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4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
A novel written in (powerful) prose, the topics of immigration, belonging, and being undocumented hit close to home. This novel does not shy away from the difficult topics or hard questions, yet presents them in a way that can bring awareness of these issues with middle grade readers. This is not a "feel-good" book, but it will make you have many feelings and reflect on the state of United States immigration policies. Salazar has written a masterpiece that speaks the truths of those whose voices have been silenced, and also serves as a memorial for the voices that need to be remembered.
Beautiful and heart wrenching. Definitely a must-read!
”We are learning about one another, about the hurt in our hearts. Sometimes that is the most important thing to learn.”
“You think we deserve to be in a concentration camp? For seeking asylum? You have no idea what most of us are running from. Most of us had no choice but to try to find a better life.”
“You think we deserve to be in a concentration camp? For seeking asylum? You have no idea what most of us are running from. Most of us had no choice but to try to find a better life.”
My sixth grader finished and said I *had* to read this. So glad I did. I'm a big fan of the poetry-novel trend. Quick to read, but packs so much emotion into it. Well done. Timely. I appreciated seeing Betita's world, even if it broke my heart.
WOW! What an incredibly important, impactful, and necessary book for young people. This should be required reading in the school system. Breathtaking, horrifying, and incredibly eye-opening. I hope this book inspires young people to challenge the disgusting laws of our country.
Betita and her papi and mommy live in East LA. It's home, but they do worry about ICE.
One day papi doesn't come to get Betita from after-school care... ICE. Papi is returned to Mexico.
Betita and her mom plan to visit papi at Friendship Park (" a half-acre binational park located along the United States-Mexico border in the San Diego–Tijuana region.") They'll be on opposite sides of a fence, but they should be able to hold hands. A relative will drive. Only because of heavy traffic and phone navigation interruption the last exit in the United States is missed, and things don't go well at the border. The description of the displacement center is deplorable.
Betita creates picture poems through out the book.
One day papi doesn't come to get Betita from after-school care... ICE. Papi is returned to Mexico.
Betita and her mom plan to visit papi at Friendship Park (" a half-acre binational park located along the United States-Mexico border in the San Diego–Tijuana region.") They'll be on opposite sides of a fence, but they should be able to hold hands. A relative will drive. Only because of heavy traffic and phone navigation interruption the last exit in the United States is missed, and things don't go well at the border. The description of the displacement center is deplorable.
Betita creates picture poems through out the book.
Wow. Such a heart wrenching look at the horrors of the ICE detention facilities.
Wow! Powerful and heartbreaking. This book is written beautifully. The words of the novel in verse itself and the imagery evoked by the main characters poems eloquently paint a picture of the reality and terror of the circumstances. I found myself jotting down lines from the very first chapter. Don’t miss the one.
Look for this searing novel in verse for middle grades and up to come out on September 15th. A book about what happens to the undocumented, to the dreamers, when they are detained. This book will tear you up #pernillerecommends one of the best books of the year