Winner of the Pura Belpré Award!“We need books to break open our hearts, so that we might feel more deeply, so that we might be more human in these unkind times. This is a book doing work of the spirit in a time of darkness.” —Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street Efrén Nava’s Amá is his Superwoman—or Soperwoman, named after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares. … after the delicious Mexican sopes his mother often prepares. Both Amá and Apá work hard all day to provide for the family, making sure Efrén and his younger siblings Max and Mía feel safe and loved.
But Efrén worries about his parents; although he’s American-born, his parents are undocumented. His worst nightmare comes true one day when Amá doesn’t return from work and is deported across the border to Tijuana, México.
Now more than ever, Efrén must channel his inner Soperboy to help take care of and try to reunite his family.
A glossary of Spanish words is included in the back of the book.
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This book was touching, engaging, and was an experience that changed me as a teacher!
Book Review: Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros (2020) (Middle Grade) (Fiction) 3 Stars ***
Mature beyond his years, California-born seventh-grader Efrén Nava is propelled into a heart-breaking situation when his beloved illegal mother is abruptly arrested and deported by ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement), leaving Efrén to care for himself, his kindergarten-aged twin siblings, and the Nava one-room household, while his father works double shifts to earn the money necessary to pay transport for his wife’s return from Mexico.
Efrén’s head is jammed up. He’s been a serious student but his mother’s absence and the piled on responsibilities prove to be overwhelming. He decides to lie about his family situation in shame, not realizing that a number of his school friends are also experiencing family disruption. Efrén manages to pull it all off, and out of a sense of commitment to the illegal population of his neighborhood, eventually runs for a school office so he can act as a liaison to distribute immigration related information to help illegals.
Efrén must travel to Mexico to deliver money to the unreliable coyotes who are entrusted to smuggle his mother back across the California border. Unfortunately, the plan doesn’t work, so the Nava family has no choice (they think) but to start over.
The characters and dialogue are shallow. The analysis of the immigrant situation is naive and unsophisticated. The Mexican government is never held accountable or criticized for its cartel/drug lord run, out-of-control country. No one faults the coyotes for cheating and misleading desperate people. No one blames any Mexican for the violence they inflict upon innocent people. Only the United States government and its people are chastised.
This is truly a sad, broken system that needs improvement but the United States cannot and should not allow throngs of people to illegally cross its borders without accountability. The author places the onus on the American people and their government for not wanting their kind of people in the country. This is an immature and self-serving statement. There is no country in the world that allows people to cross its borders without declarations, documentation, valid papers, and permission.
My mother and grandparents were immigrants who legally entered this country, as did millions of others. They did not attempt to invade. I understand what motivates Efren’s family but I do not believe their rights and needs are more critical than any other ethnic groups. Just because they want to come to the US, does not mean they have the right to enter on their own terms.
As a mother and a grandmother, I would never expose my children to the inherent dangers and most certain separation awaiting children of illegals. If the decision is made to take the chance, then the responsibility for the outcome must rest with the parents.
Do I recommend this book? If you don’t mind the whiny narration and can focus on what can happen to families illegally living in the United States, then yes. If you’re looking for a mature depiction, then look elsewhere.