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threedemons's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know. This one just didn’t resonate for me in the way Night by Elie Wiesel didn’t, and I know I’m factually wrong about both, but the more removed, less detailed narration just doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t bring me close enough into the story for my taste. Which isn’t to say I don’t sympathize, it’s just that this book isn’t my preferred reference for similar experiences.
audreysova's review against another edition
5.0
This book (and others like it) should be required reading for Americans. In a time where there is a serious crisis happening at the US-Mexico border, so many of us could use the opportunity to face the humanity in the inhumane treatment stemming from our immigration policies.
At the center of this story is Rosy, and, while the story is hers, she's quick to point out that it is not unique. She's a Guatemalan woman and mother of four, who is seeking asylum for herself and two of our children in the United States after being shot at herself and having her son's life threatened. Through her eyes we hear about her life in Guatemala, her decision to seek asylum, trip to the border, and her experience of then being separated from her children for over 80 days. We also hear the perspective of Julie, who started an organization to help raise bond money for mothers in ICE detention centers in the hopes of reuniting them with their families.
Hearing Rosy's story broke my heart and made me reflect upon how many other immigrant families have suffered in similar ways, not to mention the 545 children who were separated from their families at the border who have still not been located. It's a travesty, but there are moments of hope and beauty. Rosy's willingness to share her story so publicly so that the information may urge others to help. Julie and others from Immigrant Families Together who reached out from across the country offering to volunteer their time, home cooked meals, homes, and money. I wish they never had to activate, but I'm glad that they did.
There's a moment later in the book where they asked Rosy about the life that she saw for herself once she arrived in America. Once she crossed the border and was able to settle somewhere, what did she envision? What type of home, where did she work, what about her kids? And she thought and realized that she didn't have an answer. Instead, for immigrants like herself, they can't see past the horizon (the border). That's the only goal in sight with such a hard journey to get there, that it's almost as though you can't start imagining anything beyond it. Incredibly powerful and moving.
I'm so grateful for this story finding its way into my life. It's one I won't soon forget.
At the center of this story is Rosy, and, while the story is hers, she's quick to point out that it is not unique. She's a Guatemalan woman and mother of four, who is seeking asylum for herself and two of our children in the United States after being shot at herself and having her son's life threatened. Through her eyes we hear about her life in Guatemala, her decision to seek asylum, trip to the border, and her experience of then being separated from her children for over 80 days. We also hear the perspective of Julie, who started an organization to help raise bond money for mothers in ICE detention centers in the hopes of reuniting them with their families.
Hearing Rosy's story broke my heart and made me reflect upon how many other immigrant families have suffered in similar ways, not to mention the 545 children who were separated from their families at the border who have still not been located. It's a travesty, but there are moments of hope and beauty. Rosy's willingness to share her story so publicly so that the information may urge others to help. Julie and others from Immigrant Families Together who reached out from across the country offering to volunteer their time, home cooked meals, homes, and money. I wish they never had to activate, but I'm glad that they did.
There's a moment later in the book where they asked Rosy about the life that she saw for herself once she arrived in America. Once she crossed the border and was able to settle somewhere, what did she envision? What type of home, where did she work, what about her kids? And she thought and realized that she didn't have an answer. Instead, for immigrants like herself, they can't see past the horizon (the border). That's the only goal in sight with such a hard journey to get there, that it's almost as though you can't start imagining anything beyond it. Incredibly powerful and moving.
I'm so grateful for this story finding its way into my life. It's one I won't soon forget.
nqcliteracy's review against another edition
4.0
Moved to tears when reading this first hand account of separation at the border — Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schwietert Collazo humanize the disgusting Trump policies that we all watched, in horror, unfold. Collazo mobilized people via social media for concrete and immediate help in the form of bond money, shepherding mothers out of detention and to their children, kept in various foster arrangements all over the country. And we hear from Cruz about her difficult life in Guatemala, almost too desperate to fathom. The narratives are straight-forward and it’s not written in gorgeous prose, but the voices are important and its story must be told. Carve out a few hours of time and read this. It’ll make you feel grateful for what you have and compelled to help.
hnagle15's review against another edition
“Among the many things that people don't understand about migration is this: No one wants to leave the people they love. Most people don't want to leave the land where they were born, or the soil where their umbilical cord was buried. If they believed that staying would ensure survival, they would never set off on such a treacherous journey.”
This is not an easy read. But I believe that it is an important one. The US "zero tolerance" policy and the separation of children from their parents at the US/Mexico border is an injustice, and Rosayra highlights the negative impact it has had on both herself and her children. Truthfully, I think the quote above places her entire message into a single sentence: Rosayra didn't want to leave her family and her country behind, but for the safety of herself and her sons, she had to. She made horrific journey to the US for her sons - not because she wants to "steal your jobs".
Rosayra has made tough decisions, some of which I will never understand as I have never had to choose between life, death, and family. Her story is haunting, but one I think we should understand and sympathize with - especially as we move into a new US administration.
snoopyfanclub's review against another edition
5.0
I think this is a necessary read, it was extremely educational and also moved me to tears multiple times. It shows how heartbreaking and frustrating and painful the entire experience is and I think everyone should read it. There’s a lot of stereotypes around immigrants that are dismantled within this book.
I will say, while I think Julie is doing important work, I wish she had only written the epilogue. I found the epilogue beautifully written, and I think it was helpful to have it from a different perspective than Rosy’s. However, the initial switch to Julie’s perspective with no label beyond part 2 took me a bit to adjust to and I had to reread the first paragraph a few times. I found myself skimming her chapters at a certain point, hoping it’d go back to Rosy’s perspective.
Overall, it’s a beautiful but painful book. But I think it’s important to read these stories and also I appreciated the list of resources at the end!
I will say, while I think Julie is doing important work, I wish she had only written the epilogue. I found the epilogue beautifully written, and I think it was helpful to have it from a different perspective than Rosy’s. However, the initial switch to Julie’s perspective with no label beyond part 2 took me a bit to adjust to and I had to reread the first paragraph a few times. I found myself skimming her chapters at a certain point, hoping it’d go back to Rosy’s perspective.
Overall, it’s a beautiful but painful book. But I think it’s important to read these stories and also I appreciated the list of resources at the end!
efortier99's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
samanthadilley's review against another edition
5.0
An absolute must read for everyone. Own voices story about the horrors of immigration, faith, and the tremendous strength Rosy and others who are seeking refuge in America have to protect their families.
linzygetslit's review against another edition
5.0
A must-read for anyone looking to learn more about asylum seekers and family separation at the US/Mexico border. Loved that story was told both by Rosy, a Guatemalan single-mother looking to escape violence in her home country, and Julie, a former social worker and journalist who helped Rosy pay her bond and find a place to stay with her children in New York.
This captivating first hand account of a woman trying to find a better life for her and her family is sure to pull at your heartstrings. It was written and told almost as an extended This American Life segment (minus Ira Glass).
This captivating first hand account of a woman trying to find a better life for her and her family is sure to pull at your heartstrings. It was written and told almost as an extended This American Life segment (minus Ira Glass).
sarakomo's review against another edition
4.0
2020: This is an incredible #ownvoices account of a mother whose children were separated from her when she crossed the border into the United States from Mexico. This is the book you should be reading instead of American Dirt.
In case you missed it in 2018, for about two months worth of time, the Trump Administration separated children from their families once they arrived on the US side of the border. This was meant to deter future immigrants from attempting to cross the border. The Administration did not make a plan for how to reunite these families, and, as of this review, there are still 545 children that have NOT been reunited. AN ATROCITY AND A HORRIBLE STAIN ON AMERICAN HISTORY.
Rosayra Pablo Cruz was one of these mothers who crossed the border during this time. She had no knowledge of the new system, and had started her journey before the new policy was in place. If she had arrived at the border just ten days before she did, her children would not have been separated from her. This book is essential reading if you want to understand how policies like this can destroy people's lives and futures.
I listened to an interview with the two authors, and co-author Julie Schwietert Collazo voiced that the original book proposal was meant to be an account of Immigrant Families Together, the non-profit that she founded and runs. Her work is admirable and inspiring, and I wish there was more about it in the book. It provides a valuable insight into how the bond and legal system works in the US. However, I totally respect and appreciate her centering of Pablo Cruz in the story, as she deserves to be.
A small warning: Pablo Cruz is a woman of strong faith, and some of her passages can get very heavily religious. This did not detract from the story at all, but it is a very strong presence throughout the book.
I wish her and her family nothing but the absolute best, and I for one, am proud that she is well on her way to become a fellow American citizen.
"Aprendí caminando" I learned by walking
In case you missed it in 2018, for about two months worth of time, the Trump Administration separated children from their families once they arrived on the US side of the border. This was meant to deter future immigrants from attempting to cross the border. The Administration did not make a plan for how to reunite these families, and, as of this review, there are still 545 children that have NOT been reunited. AN ATROCITY AND A HORRIBLE STAIN ON AMERICAN HISTORY.
Rosayra Pablo Cruz was one of these mothers who crossed the border during this time. She had no knowledge of the new system, and had started her journey before the new policy was in place. If she had arrived at the border just ten days before she did, her children would not have been separated from her. This book is essential reading if you want to understand how policies like this can destroy people's lives and futures.
I listened to an interview with the two authors, and co-author Julie Schwietert Collazo voiced that the original book proposal was meant to be an account of Immigrant Families Together, the non-profit that she founded and runs. Her work is admirable and inspiring, and I wish there was more about it in the book. It provides a valuable insight into how the bond and legal system works in the US. However, I totally respect and appreciate her centering of Pablo Cruz in the story, as she deserves to be.
A small warning: Pablo Cruz is a woman of strong faith, and some of her passages can get very heavily religious. This did not detract from the story at all, but it is a very strong presence throughout the book.
I wish her and her family nothing but the absolute best, and I for one, am proud that she is well on her way to become a fellow American citizen.
"Aprendí caminando" I learned by walking
mamagriff's review against another edition
5.0
Immigration & ICE
This is a must read story about the separation of parents and children making the very difficult choice and trip to cross the border and seek Asylum in the US. It is disheartening to see how poorly we treat these vulnerable families. They are often judged by our administration w/o understanding their circumstances.
I applaud Immigrant Families Together for their grassroots effort to help these families not only reunite, but truly get back on their feet with full support.
This is a must read story about the separation of parents and children making the very difficult choice and trip to cross the border and seek Asylum in the US. It is disheartening to see how poorly we treat these vulnerable families. They are often judged by our administration w/o understanding their circumstances.
I applaud Immigrant Families Together for their grassroots effort to help these families not only reunite, but truly get back on their feet with full support.