In Tell Me How it Ends, Valeria addresses the 40 questions that are part of the immigration forms. When undocumented people enter America (mostly children), the federal immigration system interrogates them thoroughly before deciding whether to keep or deport them. Luiselli who works as a translator in the immigration court often works with children who are confused, hurt and vulnerable, recording their answers day after day. This short book is powerful, one that shines a clear light on how immigrants are treated for simply trying to survive.

Luiselli writes beautifully, her language crisp and to the point, yet one can detect compassion just below the surface. She feels for the children who flee from poverty and death to an alien country only to be treated like criminals. Thousands of people have gone missing in the process of escaping to America, their remains scattered somewhere between the two countries. Having moved from Mexico herself, Luiselli can’t help but connect with the kids. She knows what it’s like to live with constant suspicion and threat hanging over their heads in this place.

Luiselli’s kids often ask their mother about how the stories of these children will eventually turn out to be. A question to which she doesn’t have an answer yet.

‘Tell me how it ends’, they ask.
‘I don’t know’, is what she says.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It’ll take lesser than a day to finish it but you’ll be mulling over Luiselli’s words for weeks to come.