Helpful Score: 3
A really incredible book. You go through so many emotions while reading it. A review really cant do it justice.
Helpful Score: 2
Wow--what a powerful and important book. It's heartwrenching, to say the least. And it makes a powerful argument for amnesty while presenting the dissenting argument. This is a must read for everyone, in my opinion.
There is so much discussion about illegal imigrants as of late. This book sheds light on the issue of how and why as well as many of the implications of the people making the trip or should I say, trying to make the trip. Definatley thought provoking.
One of the best books I've ever read. Makes the mind boggle. How can we draw lines over the earth and cause such suffering?
This book had me thinking for months. It really gives an insight into a culture and a macro level problem that is typically only understood from the surface. The author did a great job pulling this book together.
While the details of Enrique's journey were troubling and heartbreaking, the manor in which it was written lacked any emotion. It was a litany of facts and figures with a lot of names thrown in for good measure. It was hard to feel anything, it was like reading a text book or watching an episode of Animal Kingdom: watch as the young Honduran mother leaves her child behind to search for money and food in a foreign country. Will the child survive will it grow to resent her.... There were almost too many horrifying details to the point of desensitization. If the writer had concentrated only Enrique's Journey and not that of hundreds of others trying to flee the oppression and poverty of their countries it would have been easier to become emotionally involved in his journey and outcome.
This is an excellent book about the dangers faced by children who make the journey illegally to the United States from Central America. It profiles one teenage immigrant named Enrique from Honduras. He is on a journey to find his mom who immigrated illegally to the United States when he was a young boy.
Nazario has interviewed many people who encounter and work with illegal immigrant children. This book was based on a series she wrote for the LA Times.
This book documents the dangers children face when coming to join their mothers in the US. Most of the journey is by rail, which is extremely perilous.
This book also provides insight on the plight of Central American women who come to the US in pursuit of the American dream.
Nazario has interviewed many people who encounter and work with illegal immigrant children. This book was based on a series she wrote for the LA Times.
This book documents the dangers children face when coming to join their mothers in the US. Most of the journey is by rail, which is extremely perilous.
This book also provides insight on the plight of Central American women who come to the US in pursuit of the American dream.
What an interesting, explicit tale. This book elicited more discussion at my meeting than we have had in quite a while. Usually we just disintegrate into personal stuff.
This is a most enlightening read. I knew much of the information about borders, crossings and some of the cruelty that occurs. I did not realize that many of the immigrants were so young or were mothers who were seeking a way to support their children at home. The story is fascinating that I understand why the author chose to expand the series she wrote for her newspaper into a book. Hopefully, many across the nation will read the book.
It began with separation. When her husband left, Lourdes, makes the difficult choice of traveling to the U.S. to find work to feed and educate her children left at home with others. Her son, Enrique, missed his mother so much that eleven years later he attempted time after time to reach her in the U.S. Turned back again and again his resolve only strengthened to reach her.
Riding freight trains was so dangerous that the author sought protective support for herself as she researched this tale. I understand that had she not done so the story may not have been told and her dedication to spend years collecting information and interviewing others add great depth to the tale. I had difficulty putting the book aside. Yet the reunion between mother and son is anything but loving. Each has become a different person. The son feels his mother abandoned him. The mother feels he doesn't understand or appreciate the sacrifices she made. This is a read that I cannot help but recommend to others. It's tragic, full of courage and determination and realistic. I am so glad I read this story.
It began with separation. When her husband left, Lourdes, makes the difficult choice of traveling to the U.S. to find work to feed and educate her children left at home with others. Her son, Enrique, missed his mother so much that eleven years later he attempted time after time to reach her in the U.S. Turned back again and again his resolve only strengthened to reach her.
Riding freight trains was so dangerous that the author sought protective support for herself as she researched this tale. I understand that had she not done so the story may not have been told and her dedication to spend years collecting information and interviewing others add great depth to the tale. I had difficulty putting the book aside. Yet the reunion between mother and son is anything but loving. Each has become a different person. The son feels his mother abandoned him. The mother feels he doesn't understand or appreciate the sacrifices she made. This is a read that I cannot help but recommend to others. It's tragic, full of courage and determination and realistic. I am so glad I read this story.
Excellent book regarding immigration from Latin America and it's effects on the people and places they live. Many single mothers are leaving their children in countries like Guatamala and Honduras to escape the extreme poverty and corruption, so they can go north, get jobs and send money home to their families. The children they leave behind are broken hearted and bitter about their abandonment and bring that to the US where they illegally migrate, many on the death trains through Mexico. I'll be thinking about this book for a long while.
Why are all these children trying to cross our border? What happens to them on the way? What happens when (and if) they finish their journey? You may think you know, but you're bound to learn something from this book. The more we know, the better we can help our government respond to this continuing crisis. Sonia explains the reasons children our making this trip; and it is harder and more dangerous than you imagine. And even if they succeed and reunite with their parent(s), there are no fairy tale endings here. The difficulties and pain continue. What can we do about it? Sonia also offers suggestions on how we can help those in motion and also try to fix the reasons leading to this mass exodus, so that the children don't need to face these challenges. Read it, and pass it along!
