Border Child

by Michel Stone

For Hector and Lilia, the pursuit of the American Dream became every parent's worst fear when their infant daughter vanished as they crossed from Mexico to the United States--now they must try to get her back. With great empathy and a keen awareness of current events, Michel Stone delivers a novel of surpassing sensitivity and heart.

Young lovers Hector and Lilia dreamed of a brighter future for their family in the United States. Hector left Mexico first, to secure work and housing, but when Lilia, desperate to be with Hector, impetuously crossed the border with their infant daughter, Alejandra, mother and child were separated. Alejandra disappeared. Now, four years later, the family has a chance to reunite, but the trauma of the past may well be permanent.

Back in their sleepy hometown of Oaxaca, the couple enjoys a semblance of normal life, with a toddler son and another baby on the way. Then they receive an unexpected tip that might lead them to Alejandra, and both agree they must seize this chance, whatever the cost. Working increasingly illegal jobs to earn money for his journey north, Hector seeks more information about his long-absent daughter. Meanwhile, a bedridden Lilia awaits the birth of their third child, but cannot keep herself from reliving the worst mistakes of her past.

In luminous, compassionate prose, Michel Stone drops readers into the whirlwind of the contemporary immigrant experience, where a marriage is strained to the breaking point by the consequences of wanting more for the next generation.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Family, Cultural, Novels, Literary Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

Michel Stone is the author of The Iguana Tree, and has published more than a dozen stories and essays in various journals and magazines. Her work has appeared numerous times in the Raleigh News & Observer's Emerging Southern Writers series. Stone is a 2011 recipient of the South Carolina Fiction Project Award. She lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 A timely read in our current political climate, when illegals are being booted out regardless of the citizenship of their children. Highlights both sides of this decision in the plight of Hector and Lilia. Living now in virtual poverty in Oaxaca, Mexico, they have little chance to improve their lives. The opportunities just are not there, loves yes, for their young son and expected child, for each other, but frustration too knowing there is little they can do to change their lives.

They had made it North once, but this ended in a catastrophe beyond measure, and now new information presents itself, and they hope to correct a terrible wrong. One cannot help but feel for this couple, they are very likable. They want what so many of us have and many of us take for granted. This book shows the similarities, not just the differences.


The high cost, not just of money, trusting their lives to coyotes that prey upon people desperate to cross the border. The desire for better, the high hopes. This is a continuation of the novel, The Iguana Tree, though I don't feel it is necessary to read that one first. The author does a good job of filling in the back story. Of course the emotional intensity is not there, not the same impact as if the first one had been read. A good book that shows there are real people and lives behind the immigration debate, not just numbers on a piece of paper.

ARC from publisher.
Publishes April 4th from Nan A. Talese.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first experience with this author, but will not be my last. She brought her characters alive - made you experience their every emotion. Good story progression of an issue that is so very prominent in today's world. Ending in an understandable but heart wrenching conclusion.

A Mexican family dreaming of the wealth of America. In crossing the border illegally a tragic thing happened. Their infant daughter was separated from them. Now almost four years later they have been able to track down their daughter. This is the story of how this family went about trying to recover the child they lost and mourned for almost four years.

Thank you Doubleday for this book in exchange for a review.

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars. Continuing the story Michel Stone began in The Iguana Tree, Lilia and Hector Santos are picking up the pieces of their lives after having been returned to Mexico by US immigration officials. Lilia was separated from their baby Alejandra when she crossed into the US three years ago and the couple has now learned some helpful information that has raised their hopes of finding their little girl. But doing what is right is not always easy--what will their choice be? This is a very timely subject and Stone raises some interesting points to consider.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Am I the only person who found it a bit offensive that this was written by a non-Mexican, non-Latino person who somehow purports to have so much insight into the way of life of these people? If this had been written by a Mexican author, I would have found it much more touching, but it had a patronizing feel to it. Does an educated woman from South Carolina really have any idea of how it feels to be a poor laborer in small town Mexico? Cultural appropriation?

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hector and Lilia are parents of an infant daughter, Alejandra, when Hector immigrates to the United States with the hope of establishing a better life for his family. Lilia foolishly decides not to wait until Hector finds a job and home in the US and makes her own plans to immigrate. Tragically, she is separated from Alejandra at the border. They are unable to find Alejandra who has disappeared with no trace.

The book picks up four years later when they are back in Mexico. Lilia and Hector now have a young son and Lilia is expecting their third child. They have never given up the hope of finding Alejandra. When they learn of a tip that may lead to finding their daughter, Hector leaves his family to try to find Alejandra.

The author does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the lives of this fragile family. Lilia carries so much guilt over her decision to immigrate on her own. The grief, guilt, blame and worry that she and Hector endure over the loss of Alejandra have put a wedge between them but you can still see their love for each other. As Hector searches for Alejandra, he takes on illegal jobs to pay for his travels. He appears completely naïve about these jobs, which I found a bit unbelievable, but I could understand his desperation. The end of the book wasn’t unexpected but it still brought tears to my eyes.

One thing that I didn’t expect was the reaction of Lilia and Hector’s neighbors and friends when they return to Mexico. Hector and Lilia were shunned by the Mexican people as they believed that Hector and Lilia thought they were better than the other Mexicans and were too good to stay in Mexico and even that they had deserted their country. I would have thought that the people who stayed behind would have understood Hector and Lilia’s desire to make a better life for themselves but they seemed to feel betrayed.

Recommended.

This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Jk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free uncorrected proof copy of this book via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to thank everyone involved in that process.

When I entered the giveaway for this book I did not realize that it was a sequel to another novel (The Iguana Tree). I was a bit apprehensive about this because my OCD tendencies make me very particular about reading series books in order, however, in this case my worries were unfounded. The backstory was revealed in enough detail that I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

I initially had a bit of a hard time connecting with this book but somewhere in the middle it picked up for me. I loved the descriptions of Mexico, the sights, smells and sounds, the unbelievable poverty and violence and the simple village lifestyle - the author really painted great pictures of these scenes.

Overall this is a beautiful story with a very touching ending - not the ending I had rooted for throughout the book but on reflection an even better one!

[Jason Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like it was written by a clueless white person.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a moving tribute to those who struggle for basic needs in challenging and primitive living conditions, yet keep their values grounded in family love and learned precepts. Circumstances have robbed a young Mexican family of their baby girl, and this is the story of how it happened and what efforts they expended to find her.
The roadblocks seem insurmountable for those with no means to save enough centavos to travel toward those who just may have information that will lead to the recovery of Alejandro, beloved daughter. The wife Lilia cannot assist as she is very pregnant and has the care of her little son as well. It falls to Hector, father and husband, to travel to Acapulco to find the man who connected Lilia with his uncle, a bad sort of man who arranged for Lilia to cross the border so she could visit her husband and also separated her from her baby daughter several years ago.
A difficult journey and dangerous work to earn needed money for travel finally brought Hector to orphanage where his baby daughter was taken. He is required to submit to DNA testing and then must wait in a seedy hostel for the proof that he was the father.
Once confirmed, the manager tells him: "Your daughter was here. She's no longer here. She's safe. She's well cared for, please rest assured about that. But she's been adopted."
Hector has never known of such a thing as Skype and is off balance talking to the man who adopted his daughter. Hector also has Lilia on his mind. He is confronted with a searingly painful decision.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful story - maybe if Trump (I can't refer to him as president!) read this book he might be able to show the Mexicans a little compassion. You don't know what it's like until you've walked in their shoes and this novel took you there, step by step.

[Kelly Ochoa]

I enjoyed it. It was an easy read but a sad story.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am clearly in the minority about Border Child. I was so distracted by the clunky and cliched writing that I could not simply enjoy the story. An infant girl is lost at the border after she is separated from her mother during an illegal crossing. Three years later, the parents get a lead on her whereabouts and the father attempts to track her down.

I really dislike novels that try to propel the story line by asking questions in the narrative. I think the reader can be trusted to get there themselves. I got so tired of it that I started jotting them down:

What was in the cooler? Why couldn't Santiago just get it himself? Why the secrecy? Why the mantle of darkness?

Drugs? What kind of drugs? A body? Oh, God, not a body.

And the clunky writing:

...the widow lady down the lane.

An evil coyote named Carlos who did bad things to my wife.

So 2 stars for a decent story buried under unmemorable writing.














Sent from my iPhone

[Sarah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted @ http://reviewsreadathons.wordpress.com

Border Child was a solid read. The novel follows Lilia and Hector, parents to Alejandra. A few years prior to the novel, Hector had traveled north to the USA from Mexico illegally and was going to send for Lilia. Lilia decided she couldn't wait, so she found her own coyote and left with their infant daughter Alejandra to surprise him. In the process of crossing the border, Lilia lost Alejandra, which has impacted their relationship and their lives profoundly. In the intervening four years, they have returned to their small town in Mexico, and are raising a toddler son and have another child on the way. They receive unexpected information about Alejandra's potential location, potentially changing their lives again.

I really liked the way this story was told. It's told through alternating viewpoints, including Hector, Lilia, their priest, their neighbor, and various others. The story charts each character's emotions surrounding the search for Alejandra, their feelings on el norte (the north), and their perceptions of Hector and Lilia's situation. At times, I found the characters insanely frustrating, especially considering how naïve Hector could be. This kind of took away from my enjoyment of the book, but also made the characters more realistic people. You can tell from the beginning that no one is in an easy situation, and the things they do to deal with it are wholly human.

The writing in the novel was lyrical and beautiful. There are moments that will make you smile, and moments that will make you want to cry. Some of the most beautiful moments also have a tinge of darkness. You will find yourself invested in what happens with Hector's search for Alejandra, and the choices he has to make as the truth is uncovered. I will admit that the ending did not entirely surprise me, but it was fitting, made sense, and well executed.

Overall, this novel was quite an interesting read. It had solid writing, and a good use of alternating viewpoints. It also showed different aspects of lives for immigrants than I had previously seen, particularly the reception Lilia and Hector get after they return home. If you like literary novels, this is a good read and I recommend it.

Note: I received this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for Double Day Keep Turning Pages group for the copy I won! This was a finely told tale of a Mexican family and their experiences with living in their home country and wishing for more living el notre(in America). I love how this was told from many points of view, which gives a glimpse of all of the characters' hearts, motives and thoughts. This is not an easy topic to talk about without bringing strong feelings of both sides in the political arena. The author didn't even have to go there as she simply told a story of human feelings, love and those things we do for our families. A lovely and heart moving read that certainly opened my eyes; everyone has a story and a past. When we look past the political and accepted thoughts in culture today, we can learn another's point of view and be able to be more sympathetic and loving. I haven't read any other work by this author, but am certainly inclined to do so now!

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a parent, what would you do to make sure your child had the best life possible? Or rather, is there anything you would not do? This is the question at the heart of the immigrant story of Border Child by Michel Stone. The writing beautifully draws me into Héctor and Lilia's world - all emotions that parents everywhere relate to. Best of all, the book leaves me thinking. What would I do? Faced with Héctor and Lilia's impossible decision, what would I do?

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2017...

Reviewed for NetGalley.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a powerful story of the dangers of living in Mexico, illegally coming to America, and the extents to which people will go for the ones they love. However, it wasn’t the kind of book i would choose and i would have given up on it if it hadn’t been this month’s book club pick. There was something about the writing that made this book very hard, but I’m glad i stuck with it for the message it contained.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a galley of this book from Goodreads Giveaways. Nicely written. Halfway through I thought to myself, "I have read similar books like this. I do not like the endings. I do not want to finish it." I am glad I did get to the last page. Not what I imagined. Bravo!!

[Jeanie O'Shaughnessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The desparation of the protagonists seizes the reader from the opening page and maintains its hold throughout the story. Ms. Stone so skillfully conveys sights, sounds, feelings, smells- the reader is transported to the story as if viewing it in person. The suspense almost becomes overwhelming enough to turn to the end, but do not give in. The story is beautifully written, so you will not want to miss a word.

[Marisa Gonzalez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story of a Mexican couple whose child goes missing while they are illegally crossing the border to find a better life in the US. This story deals with the emotional issues they go through while searching for her as well as the difficulties of returning back to the poverty of Mexico after experiencing life in "El Norte." I wasn't impressed with this story. It was not written by a Latin author, therefore, the characters were very generic and did not give you a feel for the Mexican culture. The ending was also anti-climatic.

[Liesel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book got way more hype and publicity than it deserves simply because the title evokes images of Trump tearing families apart at our borders. Yet anyone who actually took the time to read this book would realize that in addition to being poorly written and overly wordy, the “border child” in question was lost by a Mexican mother in Mexico. Definitely a sad story but just a disappointing read all the way around.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is hard for Hector and Lilia in Oaxaca, in southern Mexico. Hector works long hours at a physically tasking job in order to provide them a living. Lilia looks after their toddler and is about to give birth again. She works as a potter as the women in her family always have in order to make a little more money. It's a hard life, not the one the pair had dreamed of as young lovers and then a young married couple.

Their dream was to go to the United States, where work was more plentiful and the money was much better. Hector went first and found a job in South Carolina which was too far away for him to visit. Lilia decided to follow him but when she reached the border her coyote said that he wouldn't take her across with her baby, Alexandra. Instead, he would take her and his friend, a woman, would take the baby and meet them across the river. Lilia didn't like the plan but had no other resources so reluctantly agreed. She made it across the river by swimming but the woman never came to the agreed meeting place. When Hector met up with her, they spent frantic days searching but there was no word and no trace of their baby. They reluctantly moved on to South Carolina to make money to extend their search. They were ultimately arrested and deported back to Mexico.

The loss carved a hole in their marriage. It was almost impossible for Hector to forgive Lilia for her foolishness that had cost them their child. Now, with a son and another baby about to be born, they have reached an equilibrium in their marriage. It isn't the same as it was when they were young, but it has its joys along with its difficulties.

Then a miracle occurs. They find the man who arranged their passage with the coyote. The coyote was killed in a car wreck so there can be no answers from him about their Alexandra but they discover that a woman and a baby were also in the wreck. The woman was also killed but the baby survived. Was that woman the one Lilia trusted with Alexandra? Did Alexandra survive and if so, where was she now? Hector immediately prepares for a journey to find out what happened three years ago and if Alexandra is still alive to rejoin their family. He leaves Lilia, heavily pregnant, behind as they search for the missing piece of their family. Will they be successful?

Michel Stone has written a moving account of why families immigrate and the perils they face as they do it without the legal protections that exist for legal immigrants. Those who come illegally are at the mercy of whomever they meet, to provide work, to keep their secrets, to not cheat them or take too much from them. Sometimes, tragedies occur and may rip families apart. The reader feels for Hector and Lilia and their child who is torn from them. This book is recommended for readers interested in current events.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with the heart-wrenching story of Hector and Lilia and their return home after deportation from the United States and a brief encounter with the American Dream. The story touched on so many aspects of globalization, and the ending especially stood out for me - so realistic, so much empathy and love, and yet so hard to accept. Just as the characters made difficult choices about their firstborn child, so does the author with her plot line. And to any who automatically and rigidly question the source of this story, raising concern about cultural appropriation and an author based in South Carolina writing about characters who live in rural Mexico: Please reconsider imposing such restrictions on writers and their imaginations. Stories come to us with a vengeance, and we yearn to write. I felt similar passion when writing about a fictional rural village in Afghanistan. Sometimes stories find writers and not the other way around, and as I wrote to a similar commenter long ago, "No worthy, caring teacher would discourage students against exploring by writing about a setting, a time period, a career, a condition that they have not personally experienced." Such logic would have discouraged Shakespeare.

Stone's plot, simple and eloquent, flows from the heart and could have only been told by Stone. If others want to limit their reading and imaginations, so be it. But do not expect writers or readers to resist exploring the world or to set arbitrary rules that restrain our curiosity about another culture.

Stone respected and knew her characters, and I do appreciate her skill and effort.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize that this book is the follow-up to "The Iguana Tree" but no matter, I found the plot easy to follow along, regardless. "Border Child" is a book about a young couple, Hector and Lilia, who live in near poverty in Oaxaca, Mexico. They have a toddler-aged son and Lilia is in the last stages of her pregnancy. The family is expecting a girl to join their small family, but something is still missing. Four years earlier, Hector crossed the border into the United States in hopes of obtaining a better life for his family. Lilia was supposed to wait until she heard back from him, wait until her husband had secured a job and housing, prior to crossing over and joining him. But Lilia didn't wait. She paid a coyote for her and their daughter's safe passage, but on the journey, she was separated from Alejandra, their infant. Years later, an unexpected tip materializes, one that might lead them to finding their first-born after all this time. They decide to seize this chance but what they discover might not bring them answers that they've been searching for.

It took me some time to get into the novel. While I really liked it and thought it was easy to follow along, I thought that the pacing moved too slowly for me. I kept waiting for things to speed up, especially when Hector started pursuing illegal activities to earn money to help find Alejandra. I thought that there would have been more urgency there, perhaps him nearly getting caught and such. I really felt for Hector and Lilia as well. The author did a good job of bringing them to life. They just wanted to pursue a better life for their family, it was heartbreaking that the choices they made led to the loss of Alejandra.

[James (JD) Dittes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Migration is a terrible choice for any parent to make.

It isn't just about opportunities, it's about the costs to a family--particularly young children, who face the loss of friends, a new culture, possibly even a new language to learn. Migration is a terrible choice, and one should not judge migrants without taking these choices into account.

The gift of Border Child is Michel Stone's ability to juxtapose two devastating losses: the loss of country, then the loss of a child in the context of Hector and Lailia's migration to and from El Norte. Four years before the events of the book, Lailia had tried to cross from Mexico into Texas with her infant daughter, Alejandra, to join Hector at his job in South Carolina.

Lailia's coyote, Carlos, had separated mother and daughter, promising to reunite them on the other side. Instead, Alejandra had disappeared. Moreover, since the infant had been carrying forged identity papers that went so far as to identify her as a boy named Ernesto, it was impossible to track her.

But new information comes to light about Alejandra, sending Hector on a quest to first earn money to travel to the border region while Lailia remains at home, ready to deliver the couple's third child. In fact, this second juxtaposition: the birth of Elizabeth Esperanze with Hector's discovery of the fate of Alejandra is yet another brilliant twist that Stone provides.

Border Child isn't a political novel, although it deals with immigration and narco-trafficking. It's a family novel about two parents' highest hopes for their children, and the extents to which they will go to see them realized.

[Margo Littell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hector and Lilia Santos lost everything four years ago, when U.S.-bound Lilia entrusted her infant daughter, Alejandra, to a coyote who never reappeared with the child. Back in their Mexican hometown of Puerto Isadore, Hector and Lilia struggle to move on. Then, one day, an unexpected sighting of an old acquaintance, Emanuel, reopens old hopes. Emanuel was the man who connected Lilia to the coyote at the center of their tragedy, and Hector is certain that Emanuel will know how to find Alejandra. But Hector needs money to pursue the lead Emanuel provides, and he accepts a dangerous, illegal job making deliveries for two of Emanuel’s friends. Once Hector’s journey to find Alejandra begins, life in Puerto Isadore faces new challenges, as pregnant Lilia finds herself at risk of delivering her baby far too early. At a moment of great promise, both Hector and Lilia may instead lose everything.

Told from multiple viewpoints, Border Child highlights the sacrifices and risks undertaken by those seeking a better life for those they love most. The edges of heroes and villains are blurry; Hector finds he has no definitive moral compass. A heart-wrenching portrait of a family striving to define what makes a happy life.

***Review originally written for the City Book Review. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

[Mary Ellen Lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Stone's sequel to Iguana Tree picks up the migrant family of that book after their deportation back to Mexico. Hector and Lila are both experiencing the trauma of their return to their hometown as well as being haunted by the memories of the fateful trip to America. Although expecting a third child they can not let go of the tragic loss of their daughter Alejandra, stolen from Lila on the trip north. While Lila deals with a difficult pregnancy Hector goes on another quest, this time for his beloved child. Once again Ms. Stone has written a thoughtful, empathetic story that captured me on the very first page. Ms. Stone possesses a talent for exquisite descriptions and well-drawn characters. It's not necessary to have read Iguana Tree to enjoy this book, though I would advise it anyway. They are both wonderful reads.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book attempts to help us understand the unimaginable, yet so very, very close to home, lives, loves, and losses of the "illegal" immigrant. What Lilia and her husband endured crossing the border from Mexico to the US, and the steps that they took to right the impossible wrongs that happened along their trip, will haunt you, and should remind ALL of us that there are no easy answers to our current immigration quagmire. Interesting perspectives from all of the principle characters, including those who stayed behind, those who survive by any means necessary, and those who are there to pick up the pieces. The choices Lilia and her husband Hector make will break your heart, and help "humanize" the people whose lives are so much more than just a current political game of "hot potato."

[American Andriod · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Hector and Lilia, the pursuit of the American Dream became every parent's worst fear when their infant daughter vanished as they crossed from Mexico to the United States--now they must try to get her back. With great empathy and a keen awareness of current events, Michel Stone delivers a novel of surpassing sensitivity and heart.

Young lovers Hector and Lilia dreamed of a brighter future for their family in the United States. Hector left Mexico first, to secure work and housing, but when Lilia, desperate to be with Hector, impetuously crossed the border with their infant daughter, Alejandra, mother and child were separated. Alejandra disappeared. Now, four years later, the family has a chance to reunite, but the trauma of the past may well be permanent.

[ActiveUSCitizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Hector and Lilia, the pursuit of the American Dream became every parent's worst fear when their infant daughter vanished as they crossed from Mexico to the United States--now they must try to get her back. With great empathy and a keen awareness of current events, Michel Stone delivers a novel of surpassing sensitivity and heart.

Young lovers Hector and Lilia dreamed of a brighter future for their family in the United States. Hector left Mexico first, to secure work and housing, but when Lilia, desperate to be with Hector, impetuously crossed the border with their infant daughter, Alejandra, mother and child were separated. Alejandra disappeared. Now, four years later, the family has a chance to reunite, but the trauma of the past may well be permanent.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Border Child is a beautifully written story with graphic details that makes the reader feel as if he knows the characters and is familiar with their surroundings. All the characters are believable except Hector who seems woefully naive for someone who has previously ventured across the US border, lived and worked in the US and was ultimately deported. While the fairy tale ending to the story is immensely gratifying, I was somewhat disappointed overall for I was expecting a more thought-provoking book on such a serious topic. The future for most children crossing the border is far less rosy and should be of concern for us all.