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A review by sbojo32
The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border by Julie Schwietert Collazo, Rosayra Pablo Cruz
3.0
The content of this story and the message would get this book five stars, hands down.
I read American Dirt and wanted to read an #OwnVoices book that was similar. The Book of Rosy was recommended and I'm glad it was. The story begins with Rosy telling about her life in Guatemala and I have to say, this was a little disjointed and confusing. She starts by talking about how she is in prison and when she gets out, she is trying to be reunited with her two boys. Then we switch back to life in Guatemala where she has a son and a daughter. There are stories told from her life in Guatemala that seem disconnected with the story. I wonder if there was a lot more told and edited out, which left a narrative that doesn't flow well. The story seems to be missing a lot of pieces where I wanted more information.
Then the book switches to Part 2, which is Julie's story. Julie led the grass-roots movement to help mothers who were separated from their children at the border. While I do think her work is important, I didn't love her section in the middle of this book. It kind of took away from Rosy's story without providing any additional information. I wanted more information about asylum and why Rosy waited so long to apply for asylum, meaning she stayed in the country, living for free in a house (then apartment) many of us could not afford, while she didn't work. I'm sure there was a reason, but I don't know immigration laws and the book didn't explain, other than she lived in this three-story house in Park Slope for free and was given food, toys and clothes.
I understand that the situation in Guatemala was terrible, but I honestly didn't understand a lot of Rosy's decisions. She had left the country once and successfully got to America with her son. Instead of going through the asylum process then (which, why didn't she?), she left the country to go back to Guatemala. She took her youngest son, again leaving her two daughters behind, and tried to get into America again. While she was in prison, her only thoughts were of her sons, not the two daughters that she abandoned!
I guess I just wanted more detail about the process. Rosy's story wasn't particularly well-written (there were grammar errors, which are likely the result of translation issues) and I just didn't understand why she didn't do certain things (why not make more of an attempt to learn English once she got to New York? did she get a job?). I also think this is an abnormal situation and story, and most immigrants are not handed the things she was. I praise Julie for her work to get Rosy and others like her food and shelter, but there are likely plenty of others who can get into the country, even be reunited with their children and yet don't have the life Rosy had. I think I'd want this book (especially Julie's section) to acknowledge this.
I would recommend the book, as I think it is an important read and provides an #OwnVoices account of immigration struggles.
I read American Dirt and wanted to read an #OwnVoices book that was similar. The Book of Rosy was recommended and I'm glad it was. The story begins with Rosy telling about her life in Guatemala and I have to say, this was a little disjointed and confusing. She starts by talking about how she is in prison and when she gets out, she is trying to be reunited with her two boys. Then we switch back to life in Guatemala where she has a son and a daughter. There are stories told from her life in Guatemala that seem disconnected with the story. I wonder if there was a lot more told and edited out, which left a narrative that doesn't flow well. The story seems to be missing a lot of pieces where I wanted more information.
Then the book switches to Part 2, which is Julie's story. Julie led the grass-roots movement to help mothers who were separated from their children at the border. While I do think her work is important, I didn't love her section in the middle of this book. It kind of took away from Rosy's story without providing any additional information. I wanted more information about asylum and why Rosy waited so long to apply for asylum, meaning she stayed in the country, living for free in a house (then apartment) many of us could not afford, while she didn't work. I'm sure there was a reason, but I don't know immigration laws and the book didn't explain, other than she lived in this three-story house in Park Slope for free and was given food, toys and clothes.
I understand that the situation in Guatemala was terrible, but I honestly didn't understand a lot of Rosy's decisions. She had left the country once and successfully got to America with her son. Instead of going through the asylum process then (which, why didn't she?), she left the country to go back to Guatemala. She took her youngest son, again leaving her two daughters behind, and tried to get into America again. While she was in prison, her only thoughts were of her sons, not the two daughters that she abandoned!
I guess I just wanted more detail about the process. Rosy's story wasn't particularly well-written (there were grammar errors, which are likely the result of translation issues) and I just didn't understand why she didn't do certain things (why not make more of an attempt to learn English once she got to New York? did she get a job?). I also think this is an abnormal situation and story, and most immigrants are not handed the things she was. I praise Julie for her work to get Rosy and others like her food and shelter, but there are likely plenty of others who can get into the country, even be reunited with their children and yet don't have the life Rosy had. I think I'd want this book (especially Julie's section) to acknowledge this.
I would recommend the book, as I think it is an important read and provides an #OwnVoices account of immigration struggles.