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A book has not wrecked me like that in a long while.
The fear and terror of survival in the main characters is palpable on every page. But also the hope that drives them.
The story is of 3 teens, told in alternating viewpoints of two of them, who grew up in Guatemala. In a place where violence is a common occurrence. Both Pequena and Pulga have planned for eventually fleeing to the United States but never put those plans in action, mostly due to the love for their families.
Until a series if events happens that truly make it life or death for them and Chico. And we follow them on their "stay here and die or die trying for a future" trek across Mexico on a series of trains called La Bestia "The Beast"
The book covers how this route used to be a route for migrants but it now seems its more for refugees. It seems like such a fine line between the two. The train series spanned over 1450 miles through Mexico, and then you would have to hire a "coyote" to guide you as you trek several days through the desert to finally cross the US border.
Along the way there are shelters and people who help. But there are also patrols, gangs, kidnappers. And also the risks of riding the train itself. It is not a romantic scene of rising the rails. Its perilous. First you have to get on the train, running and grabbing for the ladders. If you survive that without death or loosing any body parts ( which was a common occurrence) then you climb to the top of the train ans hold on the entire time. Exposed to the elements, the beating sun, wind, rain. You can't fall asleep, or you risk falling off. This book does not shy away from showing these dangers.
Its a journey that tears apart your body, both physically and mentally. I cant imagine what horrors happen in people lives that drive them to take on this journey in an effort for a better life. And when the reach the States, they endure more. Often being locked up in detention centers, where they might never get out. Families are separated. And so much worse.
Thank you Jenny Torres Sanchez for this story.
The fear and terror of survival in the main characters is palpable on every page. But also the hope that drives them.
The story is of 3 teens, told in alternating viewpoints of two of them, who grew up in Guatemala. In a place where violence is a common occurrence. Both Pequena and Pulga have planned for eventually fleeing to the United States but never put those plans in action, mostly due to the love for their families.
Until a series if events happens that truly make it life or death for them and Chico. And we follow them on their "stay here and die or die trying for a future" trek across Mexico on a series of trains called La Bestia "The Beast"
The book covers how this route used to be a route for migrants but it now seems its more for refugees. It seems like such a fine line between the two. The train series spanned over 1450 miles through Mexico, and then you would have to hire a "coyote" to guide you as you trek several days through the desert to finally cross the US border.
Along the way there are shelters and people who help. But there are also patrols, gangs, kidnappers. And also the risks of riding the train itself. It is not a romantic scene of rising the rails. Its perilous. First you have to get on the train, running and grabbing for the ladders. If you survive that without death or loosing any body parts ( which was a common occurrence) then you climb to the top of the train ans hold on the entire time. Exposed to the elements, the beating sun, wind, rain. You can't fall asleep, or you risk falling off. This book does not shy away from showing these dangers.
Its a journey that tears apart your body, both physically and mentally. I cant imagine what horrors happen in people lives that drive them to take on this journey in an effort for a better life. And when the reach the States, they endure more. Often being locked up in detention centers, where they might never get out. Families are separated. And so much worse.
Thank you Jenny Torres Sanchez for this story.
Great look at how the removal and later reintroduction of a keystone species, the wolf, impacted the landscape fabrix of Yellowstone National Park
I received an advanced copy of this book via netGalley from Berkley Publishing Group.
I loved this. What an interesting take on pushing back on arranged marriages. What seems like an archaic system, turned out to make a strong marriage, and the union that was chosen became one of comfort, not desire.
It was very interesting to watch Simran become more introspective on her life, as she moved away from the comfortable life she was living. How she realized that her chosen partner was not fulfilling, and might not be as supportive and stimulating as she desired, and more like the arranged marriages she was determined not to have.
I enjoyed the dual voices of both Simran and her mother. To see what drove her mother to be the person she is and how she made the decisions she did to drive her daughter.
I loved this. What an interesting take on pushing back on arranged marriages. What seems like an archaic system, turned out to make a strong marriage, and the union that was chosen became one of comfort, not desire.
It was very interesting to watch Simran become more introspective on her life, as she moved away from the comfortable life she was living. How she realized that her chosen partner was not fulfilling, and might not be as supportive and stimulating as she desired, and more like the arranged marriages she was determined not to have.
I enjoyed the dual voices of both Simran and her mother. To see what drove her mother to be the person she is and how she made the decisions she did to drive her daughter.
I received an advanced copy of this from the publisher via NetGalley.
This book was incredibly sad and forlorn with no glimmer of hope or a better outcome. Not all books need this, but this one could have used it. The biggest obstacle that I found in this book was there was much that was added in, and some of the important aspects were never explained.
Why is Romilly's mom ill? and why do Romilly's memories of her involve snippets that either lead you to think she was abused or that an event happened that caused her Mom to blame Romilly. And then when she does meet her mother and grandmother, nothing further is explained.
It is very clear that her father loves her immensely, however his own grief and onset of dementia leave him unable to fully care for her needs. She often is unwashed, and poorly fed, left alone to care for herself for several days. And as she ages he never explains her past.
Mental Health and Dementia were brought up in this book, but I feel that the narrative did a disservice to both of these topics
This book was incredibly sad and forlorn with no glimmer of hope or a better outcome. Not all books need this, but this one could have used it. The biggest obstacle that I found in this book was there was much that was added in, and some of the important aspects were never explained.
Why is Romilly's mom ill? and why do Romilly's memories of her involve snippets that either lead you to think she was abused or that an event happened that caused her Mom to blame Romilly. And then when she does meet her mother and grandmother, nothing further is explained.
It is very clear that her father loves her immensely, however his own grief and onset of dementia leave him unable to fully care for her needs. She often is unwashed, and poorly fed, left alone to care for herself for several days. And as she ages he never explains her past.
Mental Health and Dementia were brought up in this book, but I feel that the narrative did a disservice to both of these topics
This is a Pocket Change Collective book. It is a short book (64 pages) based on one topic. This one deals with exploring the world outside of the gender binary. How the binary is applied artificially to many aspects of life and works to dispel some of the myths as explore the damage is does to gender non-conforming and non-binary individuals.