“Spare, striking, black-and-white illustrations portray five teens fleeing dangerous situations and making hazardous journeys to the U.S. . . . This fast-paced, relatable work is informative and enlightening, treating its subjects with respect. Powerful text and images honor young people's suffering and strength.” —Kirkus Reviews
“These are stories of young lives of tragedy, resilience, and transformation that seem incredible yet are heartbreakingly common. Revealing that the myth of an American Dream reserved for the few.” —Christina Romero senior staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society and advisor to the Juvenile Rights Practice on immigration matters.
“A crucial resource for all people. Heart-wrenching stories of teenagers who fight to find homes free from violence. These are stories of resilience, survival, and family that every reader will feel in their bones.”—Sarah Shay Mirk, author of Sex from Scratch and contributing editor at The Nib
“Diligently researched and deeply moving, shining a light on the often-overlooked human side of America’s asylum and immigration system.”—Danica Novgorodoff, illustrator of Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
“Please read this book. It shows us in painful and beautiful detail what it really means if we close our doors to even one person."—Zach Weinersmith, author of New York Times bestseller Soonish
“This is a narrative we desperately need. Recentering the story of migration to the US away from politics and onto the intimate lives of these vulnerable and courageous teen refugees and their families. A powerful and meaningful read no one should miss!”—Pamela Jackson, Comic Arts Curator at San Diego State University
“Here we see the full, devastating power of comics. These images and stories will remain with me, and with readers, longer after they put the book down.” —Hope Larson, author of All Summer Long
“An essential read for the modern age, shining a light on the often-unseen challenges of child migrants.”—Myfanwy Tristram, editor of Draw the Line
2023-04-12
A documentary-style account dramatizes the situations of many teen asylum seekers.
Spare, striking, black-and-white illustrations portray five teens fleeing dangerous situations and making hazardous journeys to the U.S. Bookish Guatemalan Vilma, 13, was beaten and sexually abused by her father. Burdened with guilt for speaking up and precipitating the flight of her mother and younger sister too, she struggles with depression and self-harm but gets therapy and an education in the Chicago area. At 12, Rosa from Honduras worked to support her family; at 16, her narco boyfriend threatens her, and after reaching the U.S., she learns that she is HIV-positive. In El Salvador, Ricardo, 17, and his sister, Karen, 13, are preyed upon by gangs. A coyote drops them in the desert, and they’re picked up by border patrol. But Ricardo ages out of the U.S. facility for minors and is deported. Fanta, a girl from Guinea, underwent female genital mutilation and was married at 12 to an abusive 40-year-old man. At 16, she left her children with her mother, embarking on a challenging journey to the U.S., where she entered inhospitable foster homes. Carefully researched composites, these harrowing accounts are representative of cases seen by the Safe Passage Project, which provides pro bono legal support to young people like these. This fast-paced, relatable work is informative and enlightening, treating its subjects with respect.
Powerful text and images honor young people’s suffering and strength. (author’s note, notes, glossary, further reading, study guide questions) (Graphic nonfiction. 15-adult)
