Tag Archives: immigration
Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card
Young Adult Nonfiction
Knopf Books for Young Readers
2018
288
In San Jose, California, in the 1990s, teenaged Sara keeps a diary of life as an Iranian American and her discovery that she and her family entered as undocumented immigrants.
Review:
I can’t sing the praises of this book enough. It’s written so that it feels like you’re listening to your friend tell you a story filled with humor and emotion. I learned so much about the immigration process and all of the pitfalls that can happen to families looking for safety and a better life. At this time, it is the perfect book for young and old alike. Let’s start trying to understand one another better. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
The Border
Young Adult Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
September 1, 2017
368
One moment changed their lives forever. A band plays, glasses clink, and four teens sneak into the Mexican desert, the hum of celebration receding behind them. Crack. Crack. Crack. Not fireworks—gunshots. The music stops. And Pato, Arbo, Marcos, and Gladys are powerless as the lives they once knew are taken from them. Then they are seen by the gunmen. They run. Except they have nowhere to go. The narcosresponsible for their families' murders have put out a reward for the teens' capture. Staying in Mexico is certain death, but attempting to cross the border through an unforgiving desert may be as deadly as the secrets they are trying to escape...
Review:
Words cannot describe how important I think “The Border” is for everyone from middle grade up to read. The story really put a face on the plights of those crossing the US border from the south. The author did meticulous research and took great care to tell the story in an easy to understand manner. This would be perfect for classroom and child/parent discussions. It’s also a good choice for reluctant readers and those looking for diversity in their books. Highly recommended.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Brief Sexual Situations, Violence, Underage Smoking
The Same Sky
Fiction
Ballantine Books
2015-01-20
288
A childless woman looking to adopt crosses paths with a 13-year-old Honduran girl who has embarked on a dangerous journey into Texas with her brother. By the author of How to Be Lost.
Review:
“The Same Sky” is an intense book told in the stark voices of two narrators, a girl from Honduras named Carla, and a woman from America named Alice. The two stories combine to make a haunting novel that will, hopefully, forever remain in the mind of the reader.
Alice, while she can be somewhat of annoying character, is a good representation of middle-class America. Her family has its own struggles and deal with the inability to have children. She and her husband run a small family business and live comfortably within their own bubble until the poverty that surrounds them becomes a part of their lives. I liked this subplot of the book, as it was a good example of the fact that poverty exists, quite literally, in our own backyards.
The story of Carla is eye-opening and disturbing. Her life in her village is vividly described, illustrating some of the many reasons people of all ages choose to risk the journey to the United States. I had no idea the trip is as difficult as it is, and I may have nightmares about it for quite some time.
I highly recommend “The Same Sky”. It brings a deep understanding to the struggles of others who share our world, and it sheds light on the reasons many illegal immigrant children are arriving at our borders alone. It is my hope that we can all come together to help others in need with this book in the backs of our minds. I know it will remain in mine.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
While I do not typically write content warnings for adult books, please be aware that there is rape, child, and drug abuse in this book.
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