★"In this gritty and inspiring narrative... Gonzalez candidly writes about financial uncertainty, racism, sexual abuse, and violence in her sincere and thoughtful work... Hurdles in the Dark highlights the struggles that many vulnerable young athletes from underrepresented backgrounds face." -Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Gonzalez offers a glimpse into the challenges she faced navigating financial precarity, racism, sexual abuse, and violence through candid and insightful text, culminating in a raw and powerful debut." -Publishers Weekly

"In an honest and uncensored narrative, Gonzalez provides a look at her childhood during a time when she was extremely scared and vulnerable... Strongly recommended for public and high-school libraries." -Booklist

"In this perceptive narrative, moments of joy, confidence, and light contrast with the depths of confusion, hurt, and darkness, highlighting the struggles that many vulnerable young athletes from underrepresented backgrounds face... An unfiltered and honest account of perseverance, resilience, and defying the odds." -Kirkus

"Highly recommended for any high school library in need of more memoirs emphasizing the importance of sports and mental health." -School Library Journal

"Elvira K. Gonzalez (aka Kristy) transforms pain, vulnerability, and survival into strength and mastery to overcome hurdles on and off the track. Immersive, inspiring, and unforgettable, Hurdles in the Dark is exactly the book—and Kristy is exactly the role model—we need in this world." —Sonia Patel, author of Morris Award Finalist Rani Patel In Full Effect

“Through Hurdles in the Dark's thought-provoking narrative, readers are compelled to confront uncomfortable truths, all the while being captivated and inspired to tackle their own obstacles head-on.” —Jaha Dukureh, UN Goodwill Ambassador for Africa and Nobel Peace Prize nominee

2025 Kansas NEA Reading Circle List Selection

2025 CBC Young Adult Favorites Winner

2025 CBC Teacher Favorites Winner

2024-02-17
An athlete shares her journey from her childhood barrio in Texas to the collegiate track.

Fourteen-year-old Elvira Kristelle “Kristy” Gonzalez had 24 hours to raise $40,000 to rescue her mother from the kidnappers across the border in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, who had abducted her following a wedding. Caught in the middle of drug-fueled violence, Kristy’s life took a shocking turn. Instead of racing boys to help her friends win bets, she had to race the clock to save her mother’s life. When Ma returned, utterly traumatized by the experience, Kristy was deeply affected, too—“I try looking into her eyes, but every time I do, they haunt me.” Kristy became suicidal but had to deal with her own severe trauma alone. She decided to seek a path to higher education by getting a hurdling scholarship. But she faced trial after trial—from landing in juvie at 16 following constant fighting with Ma to being groomed and abused by a coach. Kristy found herself continually jumping over hurdles, both figuratively and literally. In this perceptive narrative, moments of joy, confidence, and light contrast with the depths of confusion, hurt, and darkness, highlighting the struggles that many vulnerable young athletes from underrepresented backgrounds face. The author pays homage to her Tejana heritage throughout, often using Spanish phrases that are explained in English in context.

An unfiltered and honest account of perseverance, resilience, and defying the odds. (afterword, bibliography, recommended reading, resources) (Memoir. 14-18)