death and incest. Of course, all of those topics aren’t in each book but a few usually are. These are very heavy and sensitive topics but each one could apply to a male main character just as much as a female. A lot of the newer books have really branched out, like including homosexual relationships and the supernatural, so maybe in the near future we’ll see a male main character.

As for the story itself, this one is really good. I mean, it is a drama story. Like Lifetime movie, over the top kind of drama but it’s not too cheesy or unbelievable. It actually has a lot of gritty parts that kind of shocked me. I enjoyed most of the characters. Of course, we had to have the stereotypical rich woman that’s hateful for no reason (or only vague reasons), Aunt Isabela, and the spoiled rich girl that is nowhere near as pretty as our main character, Delia’s cousin Sophia. If I could sit down and have a chat with Andrew Neiderman I would ask that he stop abusing these tired stereotypes, give us a male main character, give us more varied characters and calm down with the incest.

I believe that’s all I wanted to say, haha. I do recommend this book even with its flaws. I just started the second one so I should have that review up by next week. If you’re a fan of Andrew/Neiderman’s books let me know if you feel the same way or differently. Thanks for reading and have a great day!