The Distance Between Us discussion

I choose the book, The Distance Between Us: A Memoir by Reyna Grande. This book talks about illegal immigration, the first half of the book takes place in Mexico and the other half takes place in the United States. It portrays a story of mothers who abandon their children and fathers who drink uncontrollably. In addition, it also tells a story of how children can overcome an abusive childhood and rise above their poverty to live out their dreams. Reyna Grande is the main character she is only four years old when her mother leaves to the United States to work. Her father is also working in the United States, therefore, Reyna, her sister, and her brother are forced to live with their abusive grandparents. They live in a very poor area in Mexico, it is described as houses made from cardboard and many scorpions on the walls. When the father comes to get Reyna and her siblings to take them back to the United States, they believe that their struggles are over, but they are wrong. In California, Reyna and her siblings face discrimination from not only their classmates but also their teachers. Not only do they struggle from having a language barrier, but they also fear the risk of getting deported since they came illegally. Sadly this is very common in many Latin American children that have been separated from their parents due to the parent trying to provide a better life for their families. I think this book is eye-opening and it also gets you thinking of the students we will potentially have in our classrooms. It reminds me to always be extra friendly and never assume someone isn’t going through something at home.