Hurdles in the Dark is
the personal memoir of Elvira K. Gonzalez, who is best known as a Mexican
American athlete and track star. Elvira, or Kristi as many of her family and
friends called her growing up, delves into overcoming immense challenges in her
life. The majority of her memoir centers around her high school career as a
track and field hurdler. Kristi saw this sport as her opportunity to earn
a college scholarship and to make a better life for herself. However, the
physical hurdles were not the only obstacles in her path. Kristi had to
jump many hurdles in her life as well including leaving the barrio where all
her family lived, raising $40,000 to save her kidnapped mother who crossed the
border for a wedding, being arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center,
and being sexually abused by her track and field coach.
The author’s writing style absorbs the readers into her
world. The readers experience all of Kristi due to the honest account of
her setbacks and triumphs. She is able to write her memoir as if it were
happening in the present due to the many journals and diaries she kept growing
up. The tone shifts to the grown up Kristi, or Elvira, once the reader
reaches the Afterword of the memoir. It is here that Elvira explains her
life lessons, her college experiences, and her time in New York city. She
also talks more about the darker side of sports, grooming, and sexual abuse.
This topic might be a trigger for some readers, but Elvira handles it with such
ease and has facts to back up her statements. All throughout the
Afterward, Elvira talks about the importance of mental health and finding the
right help. Her memoir is a cautionary tale meant to help others through the
obstacles in their lives.
Therefore, Hurdles in the Dark is highly recommended for any high
school library, grades 9-12, that needs more memoirs emphasizing the importance
of mental health.
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