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Detained: A boy's journal of survival and resilience
A 2025 Latino Book Award Winner, Bronze Medal for Best Autobiography — English
“A shocking and moving read. A brutally honest account of the impact of family separation at the US border.”—Kirkus Reviews
The first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in detention on the US/Mexico border under President Trump’s infamous family separation policy.
D Esperanza was just thirteen years old when he lost his caregivers, his beloved grandmother and uncle. Since both of his parents were working and living in the United States, D was left on his own in a small town in Honduras. He quickly realized he simply could not make enough money to survive so he made the difficult decision to head north with his cousins and hopefully reunite with his parents in el norte.
Together, the boys struggled to survive a long and treacherous journey through Central America and Mexico. Along the way, D and his cousins formed a deep bond, only for the four to be brutally separated at the border of the United States. When he is captured and processed at a facility, neither D nor his family are given an update on when he will be released or where he’ll go next. Over the next five months, he kept a journal of his experience. The pages tell a story of pain, cruelty, friendship, and resilience, a living testament to the reality of the border. Amidst the senseless inhumanity and violence of US immigration policy, D found hope in the friendship he and his fellow companions forged, and mentorship from one intrepid advocate who fought on his behalf named Gerardo Iván Morales.
Timely, powerful, and unforgettable, Detained brings the border crisis to vivid life.
“A shocking and moving read. A brutally honest account of the impact of family separation at the US border.”—Kirkus Reviews
The first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in detention on the US/Mexico border under President Trump’s infamous family separation policy.
D Esperanza was just thirteen years old when he lost his caregivers, his beloved grandmother and uncle. Since both of his parents were working and living in the United States, D was left on his own in a small town in Honduras. He quickly realized he simply could not make enough money to survive so he made the difficult decision to head north with his cousins and hopefully reunite with his parents in el norte.
Together, the boys struggled to survive a long and treacherous journey through Central America and Mexico. Along the way, D and his cousins formed a deep bond, only for the four to be brutally separated at the border of the United States. When he is captured and processed at a facility, neither D nor his family are given an update on when he will be released or where he’ll go next. Over the next five months, he kept a journal of his experience. The pages tell a story of pain, cruelty, friendship, and resilience, a living testament to the reality of the border. Amidst the senseless inhumanity and violence of US immigration policy, D found hope in the friendship he and his fellow companions forged, and mentorship from one intrepid advocate who fought on his behalf named Gerardo Iván Morales.
Timely, powerful, and unforgettable, Detained brings the border crisis to vivid life.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
May 13, 2025
the people who need to read this are not going to.
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April 5, 2025Detained is a the sort of reading experience that comes along once in a generation – a memoir that I wish I could firmly place in the hands of everyone currently living in the United States.
D Esperanza was only thirteen years old and on his own in Honduras, caring for his little cousin, giving up school to work any job he could, and missing his parents (and little sister he had never met) in el norte.
Along with two other cousins, D embarks on a frightening, long, and dangerous journey north to Mexico and then across the border to the United States. But after surviving so much together, the four boys are ripped apart and placed in child detention centers.
Although D’s parents are desperate to bring him home at any time, they are separated for another five months. D is moved from facility to facility in the middle of the night, treated with condescension and apathy, and faces a myriad of cruelty under Trump’s family separation order and the larger violence of US immigration policies.
D survives, thanks to everything he pours into his journal, the friendships he forms with other kids going through the same terrors, and a mentor who becomes a sort of brother (and later helps him to bring his words to the wider world).
He writes with the raw & unfiltered voice of a child - and his journal entries are lovingly addressed to the grandmother who passed months before he decided to leave Honduras. There is a lot of trauma in these pages, and D faces every situation with resilience and strength way beyond his years.
D asks again and again why nobody cares, why nobody will give him a simple answer, why he is dragged away in the middle of the night without a chance to say goodbye, and so much more. It was an unraveling experience to see the pain inflicted in my own backyard through a child’s unfiltered eyes. He writes assuming that nobody will ever read his words, and that lends itself to such powerful and honest emotion.
I was grateful for the epilogue and the chance to see that D is doing okay and working on healing, but no child should ever have to go through ANY of what he experienced. There are threads of hope in these pages, as he meets Iván and forms relationships (brotherhoods, really) with some of the other boys in his Alpha 13 tent in the “overflow” facility in Tornillo. But overall it is devastating and deeply infuriating.
An absolute must-read that isn’t easy to live in, but is the reality of this country. I’m glad this book exists and I hope it to see it absolutely everywhere once it’s released.
CW: death (family), violence, grief, forced institutionalization, xenophobia, racism, car accident, injury, animal death (pet), confinement, deportation, colorism, terminal illness
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
D Esperanza was only thirteen years old and on his own in Honduras, caring for his little cousin, giving up school to work any job he could, and missing his parents (and little sister he had never met) in el norte.
Along with two other cousins, D embarks on a frightening, long, and dangerous journey north to Mexico and then across the border to the United States. But after surviving so much together, the four boys are ripped apart and placed in child detention centers.
Although D’s parents are desperate to bring him home at any time, they are separated for another five months. D is moved from facility to facility in the middle of the night, treated with condescension and apathy, and faces a myriad of cruelty under Trump’s family separation order and the larger violence of US immigration policies.
D survives, thanks to everything he pours into his journal, the friendships he forms with other kids going through the same terrors, and a mentor who becomes a sort of brother (and later helps him to bring his words to the wider world).
He writes with the raw & unfiltered voice of a child - and his journal entries are lovingly addressed to the grandmother who passed months before he decided to leave Honduras. There is a lot of trauma in these pages, and D faces every situation with resilience and strength way beyond his years.
D asks again and again why nobody cares, why nobody will give him a simple answer, why he is dragged away in the middle of the night without a chance to say goodbye, and so much more. It was an unraveling experience to see the pain inflicted in my own backyard through a child’s unfiltered eyes. He writes assuming that nobody will ever read his words, and that lends itself to such powerful and honest emotion.
I was grateful for the epilogue and the chance to see that D is doing okay and working on healing, but no child should ever have to go through ANY of what he experienced. There are threads of hope in these pages, as he meets Iván and forms relationships (brotherhoods, really) with some of the other boys in his Alpha 13 tent in the “overflow” facility in Tornillo. But overall it is devastating and deeply infuriating.
An absolute must-read that isn’t easy to live in, but is the reality of this country. I’m glad this book exists and I hope it to see it absolutely everywhere once it’s released.
CW: death (family), violence, grief, forced institutionalization, xenophobia, racism, car accident, injury, animal death (pet), confinement, deportation, colorism, terminal illness
Follow me on social media for book recommendations!
(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
March 25, 2025
I knew going into this book that it was going to shatter me, not only did it do that it also educated me on Trump’s family separation policy, something I always heard on the news, but never from someone who lived it to tell.
This is the first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in a detention on the US/Mexico border under President Trump family separation policy. This story of pain, survival, and resilience is a true raw testament to the reality of the border.
D Esperanza was only 13 years old when he lost both his caregivers, his beloved grandmother and uncle. With both of his parents working and living in in the US, D and his cousin were left to fend for themselves. The boys barely made ends meet in their small town of Honduras, by working various jobs. The boys made the difficult decision to venture to the US and hopefully reunite with D’s parents in el Norte for a better life, along with their two cousins from Guatemala.
D and his three cousins took on an enduring venture to the US with many hopes and dreams. This trek wasn’t an easy one, they had to endure a long and treacherous journey through Central America and Mexico from having to board La Bestia one of the world’s most dangerous trains, to many sleepless nights, sickness, danger and hunger.
Over the course of ten months D gives us a raw detailing of his experience throughout his journey via journal entries. D and his cousins form a deep bond, only to be separated at the border of the United States. D is captured and detained in a US detention center in Tornillo, Texas. The Tornillo facility will go down as a dark period in U.S. history when asylum-seeking, vulnerable children spent months living in a slapdash tent city in the desert, in the care of unqualified, negligent personnel.
During the senseless inhumanity of the immigration policy, D was able to find hope and friendships that advocated on his behalf.
This book will forever live in my heart.
This book will be on sale May 13, 2025, I highly recommend it. A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueño Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Detained #PrimeroSueñoPress
This is the first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in a detention on the US/Mexico border under President Trump family separation policy. This story of pain, survival, and resilience is a true raw testament to the reality of the border.
D Esperanza was only 13 years old when he lost both his caregivers, his beloved grandmother and uncle. With both of his parents working and living in in the US, D and his cousin were left to fend for themselves. The boys barely made ends meet in their small town of Honduras, by working various jobs. The boys made the difficult decision to venture to the US and hopefully reunite with D’s parents in el Norte for a better life, along with their two cousins from Guatemala.
D and his three cousins took on an enduring venture to the US with many hopes and dreams. This trek wasn’t an easy one, they had to endure a long and treacherous journey through Central America and Mexico from having to board La Bestia one of the world’s most dangerous trains, to many sleepless nights, sickness, danger and hunger.
Over the course of ten months D gives us a raw detailing of his experience throughout his journey via journal entries. D and his cousins form a deep bond, only to be separated at the border of the United States. D is captured and detained in a US detention center in Tornillo, Texas. The Tornillo facility will go down as a dark period in U.S. history when asylum-seeking, vulnerable children spent months living in a slapdash tent city in the desert, in the care of unqualified, negligent personnel.
During the senseless inhumanity of the immigration policy, D was able to find hope and friendships that advocated on his behalf.
This book will forever live in my heart.
This book will be on sale May 13, 2025, I highly recommend it. A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Primero Sueño Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #Detained #PrimeroSueñoPress
January 16, 2026
"The adults who have tried to actively hurt me aren’t as bad as all the adults who stand around, seeing what’s happening, doing nothing. Looking bored. This has been everywhere since I got to el Norte."
"...in Charlie 25, in Tornillo, in this country, if you're a migrante kid, there's no stepping forward and no stepping backward. They keep you pinned where you are. We have no control. We are controlled.
And I don’t even think they’re trying to hurt us, exactly. They do it because that’s just how this system is built. They do it because that’s how it’s done here. They’ve created this prison camp where all of us are constantly told: you’re a criminal, you’re a pain in the ass, you don’t matter. They don't say it out loud, but stay locked up here long enough, and you get the message, loud and clear."
Wow! Thank you to the author, D. Esperanza, for his bravery in sharing his emotional and turbulent story of migration, child detainment, and the unnecessary suffering that transpires when unchecked imperialism comes home to roost.
D's narrative was easy to read and written very candidly. Being penned from a young teen's point of view, it was easy to follow along and see the causes and effects of D's decision to leave Honduras with his cousins, especially after events spun out of his control once his guardians passed away.
Accounts about children being forced to make adult decisions will always be difficult reads for me. But I'm glad that I picked up this book.
I hope that D and his family are safe now. But since this memoir was written in 2018, it feels like a lifetime away from the current situation with ICE's indiscriminate arrests, detainment, and deportations. Day by day, the threat of deportation looms heavier and heavier for immigrants.
The situation for undocumented and unaccompanied children are more dire now than they were in 2018.
Children who arrive now are urged to self-deport, with some being offered $2500 to leave. Children are trapped in detention centers as the Trump administration added more vetting requirements for family reunification. Children are now being fined for crossing the border illegally and there is a new $100 fee for asylum applications. Children's sponsors can even be prosecuted or deported for "aiding [their] illegal entry. The article linked also mentions that if a child in federal custody turns 18, they will be handed to ICE for deportation.
D's story is one small part of a larger system at play. By recounting his experiences, he gives voice to this subset of undocumented immigrants who are defenseless against the state apparatus. I thank him for opening this dialogue and letting us read his story.
Thank you to Atria/Primero Sueno Press and NetGalley for this arc.
July 22, 2025
This should be required reading in 2025. Just peels back all the curtains and shines light on the shadows in the most direct and humanizing way. Fuck ICE and fuck the US’s immigration policies 💁♀️
September 7, 2025
Jesus. Everyone should read this
August 3, 2025
I finished this book yesterday and truly have not stopped thinking about it. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Please, read it, learn from it. And find a way to make a difference.
The fact that D was 13 years old and attempting to take care of his 11 year old cousin had me in my feelings from the very beginning after the death of his abuela and his uncle, but my god crossing multiple countries and being so terrified and cold and hungry, I cannot even imagine.
This should be essential reading for everyone. These children were and are held in what are basically prison camps. Treated my criminals when they have done nothing wrong.
D being separated from his cousins tore my heart into pieces, and then everything he went through after, his confusion and fear and feeling so helpless.
I could not believe what happened to him. I’m so incredibly in awe of these kids who survive in these horrific conditions. Something has to change.
Again - absolutely do NOT miss this book. The audio had me crying so hard. The emotion from the narrator was incredible. If you speak Spanish and want to listen to the audio - D himself is recording the audiobook in Spanish to be released in a couple weeks.
The fact that D was 13 years old and attempting to take care of his 11 year old cousin had me in my feelings from the very beginning after the death of his abuela and his uncle, but my god crossing multiple countries and being so terrified and cold and hungry, I cannot even imagine.
This should be essential reading for everyone. These children were and are held in what are basically prison camps. Treated my criminals when they have done nothing wrong.
D being separated from his cousins tore my heart into pieces, and then everything he went through after, his confusion and fear and feeling so helpless.
I could not believe what happened to him. I’m so incredibly in awe of these kids who survive in these horrific conditions. Something has to change.
Again - absolutely do NOT miss this book. The audio had me crying so hard. The emotion from the narrator was incredible. If you speak Spanish and want to listen to the audio - D himself is recording the audiobook in Spanish to be released in a couple weeks.
September 8, 2025
Detained is an incredibly heartbreaking memoir of what it is like at the border between Mexio and the USA.
D. Esperanza should never have gone through what he did, but his story is powerful and brings to light the realities of the situation at the border. What I find most upsetting is that, most likely, no one who needs to read this (to see/understand the ‘other side’) will read it.
A quote that really stuck with me was, “You can hurt a person actively, like by punching them or stealing from them or whatever. But you can also hurt a person passively, by refusing to give them help when they need it, or by pretending you don’t see them, or by acting like they don’t exist.”
D. Esperanza should never have gone through what he did, but his story is powerful and brings to light the realities of the situation at the border. What I find most upsetting is that, most likely, no one who needs to read this (to see/understand the ‘other side’) will read it.
A quote that really stuck with me was, “You can hurt a person actively, like by punching them or stealing from them or whatever. But you can also hurt a person passively, by refusing to give them help when they need it, or by pretending you don’t see them, or by acting like they don’t exist.”
May 26, 2025
There are some books that fundamentally change who you are and this is one of them. Now if you’ll excuse me, I will continue to sob uncontrollably & curse the evil immigration system that perpetuates and creates harrowing and sad stories like this one.
September 23, 2025
4.5/5 - This is one of the most impactful books that I have read in a long time. The amount of heartbreak and pain that came from reading the first part weighed so heavily on my mind and will continue to long after I have read past this book. It hurts knowing these are experiences that happened 7 years ago that are now being experienced again without practically any change, and if any, most will argue that it is worse now. However, I do feel like there was a shift in the second part, more specifically, once the translator of the book - Ivan comes into play that made the book feel a bit less authentic from D and more tilted towards Ivan and his heroic character and politics which is why I took half a star off of my rating. Overall this is a must read for anyone, no matter your stance on immigration or political beliefs. At the end of the day we are all human and we deserve to be treated as such! (Thank you to NetGalley for providing this read)
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September 1, 2025I can't even rate this. Heartbreaking and inspiring, an insight of what humans can endure and the cruelty that we can inflict upon each other.
July 30, 2025
Such an important book to read at this time.
I waited two hours after finishing to write this review.
I'm filled with such sadness for what the author went through but also hope and inspiration.
I know the journal entries are edited for grammar and spelling and yet they still keep the voice of a 13 year old child who is forced to go through the unthinkable.
finish the book and then reread the prologue, it really brings the story together.
I really wish I could speak with the author today. he was a victim during Trump's first term and this book was published before Trump was re-elected in 2024. I guess the biggest lesson is no matter what happens it's important to keep going forward.
I waited two hours after finishing to write this review.
I'm filled with such sadness for what the author went through but also hope and inspiration.
I know the journal entries are edited for grammar and spelling and yet they still keep the voice of a 13 year old child who is forced to go through the unthinkable.
finish the book and then reread the prologue, it really brings the story together.
I really wish I could speak with the author today. he was a victim during Trump's first term and this book was published before Trump was re-elected in 2024. I guess the biggest lesson is no matter what happens it's important to keep going forward.
July 8, 2025
Anyone who has empathy needs to read this.
November 13, 2025
I don't even know where to start with this review, there are so many emotions, there's immense grief, devastation, and intense rage.
Thank you to Atria and Primero Sueño Press for a gifted finished copy.
I read this in Spanish and there was truly no other way I would have preferred to, if you are able to I encourage you to listen or read this book in Spanish.
The immigration system here in the United States is a system that no human should ever go through that no child should be separated from his family and kept in a prison. How is it that with the years that have passed the immigration system has only worsened?
The dehumanization of immigrants is evil, there is not a document on this earth that could excuse this violation of human rights. The effects of the abuse that immigrants are put through by the system is something so devastating, this is a trauma that will spread through a multitude of generations. Some families today are living through that trauma.
In reading this D felt like family, I saw every ounce of my father, my mother, and my ancestors in him. This is truly a testament to how resilient Latine's are.
D's story is one that needs to continue to be uplifted, especially given the times that we are in. I truly wish D nothing but the best.
Chinga la Migra y a la puta naranja que llaman presidente.
Thank you to Atria and Primero Sueño Press for a gifted finished copy.
I read this in Spanish and there was truly no other way I would have preferred to, if you are able to I encourage you to listen or read this book in Spanish.
The immigration system here in the United States is a system that no human should ever go through that no child should be separated from his family and kept in a prison. How is it that with the years that have passed the immigration system has only worsened?
The dehumanization of immigrants is evil, there is not a document on this earth that could excuse this violation of human rights. The effects of the abuse that immigrants are put through by the system is something so devastating, this is a trauma that will spread through a multitude of generations. Some families today are living through that trauma.
In reading this D felt like family, I saw every ounce of my father, my mother, and my ancestors in him. This is truly a testament to how resilient Latine's are.
D's story is one that needs to continue to be uplifted, especially given the times that we are in. I truly wish D nothing but the best.
Chinga la Migra y a la puta naranja que llaman presidente.
July 26, 2025
A heart wrenching story of one young man’s experience in a child detention camp in 2018. His story is told through his diary entries and it is so very powerful. I can’t say enough about this book.
September 18, 2025
Kids don’t belong in cages (or detention). Everyone should read this book—the actual journal of a 13-year-old boy from Honduras chronicling his difficult journey to the U.S. to be reunited with his parents. Once he makes it across the border, his problems aren’t over. D. is abused by a cruel and dehumanization detention system that no child should ever have to endure.
May 12, 2025
Thank you Primero Sueños Press for the ARC. It was well written, tragic story, that sucks you in making you feel desperate, angry, and full of rage and sadness for every child in this situation. There were many moments of tender and care and other moments where I wanted to yell into the abyss. I hope everyone reads this books and feels the deep rollercoaster emotional ride D. Esperanza goes through. Stories like his need to be told.
October 6, 2025
Despite the book's shorter length, it took me a while to get through it because it's a pretty heavy read. It is a modern Anne Frank sort of story - a 14-year-old boy keeping a journal of traumas and experiences that no person, much less a child, should have to go through, much of which is at the hands of a horrific regime. He beautifully puts words to feelings he's not felt before, feelings of dehumanization, of loneliness, of nearly giving up after being criminalized for simply wanting to reunite with your family. I would recommend this book to every single person in the US.
September 4, 2025
This book is a MUST READ for every American. Difficult but triumphant: I had to read it in small doses, but it's not tragedy porn. It needs the biggest possible audience. Only people with zero empathy will come away unmoved.
July 31, 2025
i think no matter what side of the coin you’re part of, please read this autobiography. Que Dios bendiga y proteja al autor y el co-autor de este libro.
October 7, 2025
This book is so important and I'm so glad I read it in Spanish.
The writing is so authentically childlike - innocent, hopeful, and guttingly sincere - even when discussing tragedy after tragedy.
D's story really shows the resilience of not only children but Latinos in general. You get faced with a blow? You buck up and persevere. It was hard to read a child admit their childhood was effectively stolen by external factors- gang violence, economic instability, and lack of access to necessary healthcare- and still think but hey, I could have it worse! All while knowing most latin american instability is by design and borne from United States imperialism.
Unfortunately, the people who need to read this the most probably won't. But I hope that some take a chance and do because its illuminating and shows how you can find hope and community in the most bleak of circumstances.
The writing is so authentically childlike - innocent, hopeful, and guttingly sincere - even when discussing tragedy after tragedy.
D's story really shows the resilience of not only children but Latinos in general. You get faced with a blow? You buck up and persevere. It was hard to read a child admit their childhood was effectively stolen by external factors- gang violence, economic instability, and lack of access to necessary healthcare- and still think but hey, I could have it worse! All while knowing most latin american instability is by design and borne from United States imperialism.
Unfortunately, the people who need to read this the most probably won't. But I hope that some take a chance and do because its illuminating and shows how you can find hope and community in the most bleak of circumstances.
September 2, 2025
This year I've made a push to read a lot more nonfiction and this book is one that will stick with me for a long time! DETAINED is the story of D Esperanza's time in a children's detention center under the family separation policy. He has published his journals from his time trying to get to the US. It is heart wrenching and educational as we learn about how difficult the immigration process can be and how few options are given to immigrants to enter the US "the legal way". This was a very heavy read, but I think more people should take the time to read this.
Thanks to Atria for the gifted copy!
Thanks to Atria for the gifted copy!
August 28, 2025
This book made me feel all of the feelings. Anger, sadness, shame, hope…. This story is so heart wrenching and tragic and the saddest thing of all is that it was true and is still happening. I commend the authors for putting themselves out there to share their story as it is an important one for all of us to hear. This one will stick with me and that’s probably a good thing because forgetting and looking the other way doesn’t help.
October 18, 2025
potentially the best book i’ve read in 2025
such a powerful story, heartbreaking to imagine a 13 year old boy going through everything he did. While it is obviously horrific at times, his story is also full of hope and beauty showing how he managed to find family and community despite the hardships.
truly think everyone should read this book.
such a powerful story, heartbreaking to imagine a 13 year old boy going through everything he did. While it is obviously horrific at times, his story is also full of hope and beauty showing how he managed to find family and community despite the hardships.
truly think everyone should read this book.
November 9, 2025
A difficult but powerful read. It took me several weeks to read....not just for the horrors Esperanza reported, but also knowing how much worse it has gotten in recent months. This one had a strong focus on the migrant camps here in the US. Esperanza completed this book before Trump won his second term, and reading the epilogue with the current circumstances in mind was heartbreaking. A must read for everyone!
September 1, 2025
Just Wow! This diary of a young teen's journey through to get to the US to be with his parents is often difficult to read, but is very important. The cruel and inhumane treatment at the hands of the US government are beyond criminal. No, there were no beatings or killings. Just limited food, disgusting sanitation facilities, indifference by the staff and lack of communication/information. The psychological impacts will be lasting on those who endured this tragic situation.
December 3, 2025
Everyone needs to read this at one point in their life. If only it could reach the people it needs to reach.
October 2, 2025
4.75⭐️
October 16, 2025
This book broke me. Such a good book over the reality and challenges that so many families and kids endure all to have a chance at a better life and an opportunity of the American dream
July 29, 2025
Such an important book to have on the shelves right now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews