Four unaccompanied migrant children come together along the arduous journey north through Mexico to the United States border in this ode to the power of hope and connection even in the face of uncertainty and fear.
Every year, roughly 50,000 unaccompanied minors arrive at the US/Mexico border to present themselves for asylum or related visas. The majority of these children are non-Mexicans fleeing the systemic violence of Central America's "Northern Triangle": Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. A Journey Toward Hope tells the story of Rodrigo, a 14-year-old escaping Honduran violence; Alessandra, a 10-year-old Guatemalan whose first language is Q''eqchi''; and the Salvadoran siblings Laura and Nando. Though their reasons for making the trip are different and the journey northward is perilous, the four children band together, finding strength in one another as they share the dreams of their past and the hopes for their future.
A Journey Toward Hope is written in collaboration with Baylor University's Social Innovation Collaborative, with illustrations by the award-winning Susan Guevara (Chato''s Kitchen, American Library Association Notable Book, New York Public Library''s 100 Great Children's Books / 100 Years). It includes four pages of nonfiction back matter with additional information and resources created by Baylor University''s Global Hunger and Migration Project.
Industry Reviews
Praise for A Journey Toward Hope:
"This picture book reimagines the journeys of four fictional children to the United States. It opens with ten-year-old Alessandra, a girl of Mayan heritage who only speaks Q'eqchi', as she embarks on a dangerous journey to reunite with her mother in the U.S. The other children, of various ages, also make the trip on a boat, a truck, and a system of trains known as "the Beast," traveling from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador until they arrive at the Nuevo Laredo camp in Mexico. Older elementary readers may reflect on the struggles that unaccompanied migrant children must endure to find a better life in the U.S. and reunite with their families. Guevara employs pastel colors and curved lines to give life to dreamlike, soft illustrations while supplementing the narrative. This imagery is reinforced by using allegories of a bird, a butterfly, a monkey, and a jaguar, a loving nod to Mesoamerican history and culture....VERDICT A candid rendition of the jarring reality lived by migrant children told in inviting language accessible to elementary students." - School Library Journal
"The paths of four migrant children from different Central American countries cross as they enter Mexico, and together they continue their journey to the United States. Though their reasons for undertaking the perilous journey are different, their hopes are not: They all hope for asylum in the U.S....Along the way they encounter danger, hunger, kindness from strangers, and, most importantly, the strength of friendship with one another....Artist Guevara has added Central American folk art-influenced details to her illustrations that provide depth to the artwork...The backmatter explains the reasons for the book, helping to place it within the larger context of ongoing projects at Baylor University related to the migration crisis in Central America. An emotional entry point to a larger, necessary discussion on this complex and difficult subject." -Kirkus Reviews
"Superbly illustrated by artist Susan Guevara, A Journey Toward Hope is a compelling commentary on one of the primary social issues of today." - Midwest Book Review
Honors and Praise for Susan Guevara, for Chato's Kitchen:
- Winner of the Pura Belpre Award for Illustration
- An American Library Association Notable Book
- A Parents' Choice Award Winner
"Guevara's cats are delicious send-ups of barrio characters, and Soto's words glisten with wit. Salud to this magical pairing of talents." - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A really cool book. . . . Guevara's striking illustrations enrich the text with delightful, witty details." - School Library Journal, Starred Review
"Fresh and satisfying. . . Distinctly seasoned with the sights and sounds of East Los Angeles; the sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases adds the perfect flavor." -The Horn Book
