Illegal

by Bettina Restrepo

A promise.
Quinceañera.
A promise that we would be together on my fifteenth birthday . . .

Instead, Nora is on a desperate journey far away from home. When her father leaves their beloved Mexico in search of work, Nora stays behind. She fights to make sense of her loss while living in poverty—waiting for her father's return and a better day. When the letters and money stop coming, Nora decides that she and her mother must look for him in Texas. After a frightening experience crossing the border, the two are all alone in a strange place. Now, Nora must find the strength to survive while aching for small comforts: friends, a new school, and her precious quinceañera.

Bettina Restrepo's gripping, deeply hopeful debut novel captures the challenges of one girl's unique yet universal immigrant experience.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Cultural, Latinx, Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Bettina Restrepo is a writer. This means she basically sits around in pajamas making up lies. As glamorous as this may seem, she spends a lot of time researching, thinking, and talking to the dog about her characters, plots, and story lines.
She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Speech Communication. She married an Aggie. Together they have a son, Allen, (who will be an Aggie) and an English springer spaniel, Winston (who will not be an Aggie). When Bettina is not writing, or thinking about writing, she likes to exercise, go on walks, and read, read, read. She lives in Frisco, Texas…. which is basically Dallas.
Bettina has authored over 50 stories and articles. Her books include Moose and Magpie (Sylvan Dell 2009) and Illegal (Harper Collins 2011). Her forthcoming novel, Telenovela, will be out in 2012. She is currently writing a sequel to Telenovela and a zombie-inspired novel (which she thinks is Very Cool).
Bettina’s website is www.bettinarestrepo.com You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Reviews

[Bettina Restrepo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it - so it's super cool. But, hey, that's just me.

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad that Bettina Restrepo decided to write this book. No matter how you feel about people crossing the border, do read this story. It invites the reader to see that there are whole lives and stories behind all these people who make the scary decision of starting a life in a place where they are not welcome.

Nora is a hardworking girl living in a small town in Mexico. She misses her papi something fierce since he left to America to help provide for the family. Lately though the money has not been coming in and he hasn't called in long time and Nora is worried. With much resistance from her mother and grandmother, she convinces them that they have to go search for him. Nora and her mom make their way to the border and discover the harsh reality of what it is to be an immigrant but also the hope there is in new chances and dreams.

Number one thing I liked was that there is no love interest. I am a romantic but a love story here would have felt wrong and unrealistic. Nora is too busy trying to find her father and just trying to survive in a new place. Along the way she does find good people, but encounters a lot of brick walls because of the language barrier. The author doesn’t shy away from some of the grittier parts of this experience, which makes for a more satisfying read. Nora is a realistic character who complains and despairs, but at the same time does her best to persevere. She really feels like school will be her opportunity to do better, and for the longest time I did not appreciate my education. It just seemed like a whole lot of pressure and more of a burden than a blessing, but it truly is a good thing. It's so true; you don't realize what you have until you have to live without it.

The one downfall I felt was the short length, but other than that I loved it. The story is typical and sad, but speaks the truth of the immigrant experience. Most of us in America come from immigrant backgrounds and since I have Hispanic roots this story had a strong resonance over me. I wish I had more to say; obviously I give the book a hearty recommendation.

[Melannie :)]

"... We might not matter to America, but we are important to eachother."

Quotes like this one made me loved this book, it is so real,
and I know in the immigrants situation everyone has their different opinion,
but we need to realize that everyone also has a story and it's important to listen before we judge.

And I listened, I listened carefully to this girl's story, even though she's fictional. 'Cause we never know
her story might be someone else's story too.

So, I started reading this book about 2 weeks ago, I would have finished it
sooner if it weren't for the fact that the last 2 weeks were the busiest of
the semester for me, but I kept thinking about the book and how much I wanted it to have a happy ending.

So I finally had time to finish it yesterday and I'm so glad it did, have a happy ending I mean.

But I don't want to spoil it for you, so I'll settle for describing the story's plot.
This book is about a fifteen year old mexican girl named Nora. And although she and I are both mexican,
the similarities ended there, She unfortunately has lived a very tough life, her family and her live in a very small town
with people just as poor as her family, they don't even have money to buy food, much less to buy stuff as, I don't know,
shoes that fit. So yeah tough times.

I personally have been lucky enough to always had a good economy, and I hadn't witnessed something like the book
is describing, but I know somewhere out there, there are small towns like Nora's, struggling to survive.
But for situations bigger than him, Nora's father goes to find a job in the US, Nora, her mom, and her grandma, are left behind,
but his father sends them money.

One day the money and letters stop coming, and they don't heard from him anymore,
after a lot of thinking, her mom and Nora go to the US to try to find him, and I'll just say
that America is not all that's cracked up to be, and they find it the hard way.

I recommend this book to everyone that's willing to listen to the other side of the story,
and to everyone that likes survivor girls, with a lot of courage and a BIG heart.

*BIG thanks to Bettina and Goodreads for my copy.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was very good I enjoyed it very much. I just didn't like certain parts of how the book was written. I think like the words in Spanish could have been better, better phrases; there were some phrases that really didn't make sense.... and Spanish is my first language... I don't know, just if there were more "real" words and phrases hispanic community really uses, other than that the story was very touching and interesting.

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed that there wasn't more depth to this story. The characters and plot was shallow and there didn't feel like any immediacy in wanting to uncover the truth about where Nora's father went once he left Mexico for Texas, maybe it's because he was non-existent except for memories and thoughts rather than in person, but then again, I did notice it was supposed to be a coming-of-age for Nora herself. Yet, even she wasn't well-rounded enough for me to care for. It was an Esperanza Rising wannabe with her musings and thoughts about a better life, yet how struggle must occur for this to happen.

It was a good attempt but more charisma from the main characters and more desperation would have made it more enjoyable or sympathetic.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illegal is the first novel I have ever read about illegal immigration and it was a poignant and heartbreaking debut.

Fourteen year old Nora and her mother and grandmother are struggling to make ends meet after her father leaves for the United States to try and earn money for his family since their farm is not doing well. Nora's family is barely staying afloat as they wait each day for some money, a letter, something, to arrive from Nora's father. Unfortunately, at one point, the cash and letters stop coming and Nora knows her family will not be able to survive without them. Nora makes the daring decision to leave Mexico and go to Texas to find her father and bring him home. He promised her he'd be back by her fifteenth birthday and Nora intends for him to keep his promise whether she has to go across the border and bring him home herself. Nora and her mother hide in the back of a fruit truck to be snuck across the border between Mexico and Texas. The journey is arduous and Nora and her mother are frightened and in pain; hidden behind the mango crates with no air. They make it into Texas, though, but their terrifying journey has only just begun.

There are many different view points of immigration (both legal and illegal) and Bettina Restrepo presented illegal immigration in a new and emotional light. Nora's plight was heartbreaking, yet hopeful, and my heart went out to her as she struggled to support both herself and her mother and find her father in a new land.

Nora was a determined and realistic main character and she was faced with many hardships for someone barely in their teens. She was forced to forget about the typical wants and needs of a fourteen year old girl and take on the role of an adult. Finding work and shelter, but at the same time facing gangs, violence, poverty, and staying out of the watchful eye of immigration.

Bettina Restrepo crafted a gritty and painful story with hope shining through. This was a quick read, but it left me feeling quite emotional by the time I turned the last page. Overall, I recommend picking Illegal up this year as it's a well written and touching story that presented illegal immigration in a new way. I'm looking forward to seeing what Bettina writes next.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora's father left for work in America because he couldn't make enough for his family in Mexico. But he made a promise, he would be back for her fifteenth birthday.

But, her fifteenth birthday is nearing and the letters and money have stopped coming from her father. Nora knows she just has to find him. Nora convinces her mother they need to go to America to find her father so they can all be together again. And so they begin their long, tough journey crossing the border illegally into America in hopes of finding her father.

Immigrants and illegal immigrants are such a heated subject. I've heard all the arguments why they shouldn't be here. From they are taking our jobs, they are taking money from the government because they are on welfare, etc. And criticism of people from Mexico and others from non-English speaking countries not learning English. Well, let me just say, it's not easy to learn another language.

And I don't feel I can criticize people for coming to America illegally. Just knowing the history of America is reason enough for me not to criticize.

Except for Natives - We're all immigrants.

And while I have always had compassion for immigrants and illegal immigrants, I feel even more compassion after reading this book. I know it is fiction, but what if it really is someone's experience? What if I just read is happening to someone right now?

I'm Cherokee, Welsh, and German. This book made me think about what my ancestors had to possibly go through to get here, how frightening it must have been. A strange place with different cultures and people.

This is the first book I have ever read that had to do with illegal immigration and I thought it was great. Nora is such a strong and amazing character. She's not without flaws and her emotions, what she feels, is so real.

So much heartache in this story. I found myself tearing up different times while reading. But, the story was not without hope. There was struggling, there was lots of pain and anger. Beneath it all, there was still hope.

I just want to thank the author for writing this. I think this book and any book that lets you see through the eyes of a legal or illegal immigrant is important to read. This was a great book. I give it 4 and a half stars.

[Rhiannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book. I liked that the book was a quick, interesting read - with short chapters, easily accessible language (the author even includes a glossary of Spanish terms), and a compelling storyline. Even while the book included some harrowing scenes, it was optimistic overall. I really thought that the ending was a beautifully-wrapped-up full circle concerning one of the book's themes (Quinceanera), and that the author did an excellent job bringing her story to such an end.

The author also does an excellent job of navigating a difficult topic (Mexico/US Immigration) with a true mind to shed light on the (horrifying) conditions for the working poor. In my opinion, she did this without fishing for pity or overly politicizing her message! She gives voice to a largely ignored class/group within our society, and observes parts of US urban culture with a new set of eyes - letting the reader peek in to the ways that these oppressed and mainly poor people operate among one another, read about the optimism and the sense of community they build, and see the way they help one another. It honestly had the potential to be really beautiful.

But - at some points, I have to say that I drew back from the story, and found myself analyzing...

Keisha, Jorge, Flora - these are the characters that Nora meets when she gets to the US. I really enjoyed these characters, and felt them nicely fleshed out. I wish I could say the same about Nora (the main character) and Mama (her mother), however. Those two characters, whom we meet early in the book and follow from poverty-stricken Mexico to poverty-stricken Houston, should (as the main characters) be even more intricate than the minor characters mentioned above, and yet - at points in the story, I felt disconnected from both of them.

One of the reasons I may have felt a disconnect from Nora was the notion that I couldn't quite get a feel for her age in terms of her lack of/wealth of experience...when I felt like I should be getting to know more about her (her, as in the type of person she was, her identity), she sometimes came off younger and more naive than I would expect at some points, and older than her fifteen years at others. This is okay, at times - since teenagers often walk that line between innocence and experience - but, other times, I found myself frustrated with her lack of identity. I wondered who would Nora speak for as a character, and what kind of reader Nora would speak to. For me, it is not a question of whether she has anything substantial to say (she does!), just who would find her most relatable and engaging in terms of age group, experience, etc.

Mama, on the other hand - was largely a blank character, often absent. If Nora could have made it to Houston without her, somehow, I think the author almost would have preferred it - because Mama had almost no voice, no character, no...anything. Blank, weak, voiceless, helpless. I found myself perplexed by this choice.

Thankfully, characters like Flora, Keisha, the extended "restaurant-family" and Mr. Mann anchor the book in realism. Moreover, Restrepo's commitment to the neighborhoods of Houston (which I got to explore on her website...Check This Out, It's Totally Worth It!) also give this book its sense of realism.

Finally, let me mention that I received this book from a Goodreads Author after winning a Goodreads Giveaway - and I could not have been more excited about it!

[Between the Covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers

Really 3.5 stars

After listening to Bettina read a chapter from this book and hearing the emotion that was so clear in it, I knew that I had to read this novel. Although parts of the story are not easy to read, it is engaging and kept me turning page after page to learn how life unfolded for Nora.

Illegal tells the story of Nora, a young girl whose family is struggling to survive in Mexico while her father searches for work in Texas. But as days and weeks drag into years and the money becomes increasingly scarce, Nora knows that she has to find her father. Urged on by whispers and visions of the Lady of Guadalupe, Nora convinces her mother to travel to Houston, convinced that everything will be better when their family is back together. But after the dangerous journey across the border, Nora and her mother must still survive in a foreign country - and that means finding papers, finding a job, and struggling to understand English. Fortunately, the two are able to find some help, and Nora even makes new friends...but she must still try and find her father and reunite her family.

Although Illegal is fictional, the story that it tells could be one of any immigrant. In fact, Bettina was inspired by various people she saw and heard while working in a Fiesta (a grocery store) in Houston. In this book, Nora is not even fifteen, but she is quickly forced to grow up and take responsibility for her and her mother. Even though she finds them both jobs, she still struggles to understand how things work in Texas. Flora, one of the girls that she meets, begins Nora's new cultural education, which is interesting in itself. As part of this, I especially liked the interchange of Spanish and English phrases (and there is a glossary included in the back). This story is definitely illuminating in showing the challenges that immigrants face when coming to America. The situation is one that most of us can never experience or imagine, and this glimpse into something that happens daily was eye-opening.

The thing I wanted most that this book didn't have was more - more of the story, more interactions between the characters, more details. Being told from a first-person perspective was a little limiting in this respect, but it also made the story that much more personal. And in the words of Bettina, "I can't promise you a happy ending [Is that possible for stories like this?], but I do promise a satisfying one."

Illegal is a great YA debut novel from Bettina. Even though Illegal is a stand-alone novel, she is working on a new project entitled Telenovela, which sounds like it will be very entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading her next novel!

[One Book At A Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to applaud the author for writing a book about such a delicate subject in the US right now. Now matter what your beliefs on the subject, you have to admit it is a hot button topic. Since I live in an area that has a high amount of immigrants from Mexico (how many are illegal I have no idea), I really wanted to read this book.

First off it's hard not to root for Nora. I think it's the natural human instinct kicking in. It hard to read about another human's suffering. Nora's life in Mexico was pretty dire by my thoughts. She doesn't go to school, has clothes that don't fit, and worries about her dad sending enough money to pay the next round of taxes on the farm. It's a lot for any 14 year old to worry about.

It's not all picnic's and roses in the US either. First Nora has to get there. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have the courage to illegally cross the border, but Nora does it with her head held high. I think it was the desperation in trying to find her father. I don't think she was expecting to live somewhere that was worse than her home in Mexico, or deal with gangs, all with trying to find out what really happened to her father. And what really happened to him was just plain awful.

In the end, I really enjoyed the story. Although, I do wonder how common this "version" might be. I think some tend to think crossing the border and establishing here in the US is easy. This book is anything but. I'm guessing the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I'm not saying that anything in this book makes my views on illegal immigration any different. I think it just might be a different scenario than most people would think of.

[Allison Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Released in March 2011, Illegal is the story of a fourteen year old Mexican girl's struggle to hold on to her life, which is crumbling before her eyes. Her family's orchard is slowly being destroyed by drought and pests, and her town is drying up- everyone is moving on to find a better life. No people in the town means no customers to sell their fruit to, and Nora's father leaves for the United States to try to make enough money to save their home.

For awhile, things are okay, but when months go by without any word from her father, Nora's family is out of money and out of hope. She and her mother decide to illegally journey into Texas (made even more dangerous because they are two women traveling alone). After a frightening border crossing experience, Nora and her mother find themselves in Houston with little English, little money, and no idea where to start looking for her father.

This story chronicles Nora's desperate desire to survive, her perseverance, and her friendly nature. Although it deals with heartbreaking issues, the rich and well-developed characters bring light and a constant sense of hope into the story.

I give this book 4 stars, and I would recommend it primarily for middle/high school readers. It is an excellent piece of anti-oppression literature, very eye-opening but also purely enjoyable. The ending made me cry, but I was left with a sense of encouragement and an appreciation for Nora's indomitable spirit.

[Joceline Marchan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. It kept me at the edge of my seat the whole time ! I liked that the book because it moved at a slow rate so it was easy to understand. Personally I liked everything about the book. Im so happy i read the book ! I found it intresting when Nora was trying to figure out why her dad wasnt sending them anymore money. The book was very intresting because all the adventures she went through were tough but she over came them.

Nora was described as a conservative nice girl. Throughout the whole book she was the main character and everything revolved around her. Noras mom was described as being nice most of the time but mean when she was sad. Noras Grandma was a nice lady. She make candles to try to make ends meet at the house. I can relate mostly to Nora because we both went through tough time but we always would surround ourself with happy people that supported us.

I thought the theme was Never loose faith. I thought this was the theme because Nora never lost hope until she was actually knew what had happened to her father. Overall, the book was amazing. Im happy i didnt stop ready it till the very end !

[L (Sniffly Kitty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read any synopses of this story before I started so I didn't have a good idea what was going to happen although I did have some hints from the title. Nevertheless, it was not quite what I expected it to be; it was better.

The story is gritty in its depiction of a desperate situation but never in a hyper-realistic or overdramatic sort of way. The events are depicted in a way that moves the reader and tugs at your heartstrings even as you are anxious for Nora, her mother, her father, and her grandmother's well being. Granted, there are some moments where Nora's character comes off as selfish and naive and some of the scenes in Texas feel stilted, but these are minor detractors to the overall power of the story.

This is plain good storytelling which documents a journey from the deep reasons it starts to its fitting conclusion at journey's end. You should not go into reading this expecting a light read as it gives a very human face to a deeply divisive political issue (in the US at least). I applaud Bettina Restrepo's debut offering; it's something you should read.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora should be getting excited for her Quinceanera, her celebration of becoming a woman on her 15th birthday. But times are economically challenging in her family's small, Mexican town. The crops are not producing, money is low, and her family is running out of options. Nora's father pays a coyote to take him illegally across the border, into Texas, so he can find regular work. For months, he sends money home, but it's never quite enough. The crops are failing and there is no hope in sight. After the money stops altogether, Nora convinces her mother that they must go to Texas to find him. Using all of their savings, they risk their lives and cross the border into the unknown. Life as an illegal is not an easy one. Their English is not good, and they do not have government papers, making work hard to find. What has happened to Nora's father, and what do they have at home to return to?

The writing is simple, and the chapters are incredibly short. Nora has a strong sense of family and always sticks to her morals. Good for 6th grades and up.

[Terry Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful writing! Loved this story. Full of hope.

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really, really moved by this story. Nora is just a girl about to be fifteen, and she dreams of a life filled with the simplest things in life: earrings, school, a party to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. But instead she has had to grow up well before her years, helping Mama and Grandma gather and sell the meager fruit the farm produces, while waiting for Papa to return from America, where he has headed to find work. Money from America arrives sporadically, and news of Papa even less so. When times get even tighter than they had been, Nora and her mother make the heart-breaking decision to go to America to try and find Papa.

Bettina has a way with words and telling a story. The scene where Nora and her mother are actually making the crossing to America was very difficult for me to read. We're taken right into Nora's world, and we're right with her as she struggles with the new language and mannerisms of Houston, Texas. My heart was aching for Nora during several scenes in this story. This poor girl has nothing, yet she never lets go of her dreams. It's this hope that kept me rooting for Nora right until the end of the story. I challenge anyone to read this book and not be affected by it in some way.

[Medeia Sharif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nora's family isn't doing too well. Because they need money to support their farm in Mexico, her father leaves for the U.S. in search of work. Money and letters stop coming from him. Nora decides it's best to go to Texas to find her father so that he can fulfill his promise: they'll be together for her fifteenth birthday.

Nora and her mother embark on a grueling trip to Texas. Once there, they struggle to find housing, food, jobs and false papers. They're surrounded by the cruel and the kind. Nora's bravery shines through as mean girls, lecherous men, and gang members mistake her for a victim. And still, she doesn't give up looking for her father so that they can be reunited before her quinceañera, an event girls in her culture eagerly await.

This is a wonderful novel about the immigrant experience. It filled me with both questions and sympathy towards people who cross the border illegally. It's also heart-breaking, so don't be surprised if you need tissue at hand.

[Kristen Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I read this: The author asked me too (which I love when authors do) and it is a debut novel, so I was happy to!

Plot: Nora's father stops sending money back to Mexico for her family, so her mother and her leave their grandmother behind to search for him. Nora learns that America is much different form her small town in Mexico. They luck out and find a couple who let them work for them. Only there is no sign of Nora's father. What has happened to him?

A heart-wrenching plot that made me cry and also a quick read. Definitely a great debut about those who cross the wire.

Characters: I fell in love with Nora. She was strong for a teenage girl and determined to reunite her family once and for all. It's nice to meet such a fantastic character.

Relatability: I think those of us that pay any attention to the new in America can relate to this novel.

Cover Commentary: Love it, especially the colors.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

As some reviewers have said, this is a book that explores a topic not found in many other books for YAs. It describes the experience of a 15-year-old illegal immigrant (Nora) who comes to Texas in search of her father, who came several years earlier to get a job and send money back to his family in order to keep the family grapefruit farm. I think the book's realism is part of why I don't love it. Nora (like many real teens) is at least as whiny and self-centered as Bella Swan - at least initially. She is also quite dramatic in her reactions to her father's leaving and her own family's changing circumstances (again, like many real teens). She does, however, rise to the occasion and do what is necessary to help support her mother through the trip across the border and the early days in Texas. She also redeems herself through her friendship with Keisha, her tenacity in befriending Flora, and her concern for Mr. Mann - the homeless man in the park.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well done book and would be a great choice for anyone interested in the immigrant experience or for reluctant readers (nice short chapters & a quick read overall).

What I loved about this book is the way that this book drew me into feeling her emotions. I didn't get the feeling, as I do with some sad stories, that I was supposed to feel guilty for my fairly decent life, or that the author was being over dramatic. She presented Nora's emotions and situations simply, making them more powerful. When the bad, even horrific, things happen in Nora's life, the simple presentation of the story makes them that much more profound.

This book really brings to light the experience of an illegal immigrant and the high potential for hoplessness that can follow. But Nora and her family pull themselves out of this trap and make a life for themselves. A powerful story.

[Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down once I started reading it! Nora's story, as told by Restrepo, is realitistically sad - first she tells of her hard life in a dying small town in Mexico, then, trying to find her father, she tells of the ardous journey across the border with her mother in a fruit truck. Once they make it across the border, the two are faced with unemployment, poverty, gangs, and the chance of being caught by immigration. All of their trials end in a bittersweet conclusion that realistically represents the hardships faced by both struggling Mexican farmers and illegal immigrants.
Review originally posted for LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

[Malati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora's father is an illegal immigrant who has left her and the rest of her family in Mexico. When he stops sending money via Western Union to the bank in there small town, they begin to become desperate. They have little money left to buy groceries and pay the tax man, so Nora convinces her mother that they must go to Texas and find her father.

I think the premise of this book is sound. The idea of learning more about the struggles of an illegal immigrant is intriguing. However, there are about 6 different subplots in this book and everything is crammed into 250 pages. It's just not enough space to give the details needed to really hook a reader.

[Lisa Delaine Youngblood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this is a narrative close to the hearts of many who live in border states and who either have or have known indivduals who have entered into our country illegally, the execution is sadly lacking. This young woman's quest to find herself and save her family is truly heroic; however, inconsistencies in the use of Spanish and English mar the overall effect of the novel. Since the book is written in English from the point of view of a Spanish speaking protagonist, readers may occassionally find it difficult to determine whether or not the main character understands what other characters are saying.

[3houd · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I am to describe this book with one word it would be: Childish! The idea of the book was promising, but the execution of it was nothing short of disaster. An entire family of adults chooses to leave their country and everything they know on the demand of self centered Nora who's not even sixteen.
Furthermore, she assumes the leading role in everything else. She even negotiates the smugglers! With her mother just standing with her helpless and mute!
It is as I see it a story of a whiny, selfish, self-centered girl who wasn't really looking for her father. What I really think she wanted was to leave her town and live in the United States, not find her father.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe family and survival are the important themes of this book. Family and friends are what help us get through life. We have to do what we can to make it...especially in tough circumstances. This books illustrates that we can work out the issues we have by working hard and relying on family when we can. Nora is very young and struggles with issues that children shouldn't have to worry about like poverty, working a job, money problems, safety, etc. But she works hard, meets new friends and gets to live the better life that she strove for.

[BookCupid · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A promise is just a lie you don't want to keep."

Nora feels betrayed, mostly to overshadow her fear, when her Papa stops sending the family money from Texas. Why did he disappear -- will he even return for her birthday like he promised?

My jaw dropped when Nora and her mom hid in a van and left for the states to find him. Nora soon learned that life was just as hard there, and began to work in a pool stand to earn some cash that would be sent back to Mexico.

Restrepo also tackled racism, gang initiation and losing faith in God.

[Amy Holder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illegal is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of a girl's journey to find her father as an illegal immigrant in Texas. Nora is a strong, likable heroine who never gives up and doesn't let fear or hardship stop her from accomplishing her goals. Bettina Restrepo has written a poignant, engaging and important novel that will open people's eyes to the struggles of immigrants and their families.

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

really haunting story to read while i crossed border checkpoints around Big Bend, TX a few weeks ago, german shepherds and all. the description of hiding in a melon truck crossing the border was sickening and terrifying. congratulations to this first time novelist for an important book that will make a fine read aloud for young people.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I wouldn't have minded the opportunity to get to know the characters a little more deeply, this made for a lovely read -- a welcome addition to the immigrant experience teen lit books & I look forward to more by this author.

[Caroline Rose]

A compassionate look at a challenging subject, ILLEGAL makes the struggles, motivation, and heartache of Nora's story universal.