We Are Not from Here

This is a TOUGH but realistic book about 3 teens deciding to escape their “small lives” (a theme of this book) to ride La Bestia and cross the desert into the US. Torres Sanchez's parents are from Guatamala, and though she has not experienced this journey herself, she has done lots of research into true stories of migrants and immigrants who have taken this journey. The story is claustrophobically tragic, I had to take breaks from it, but it's not without hope. Her writing is excellent, there's a tiny bit of magical realism/sprinkle of religion, and the characters and situations feel authentic. There are many students who will unfortunately relate to this and many who will learn from this, so I'll be sure to booktalk with lighter Latinx books so windows readers won't think the Latinx experience is only a monolith of tragedy and mirrors readers also have joyful realistic books.