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 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.
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.
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.