Essential reading ... Entirely suited to a turbulent moment marked by quota-based mass deportations. ... Jiménez tenderly details the two ordinary people who helped her finalize her materials for college without humiliation, judgment or threat of deportation ... a testament to collective power ... [Written] in astute prose ... Every page is densely (sometimes dizzyingly) populated with key players and consequential immigration laws and policies dating as far back as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 ... By writing Dreaming of Home, Jiménez provides a candid and comprehensive guidebook, which also admits the conflicts and mistakes made along the way, to continue the work she entered, the work that was already there when she arrived.
Jiménez’s story is one of transformation that is more than personal; it reaches the character of the United States and its faulty domestic and foreign policies and practices that fuel the ongoing immigration crisis. This is for readers who remain interested in America as an equitable, inclusive community of diverse backgrounds, classes, faiths, genders, races and immigrants.
Powerful ... Jiménez sheds light on the trauma of immigration, the racial and economic inequities undermining U.S. communities, and the resilience of those who fight for a better future. Her candid reflections expose the harsh realities of anti-immigrant policies while offering an inspiring testament to perseverance and collective power. A compelling read for those interested in immigration, activism, and social justice.
An emotional and inspirational recounting of the modern American immigrant rights movement ... Jiménez’s passionately observed and deeply felt memoir is a fascinating peek behind the scenes of the remarkably successful but little-known immigrant rights movement. Although portions of the book read more like a textbook than a memoir, this is, overall, a captivating and strong debut.
