Synopsis
David Rendón, a youth still in high school finds himself questioning his personal status and options as regards his future. He makes a pact to join a couple of friends in resolving what appears to be inevitable conscription, and as a result take the future into their own hands, but he is betrayed, and everything becomes bleaker than before. What will he do? Where will he go?
For a young man, the right decision about his future can make all the difference in the world. However, choosing the wrong one can have immeasurable consequences, but only time will tell.
The nation is in dire turmoil. A war is raging in Southeast Asia. The nation’s youth are rebelling as they battle conscription. Conditions at home are worsening; poverty is rampant, housing is diminishing, hunger is growing, police brutality is abounding, and the military-industrial complex is robbing the nation’s treasury, both it’s financial resources and the blood of its youth.
In the meantime, he must continue to attend high school, work a part time job, and relate to his friends, but time is continuing to move. Not having much of a choice, he contends with the hum drum of life in the inner city. He watches the news of the turmoil in the nation, as a war rages without end, and as Uncle Sam lurks about for an opportunity to take one more victim. What lies ahead is not yet known, but one thing is certain, his future is . . . A Hell Uncertain.
Reviews
“This is a great novel! It’s a memorable step back in time, taking the reader on a nostalgic journey during the 1960’s. It’s a refreshing and much needed perspective regarding the Vietnam era. The local dialects give the novel a sense of identity and make it original. The author provides vivid descriptive images in the narration that create mental pictures, making the narration real, as if the reader is part of it, witnessing everything, making the entire reading process wonderfully enjoyable and engaging. Great writing, a captivating read!
Should the next generation live in a country where continual war brings chaos and immorality, where poverty levels escalate every day and hunger strikes every night? After high school, young people are forced to join the army and fight in their country’s wars, even though thousands end up dead and hundreds return with mutilated bodies. Children from affluent families do not feel this pain since their parents can afford to buy their freedom. In A Hell Uncertain by L. Santiago Calero, the protagonist David Rendon happens to live in this environment. Unfortunately, he does not have wealthy parents or influential relatives. He has to juggle school and working at a shoe company to make ends meet. He becomes increasingly concerned about his future. He shares these uncertainties with his friends, who offer many suggestions and opinions as to what he can do. How will his friends influence him and what happens next?
What I liked about A Hell Uncertain by L. Santiago Calero is that the author explains the meaning of the words he borrows from several different languages, such as Mandarin. This helped me flow with the storyline and not feel left out, wondering what a particular word meant. These words in the local dialect give the novel a sense of identity and make it original. I also loved the vivid images the author provides in the narration. These descriptions helped me to create mental pictures that made the narration real, as if I were part of it, witnessing everything, making the entire reading process enjoyable and engaging. I recommend this work to history enthusiasts, especially those interested in learning about the military draft system used during the world wars”. — Grace Ruhara, Readers’ Favorite
“‘Love kills no one, but war kills everyone one way or another,’ he added emphatically.”
In the summer of 1967, the war with Vietnam is provoking strong feelings throughout America. With the nation reeling in the face of war protesters, David Rendón contemplates joining the Marines so he can support his country. Though he has a couple of years left in high school, he feels he needs to plan for his future. As the summer progresses, he and his friends enjoy the sights, sounds, and aromas of many of the city’s neighborhoods, like Chinatown, Coney Island, and their own South Bronx. When summer ends, he must say goodbye to two good friends as they head for Vietnam. In this first novel of a series, David is on the brink of adulthood and will no doubt soon learn that war is indeed “a hell uncertain.”
[L. Santiago] Calero’s novel takes readers on a fascinating trip through New York as David and his friends ramble through the city. As the country faces the realities of the war in Vietnam, the young men discover diverse opinions about America’s involvement. The author does a fantastic job of recounting the era’s atmosphere in this descriptive narrative. He has a knack for bringing to life the flow of the city, its architecture, and its cultural diversity. He also depicts his coming-of-age characters realistically, capturing their youthful playfulness and naivety in dynamic dialogue. As this is the first of a series, readers encounter these characters before they join the armed forces and are sent to Vietnam. One can only imagine how they will change as they go off to fight in this controversial war. Readers of this book will eagerly look forward to having their questions answered in future installments”.— Kat Kennedy, The US Review of Books
“A Hell Uncertain”, by L. Santiago Calero, is a novel that takes place in the Bronx, aka hell. To seventeen-year-old, David Rendon, the Bronx was home. Home in a time of turmoil. David, a high school student, questions his situation as he considers his future life in New York. He finds himself joining a group of friends to resolve the issues of the draft. Soon after he is betrayed by his best friends and, now sees his life and future as more pathetic than he did before. He realizes all he can is to continue to go to school, work, and function in an uncertain environment, as the world around him continues to spin out of control.
In Calero’s debut novel, his writing style comes off as matter-of-fact, yet serious. His words are well-chosen and tightly written, drawing the reader in with his casual style. I felt I knew David and his friends from the beginning. Having grown up during the Viet Nam War, I related to their fear of the draft. David is a relatable and sympathetic character. The reader identifies with his dilemma and roots for his success as he struggles to make the right decision.
Though A Hell Uncertain, is a novel of fiction, the story reads somewhat as a true-life documentary. David’s friends, Rafael Vasquez, Lorenzo Acosta, and Manuel Rivera all react to and behave in a natural and realistic manner. Their individual personalities are interesting and made me want to get to know them better. The bond between the boys reminded me of Stephen King’s, Stand by Me. Their bond with David was realistic, until the betrayal. That shook me but also piqued my interest because I wanted to know why.
A Hell Uncertain, by L. Santiago Calero, rightly deserves 5 stars. With relatable characters and an emotional bond I felt a part of, the story was engaging to read. Calero is talented enough to suck the reader into the story with his lifelike characters, plot line, and colloquial writing style.” –Literary Titan
“An expertly crafted narrative that addresses important societal concerns while engrossing readers with the exciting antics of the heroes. A Hell Uncertain strikes a balance between themes of youth, planning the future, and treachery and deceit at a pivotal moment in the protagonist’s life. This completely engrossing coming-of-age novel is a perfect fit for aficionados of literary and historical fiction with free-spirited young characters.” — Foluso Falaye, Manhattan Book Review
“With detailed setting descriptions and deep conversational dialogue, A Hell Uncertain will draw its readers in. Experience the sights, smells, and sounds of New York during the Vietnam War era. Emotions run high in this coming-of-age story about a young man, his friends, and their futures with themes of military enlistment, friendship, trust, racial injustice, and self-awareness.” — Kyle Eaton, San Francisco Book Review
“A young man will stop at nothing to realize his dreams in Calero’s captivating latest novel. 1967. With the Vietnam War in full swing, the nation is in great turmoil: people are fighting poverty, hunger, and growing disquiet within the system. High schooler David Rendón is contemplating joining the Marines so he can serve the country. During summer, he forms a close friendship with Rafael and Lorenzo. The young men have lots of fun strolling through Chinatown, Coney Island, South Bronx, and other neighborhoods of the city. But summer eventually ends, and Rafael and Lorenzo leave to join the war in Vietnam. Calero cleverly and subtly weaves in imagery from the era’s New York while crafting a compelling look at America’s involvement in the War. He candidly offers an intimate look at David’s efforts to find a life path while navigating his school year, and he is equally compelling when it comes to exploring his secondary characters’ inner and outer conflicts, illustrating how their friendship shapes the major decisions of their lives. This is a compelling first installment in a promising series that will appeal to both lovers of coming-of-age YA and historical fiction”. –Bookview Review