"I came here to survive and to do better.
I didn't choose to come here, I had no other option. I lived in poverty, I was physically abused.
I want the US president to see we are not doing anything bad.
It's exciting to know other people will read my story, maybe I will persuade and inspire others to have another view.
Things are possible if you work hard, we are not alone.
I believe telling ones story is a way to healing. Sharing my own story has changed my life."

This book broke my heart. These are the words from one young refugee woman who is incredibly inspiring for the success she has now achieved in her life after overcoming great adversity to get there. However, as her words highlight the reason for her journey is because her basic human rights were being infringed upon, it was not a desire but a necessity.

Solito Solita serves as an important compilation of oral stories from youth refugees coming to the US. The editors highlight the difficulties in obtaining these stories and the difficulties in identifying who they could chat with. At the beginning they identify that the refugees who shared their experiences were all over the age of 18, but made the journey as a migrant when they were a child. They also interviewed young mothers making the journey. In order to not harm the work legal aid volunteers were doing in migrant detention centres they worked with legal aids and narrators in order to hear and share the stories of those in this book.

These stories are not easy in places as many of the refugees spoke about abuse, poverty, violence, horrible treks to reach the US, hunger, thirst and being victims to those that take advantage of their need to escape their home in Central America/Mexico. Having said that the voices of the young refugees shine bright as their bravery and resilience comes through to offer hope for a better future. Now more than ever, the voices of refugees and migrants and their stories are so so important.