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A review by audreysova
The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border by Julie Schwietert Collazo, Rosayra Pablo Cruz
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.