Cover by Kelly Carter
Getting a Life
Book one of The Jaguar Legacy Trilogy
Hildie Vasquez, age 16, is on the street in East Vancouver, thrown out by her Uncle Norm who imagined she was on the make for his partner David. She ends up accused of the murder of one of the people in the house where she has been squatting. Refusing Uncle Norm's expensive, high-level lawyer, she accepts the help of Nick Carmichael, a young legal aid attorney who helped her out once before. She even refuses Uncle Norm's apology and invitation to her to return home.
What will Hildie do with the anger that is bottled up inside of her? She encounters the police again when she tries to defend one of her East-side friends from Steve, a pimp she knows is dangerous, the man she believes is the real murderer of their friend in the squatter's house. Steve promises to make her regret her interference, and throughout the story she knows he’s watching her.
The truth is, no one knows what is wrong with Hildie. She is furious with the mistreatment of her friends on the street, partly because she knows what exclusion is. After her mother's murder in El Salvador back in the late 80's, when she came to live with Uncle Norm, she attended a school for wealthy girls where her lack of the proper social conditioning and her peasant background left her isolated from all but a few students.
We follow Hildie through the maze of a distressed teen on the street, in detention, in foster care and group home, as she struggles to identify what is happening inside her, before her emotions get so out of control that she does something irreversible, something from which she can never come back
Reviews
A raw and heart-wrenching tale of resilience, belonging, and the power of community.
Schmitt delves into the depths of grief, resilience, and belonging in her latest novel, taking readers on an adolescent’s journey to finding her place in the world. At sixteen, Hildie Vasquez’s life unravels when her cruel uncle abandons her on the streets of Vancouver. Turning to a group of young squatters in a dangerous neighborhood, she faces a new nightmare when a friend is murdered and she is wrongly accused. As she navigates a world of drugs and violence to clear her name, Hildie also contends with the grief of losing her parents in a Salvadoran revolution. Pursued by a vengeful pimp, Hildie soon finds herself fighting for survival and truth.
Hildie is a relatable and authentic character, shaped by her experiences of loss and displacement in war-torn El Salvador. Her struggles with finding her place in a new country are poignantly portrayed as she navigates life in Canada. Schmitt’s portrayal of adolescence captures its complexities, making Hildie’s story resonate with readers who have faced their own challenges. Supporting characters like Sarah and Jason enrich the story, adding depth and warmth. The novel balances emotional depth with moments of levity, and its exploration of cultural identity and multi-racialism adds layers of relevance and insight. Schmitt deftly addresses societal issues faced by marginalized communities while also celebrating the strength and wisdom found within them. A beautifully crafted, suspenseful novel that offers a heartfelt exploration of trauma, resilience, and the search for identity — The Prairies Book Review
Synopsis: In her latest novel, Schmitt takes us on a poignant journey through the life of Hildie Vasquez, a sixteen-year-old girl whose world's shattered when her cruel uncle abandons her on the unforgiving streets of Vancouver.
Hildie's journey is not merely a tale of survival, but a profound exploration of what it means to find one's place in a world filled with chaos and uncertainty. After being left to fend for herself, she seeks solace among a group of young settlers, only to be thrust into a new nightmare when a friend is murdered, and she becomes the prime suspect. As she grapples with the dangers of drugs and violence, Hildie also carries the weight of her past - the tragic loss of her parents during a Salvadoran revolution.
Schmitt's portrayal of Hildie is not just relatable; it's authentic, capturing the essence of loss and displacement many experiences in times of upheaval. Her struggles, which mirror countless individuals' challenges, seeking connection and understanding in an unfamiliar landscape, are sure to evoke a strong sense of empathy in readers. This narrative speaks to the heart.
Critique: Getting a Life is an emotionally packed book. Through the lens of Hildie's struggles, explore themes of grief, resilience, and the deep-seated yearning for belonging that resonate with us all, striking a deep emotional chord.
Kathleen S. Schmitt has poured her heart and soul into a compelling book that promises to whisk readers away on a journey filled with rich characters and an intricately woven plot. Schmitt storytelling immerses readers in vibrant settings and relatable emotions, ensuring that every page resonates with the heart and soul.
— Suzie Housley, Suzie Housley's Bookshelf
Kathleen Schmitt’s latest offering, Getting a Life, provides an insightful, painful, and yet triumphant look into the life of Hildie Vasquez, a 16 year old girl trying to make her way through a life fraught with trauma and disillusionment.
As the story begins the reader finds Hildie in Vancouver’s notorious downtown Eastside among new friends who share a common bond—survival. When one of her friends is murdered Hildie becomes suspect number one and simultaneously fearful for her own life.
Following the murder of both parents Hildie is transplanted from El Salvador at the age of seven to live with a rich uncle who no longer welcomes her. After her friend’s murder, the house where she and her outcast family have squatted is now a crime scene and they scatter. Unable to go home, she finds herself fleeing and takes refuge with an Anglican minister and a compassionate legal aid lawyer.
This quick paced novel invites the reader to experience deep loss, meaningful friendships, and renewed hope. I found the characters well-constructed, the relationships believable, and the story both gut wrenching and heartwarming. Getting a Life, breathes awareness into the many of the challenges faced by the first nations community and refugees alike. Inviting the reader to perhaps learn something about themselves and the difficulties faced by so many in this melting pot of Canada. — Brian Douglas, author of recently launched novel They Flutter Behind You
It’s winter 1992 and Hildie, only sixteen, is squatting in an abandoned house in Vancouver with others like herself. Feeling like a burden to her uncle, her legal guardian, she has run away from home. Homeless, she struggles to keep herself warm, fed, or safe. Living on the streets of a major city comes with many dangers. There are people who wouldn’t hesitate to harm and exploit young women like Hildie with false promises for their own gain. She knows that a man named Steve is a local pimp and wants nothing to do with him, but when their paths cross, Hidlie finds herself in a lot of trouble.
Home and dangers are not the only things that Hildie is running away from. Born in El Salvador to a Canadian mother and an indigenous Pipil father, she has witnessed the brutality of the civil war. At the age of six, she saw her mother being murdered and has been running from the memory of this traumatic experience ever since. In order to free herself from Steve and help her friends, however, she must first confront her past and find her own identity.
Kathleen S. Schmitt skillfully guides the reader through many sensitive and important topics, including violence, injustice, homelessness, racism and sex trafficking. I believe, however, that the main theme of Getting a Life is emotions. Hildie is a well-developed character who feels unloved, unimportant and lost, but also very angry at the world around her. Throughout the book, she learns to express her feelings, reconciling with her past and channeling her anger into constructive action. The adults in the story also struggle to deal with their own feelings, and. are learning along with Hidlie.
Getting a Life is also a valuable lesson in history. Kathleen S. Schmitt spent several years living in El Salvador getting to know its indigenous people and their history. As a parent of two adopted indigenous children, throughout the story she also demonstrates her extensive knowledge of and experience with Canadian indigenous peoples and their struggle with racism in Canada. In general, Getting a Life is a well-written, fast-paced novel for young adults that keeps the reader on edge. The characters are unique and relatable. Hidlie is a likable protagonist and the reader becomes invested in her life and her internal and external struggles. Although the story takes place in 1992, there are only a few references specific to that time period and it should not be confusing to modern young readers. — Ewa Anderson, author of three novels in the Sabānto trilogy
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