An urgent and eloquent account of a boy traveling in a caravan from
his beloved homeland of El Salvador to the US border.
This novel in verse is a powerful first-person account of Misael
Martínez, a Salvadoran boy whose family joins the caravan heading north
to the United States. We learn all the different reasons why people feel
the need to leave -- the hope that lies behind their decision, but also
the terrible sadness of leaving home. We learn about how far and hard
the trip is, but also about the kindness of those along the way.
Finally, once the caravan arrives in Tijuana, Misael and those around
him are relieved. They think they have arrived at the goal of the trip
-- to enter the United States. But then tear gas, hateful
demonstrations, force and fear descend on these vulnerable people. The
border is closed. The book ends with Misael dreaming of El Salvador.
This beautiful and timely story is written in simple but poetic verse by
Jorge Argueta, the award-winning author of Somos como las nubes / We
Are Like the Clouds. Award-winning Mexican illustrator Manuel Monroy
illuminates Misael's journey. An author's note is included, along with a
map showing the caravan's route.
Key Text Features
author's note
map
illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language
Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3
Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama,
drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts,
words, or actions).
