DREAMING OF HOME

Coming to America—and fighting for the rights of all immigrants.

Activist Jiménez’s childhood in Quito abruptly ends when her sister dies and Ecuador’s deteriorating economy forces her parents to make an unexpected choice: to leave their beloved country to immigrate to the United States. The family moves to Queens, New York, where, as undocumented immigrants, they strive to hide their status by working hard, avoiding trouble, and paying their taxes. Jiménez spends her teens living in constant fear while simultaneously dreaming of becoming the first in her family to go to college. With the help of a sympathetic teacher, she is accepted into Queens College, where a recent law allows her to pay in-state tuition despite her lack of immigration status. At college, Jiménez becomes a talented community organizer, co-founding a national undocumented student–led organization, the United We Dream network. Alongside her peers, Jiménez organizes actions that pressure President Barack Obama into drafting and signing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides amnesty to more than a million undocumented youths. During this time, Jiménez meets her future husband, fellow undocumented organizer Walter Barrientos, and receives American citizenship. 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.

An emotional and inspirational recounting of the modern American immigrant rights movement.