Enrique's Journey

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Enrique's Journey tells the story of Enrique and his family's journey to finding one another. This story is so amazing in so many ways because it sheds light on a topic that is not talked about enough in a progressive way in this country: immigration. This story takes us through the journey that Enrique's mother takes to cross the border to get to the US in hopes of helping her family survive back home in Honduras. The literature piece is told in third person and reads like a documentary piece. We are given immigration facts in the story such as the one we get about Enrique, telling us, "he will become one of an estimated 48,000 children who enter the United States from Central America and Mexico each year, illegally and without either of their parents."

I really appreciate this story so much because it highlights the difficulties immigrants face, that are so similar to what many go through even today, for the hopes of just receiving a better life than the one they left behind. I think what is so interesting about Lourdes in the book, is that she can be interpreted in so many ways. Many can say that she was a great mother who did what she saw best in this situation to give her children the best opportunities, and she was a sacrificer. But many can also look at it in a different lense and see her actions as being too harsh, and that she left her children motherless, which in many ways set them up for a future worse off psychologically. I think that the best think about this book is that it also humanizes immigrants. So much of the time this topic has become too politicized, and we forget that beyond all the numbers and the talks of policy, there are faces behind those names and statistics who struggle a lot to adapt to our country's language, society, and different way of life. Most of the time many of the immigrants coming in our country are honest people who are looking for better opportunities to help their family, similar to Lourdes.

I think this would be a wonderful book to expose adolescents of all ages to. I like that it weaves real important facts into a compelling story and I think that will reach a lot of teens. There is a lot of relevancy as well that teachers and students can connect back to the world we are living in right now. This book can connect to many teens from similar backgrounds. It can also educate and create empathy for those who do not know what life is like for immigrants who make the dangerous journey here to the US and have to find ways to live with the consequences under a government that does not want them.

Comments

  1. Carter McGillNovember 25, 2019 at 3:59 PM

    Eva,

    I, also, agree that this novel would be great for adolescents to read because there is so much about family within this book. Many families around the world go through what Enrique has to go through and it may go unnoticed. Maybe these students could find this book and learn to keep moving forward in the toughest situations. Great Post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kiara McVayNovember 29, 2019 at 9:31 AM

    Hello Eva,
    I love the way you summarized this story by giving us the pinpoints of what is included. Also, I definitely agree that this book should be taught to all adolescents it will give those who can relate a peace of mind also allow them to see what some may go through to be where they are today.

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