Cristina Jimâenez's family fights to stay afloat as Ecuador falls into a political and economic crisis. When she is thirteen, her parents courageously decide to seek a better life in the U.S., landing in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens, New York. There are many challenges, but eventually, Cristina discovers she is not alone; she finds her calling within a community of social justice organizers. In this memoir, Cristina opens the door to what it's like to grow up undocumented and the reality that being a 'good' immigrant doesn't shield you from systematic racism, danger, or even the confusion of falling in love.
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.
