A review by hnagle15
The Book of Rosy: A Mother's Story of Separation at the Border by Julie Schwietert Collazo, Rosayra Pablo Cruz

“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.