A review by katebelt
A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande

4.0

Grande does what she sets out to do and shares the hardships and struggles she overcame along the way. The writing is clear and straightforward. Though I didn’t agree with or perhaps understand some of her choices and decisions, I empathized with her and cheered for her success. One of the most powerful reflections she shares is that of her teacher/mentor who encouraged her to celebrate the hardships she had gone through for their role in making her a writer with a unique voice. At nine, she convinced her parents to let her immigrate from Mexico and join them in California. She learns English, becomes the first in her family to earn a college degree, makes a home and family of her own, and becomes a published author. She has a big, forgiving heart, and eventually is driven to restore relationships with parents who abandoned and abused her. Along the way she learns that her parents were part of a cycle of abuse themselves, determining not to continue it with her own children. Grande wanted to tell her story in order to encourage others in similar circumstances. Each immigrant’s story is uniquely theirs, though if you’ve read a number of those recently published, this may be just one more for you. So I wondered if I should recommend the book for all readers. Perhaps I should. We people of white privilege can benefit from all the enlightenment we can get!