Pulga and Chico are two Guatemalan cousins who are as close as brothers. One day they are in the back of Don Feliciano’s store moving some boxes for him, when they witness his murder at the hands of Rey, the brother of a local bully.
The two cousins fear Rey will come after them and they dream of leaving Guatemala for the US. While they plan their escape, their cousin Pequena, who has given birth to a baby she doesn’t want to keep, fears Rey who is claiming the baby and promising to “help”.
To escape Rey and his continuing sexual assaults, Pequena joins her two cousins as the three decide to risk taking La Bestia, the dangerous train that runs north/south through Mexico and has cost the lives of many other desperate immigrants.
This relevant and sensitive novel by Brooklyn-born author Jenny Torres Sanchez, builds empathy and understanding among strong readers who can make the 348 page journey.
Recommended independent reading for 10th grade and up.--Jessica Fenster-Sparber
Torres Sanchez, Jenny. We Are Not From Here. New York: Philomel Books, 2020.
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